Cash Budgeting
Discussion
Over time, the friction between wanting something and paying for it has become less and less.
If you want a pizza, or restaurant meal at home, open deliveroo, place order, use apple pay - it's done.
Anything you can think of will be at your door tomorrow morning in 2 clicks.
We usually don't even have to make a physical transaction in terms of handing something over and receiving something back (cash for goods)
I'm running a little experiment going back to physical cash in envelopes. I spend so much less that it has shocked me.
I have an A6 binder:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08B3SDKBF/ref...
With these insert envelope things:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07PRHKN8R/ref...
With labels, food, personal spending, eating out etc. I also have a moleskin notebook and write down the transaction each time i spend anything.
Really makes me intentional / think before parting with cash, on card i just swipe away like everything is free.
Anyone else do this? I'd recommend giving it a go to anyone concerned with how thousands of pounds just evaporates into thin air.
If you want a pizza, or restaurant meal at home, open deliveroo, place order, use apple pay - it's done.
Anything you can think of will be at your door tomorrow morning in 2 clicks.
We usually don't even have to make a physical transaction in terms of handing something over and receiving something back (cash for goods)
I'm running a little experiment going back to physical cash in envelopes. I spend so much less that it has shocked me.
I have an A6 binder:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08B3SDKBF/ref...
With these insert envelope things:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07PRHKN8R/ref...
With labels, food, personal spending, eating out etc. I also have a moleskin notebook and write down the transaction each time i spend anything.
Really makes me intentional / think before parting with cash, on card i just swipe away like everything is free.
Anyone else do this? I'd recommend giving it a go to anyone concerned with how thousands of pounds just evaporates into thin air.
I used to put cash in bags and budget accordingly. I now spend £10+ a day on lunch as its easy to go out in the city. Previously id make lunch or eat last nights extras.
I often open my working bank balance and double take of having less than i imagined. Mainly because £50 here and there add up quickly.
Still i have a good standard of living, savings and to be completely PH enough to live on at current spend level for 2 years, more if im cautious.
I find the more i save, the more i dont want to spend, the more i moan at myself for wasting cash.
I often open my working bank balance and double take of having less than i imagined. Mainly because £50 here and there add up quickly.
Still i have a good standard of living, savings and to be completely PH enough to live on at current spend level for 2 years, more if im cautious.
I find the more i save, the more i dont want to spend, the more i moan at myself for wasting cash.
Can't believe you wasted money on the folder and inserts off amazon 
They often say there is a benefit to pausing before you purchase. I often do this online and have a list that I will return to a week later. I would estimate I decide its not needed/wanted in that time about a third of the time.
They often say there is a benefit to pausing before you purchase. I often do this online and have a list that I will return to a week later. I would estimate I decide its not needed/wanted in that time about a third of the time.
andy43 said:
Good idea.
‘Food’ - A6 envelope.
‘House’ - A6 envelope.
‘Misc’ - A6 envelope.
‘Motoring’ - A3 heavy duty extra deep manilla envelope.
Ha ha - My gf has horses - i joke with her that she only needs 2 envelopes. One marked "horses" in which she deposits her entire salary. The next marked "other" which sadly remains empty ‘Food’ - A6 envelope.
‘House’ - A6 envelope.
‘Misc’ - A6 envelope.
‘Motoring’ - A3 heavy duty extra deep manilla envelope.
Edited by trowelhead on Monday 26th July 12:09
trowelhead said:
Really makes me intentional / think before parting with cash, on card i just swipe away like everything is free.
Anyone else do this? I'd recommend giving it a go to anyone concerned with how thousands of pounds just evaporates into thin air.
I don't understand this, as with online banking you have an instant record of every penny you have spent and exactly how much money you have left. In my experience, the people who think like this are the people who don't want to think about what they spend and prefer to live in blissful ignorance.Anyone else do this? I'd recommend giving it a go to anyone concerned with how thousands of pounds just evaporates into thin air.
Shnozz said:
Can't believe you wasted money on the folder and inserts off amazon
They often say there is a benefit to pausing before you purchase. I often do this online and have a list that I will return to a week later. I would estimate I decide its not needed/wanted in that time about a third of the time.
It definitely helps. Deliveroo and amazon rinsed my bank account each month until recentlyThey often say there is a benefit to pausing before you purchase. I often do this online and have a list that I will return to a week later. I would estimate I decide its not needed/wanted in that time about a third of the time.
