January: Use Cash to Reduce Spending Challenge

[JumpyTheFrog]

We are trying to get our grocery spending under control. This month we went back to cash in an envelope for groceries. So far, it has helped tremendously, and it looks like it has saved us about $3-400.

My challenge is for you to pick one budget category and use cash for all your purchases for January. If you do pickup orders, subtract the physical cash from your envelope after each order to help you stay on track.

Who's in? What category are you going to use cash for?

[Guest]

You’re doing a bunch of challenges this year. Good for you! 

[popmom]

I was doing envelops until COVID hit! It worked great for us. I only stopped because I was trying to minimize exposure through exchanging cash around--and then came the coin shortage.

We have envelopes for animal care, groceries, eating out, auto maintenance, vacation, and any random thing we might be saving up for. Last spring we had an envelope for "pressure washer".  Clothing is another envelop. It really worked great for us. I'm going back to it asap.