How I Saved $500 with Cash Stuffing!

Cash envelope stuffing is a simple, old-school technique to take back control of your budget.

Choose Your Categories Wisely 💌

To get started, think about where you typically spend your money. Choose 4-6 main categories to keep it manageable. Examples: Groceries 🥑, dining out 🍕, personal care 💄, entertainment 🎬, transportation 🚗. Pro tip: Add a “fun” or “splurge” category so you don’t feel deprived! Balance between your needs and a few wants! For example, if you love getting coffee out, make an envelope for it! ☕️

Determine Your Budget for Each Category 📝

Look at your monthly income and necessary expenses (like rent and utilities). What’s left is your flexible spending money! Examples: Allocate $300 for groceries, $100 for dining out, $50 for personal care, and $75 for entertainment. Challenge yourself to save by putting a little extra into savings each month. For instance, if you normally spend $150 on eating out, try cutting back to $100 and see how it goes!

Stuff Your Envelopes! 💌💵

Head to the bank and withdraw your allocated cash for each category. Let’s say you’ve set $300 for groceries, $100 for dining out, $50 for personal care, etc. Physically place the exact cash amount into each envelope. Seeing the cash pile up — or shrink — helps keep you aware of your spending habits! 🌟 This visual and tactile approach helps reinforce mindful spending!

Use Your Envelopes Mindfully 🛍️💡

When you spend, only use the cash from the right envelope. Example: Going out for dinner? 🍝 Bring the “dining out” envelope and leave the others at home. Paying with cash makes every dollar count — and can help you rethink that extra purchase! 💸 Record each expense by writing it on the envelope or keeping a small notebook handy to track.

Track, Reflect, and Adjust

Throughout the month, track how much remains in each envelope. Example: Did you run out of grocery money too soon? Maybe you’ll need to increase that amount next month and cut back on dining out. Or did you have leftover cash in entertainment? 📈 That could go into savings or an extra treat next month! Remember, this is about finding the balance that works best for you — adjust as needed! 🌷

#lemon8partner #moneysavingtips #moneytips #personalsavings #cashenvelopes