I've now setup an envelope for amazon purchases, if i want to buy online, i'm moving the cash from one envelope into my online purchase envelope - i'll buy the item with my debit card, and put the cash form the envelope back in my bank at the end of the month.
It's more just a mental technique - adding some friction and delay i hardly buy anything online now unless i truly want it. But again i have to move some cash physically which makes me see it as "real" money not just tapping on amazon and it magically arrives
Joey Deacon said:
trowelhead said:
Really makes me intentional / think before parting with cash, on card i just swipe away like everything is free.
Anyone else do this? I'd recommend giving it a go to anyone concerned with how thousands of pounds just evaporates into thin air.
In my experience, the people who think like this are the people who don't want to think about what they spend and prefer to live in blissful ignorance.Anyone else do this? I'd recommend giving it a go to anyone concerned with how thousands of pounds just evaporates into thin air.
trowelhead said:
andy43 said:
Good idea.
‘Food’ - A6 envelope.
‘House’ - A6 envelope.
‘Misc’ - A6 envelope.
‘Motoring’ - A3 heavy duty extra deep manilla envelope.
Ha ha - My gf has horses - i joke with her that she only needs 2 envelopes. One marked "horses" in which she deposits her entire salary. The next marked "other" which sadly remains empty ‘Food’ - A6 envelope.
‘House’ - A6 envelope.
‘Misc’ - A6 envelope.
‘Motoring’ - A3 heavy duty extra deep manilla envelope.
Edited by trowelhead on Monday 26th July 12:09
andy43 said:
Plural horses? Ouch. Running a Citroen SM as a daily driver with an 80s Maserati for weekends is probably a more sensible financial decision than horses...
Yes.. two. it's non stop outgoings. Two part livery stables, farriers, vets, supplements, feed, costs to enter into shows. I'm sure the saddles run into the thousands. They do bring alot of joy, outdoors time/exercise and she has qualified for HOYS this year (like crufts for horses) so it has its upsides.
Would be easily able to run a couple of nice cars for far less
I started with something similar February last year, just 1 envelope per week for food/spends etc. My plan was to take the first weeks money on Monday, week 2 on Tuesday, week 3 on Wednesday and so on, stretching it to 8 days and eventually getting amonth 'infront'. Covid came along and nobody wanted cash so I went back to my old ways, we're just about to start it again this month coincidently.
I agree with those who have said when you actually have to physically hand the cash over you do think more about what you spend.
I agree with those who have said when you actually have to physically hand the cash over you do think more about what you spend.
trowelhead said:
Joey Deacon said:
trowelhead said:
Really makes me intentional / think before parting with cash, on card i just swipe away like everything is free.
Anyone else do this? I'd recommend giving it a go to anyone concerned with how thousands of pounds just evaporates into thin air.
In my experience, the people who think like this are the people who don't want to think about what they spend and prefer to live in blissful ignorance.Anyone else do this? I'd recommend giving it a go to anyone concerned with how thousands of pounds just evaporates into thin air.
k as I saw my balance.trowelhead said:
andy43 said:
Plural horses? Ouch. Running a Citroen SM as a daily driver with an 80s Maserati for weekends is probably a more sensible financial decision than horses...
Yes.. two. it's non stop outgoings. Two part livery stables, farriers, vets, supplements, feed, costs to enter into shows. I'm sure the saddles run into the thousands. They do bring alot of joy, outdoors time/exercise and she has qualified for HOYS this year (like crufts for horses) so it has its upsides.
Would be easily able to run a couple of nice cars for far less
No point dating a horse freak that isnt.
obviously we are car freaks so it balances out.
Mr Spoon said:
I find the more i save, the more i dont want to spend, the more i moan at myself for wasting cash.
That sounds as if you view a pile of cash as being wasted... not saved...It's an interesting conundrum. What is the point of saving cash if you don't spend it? Cash only has value when converted into Stuff. But then, a big pile of cash also gives you a reservoir of virtual Stuff to anticipate...
It leads me to a new Theory. 'Cash = (Stuff x c)^2'
Or is it 'Stuff = (Cash x c)^2'?
vulture1 said:
At least she should be hot.
No point dating a horse freak that isnt.
Brutal but impeccable logic...No point dating a horse freak that isnt.
Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 26th July 13:51
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