16
My wife told me my envelope system was too controlling and I should just use a single checking account. Tried it for 3 months and overspent by $400.
So we had this argument back in February. She said tracking every dollar to specific envelopes made her feel like a kid on an allowance. I switched to one joint account with a simple budget in my head. First month we were fine. Second month we went $150 over on takeout. Third month I found a random $250 credit card charge we both forgot about. The freedom was nice but the numbers don't lie. Has anyone else tried going from strict envelopes to a looser system and made it work long term?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
felixlane16d ago
Honestly, I used to be the same way. I always thought the envelope system was too extreme and that people just needed more self control. But after trying a looser system for two months and blowing my grocery budget by $80 on random snacks and a new pair of shoes, I get it now. The envelopes force you to see the money leaving your hand, and without that physical reminder it's way too easy to let little things add up. I'm back to my envelopes now and honestly it feels better knowing exactly where each dollar is going.
4
paige16616d ago
$400 overspent in three months is like $133 a month which honestly is not that bad depending on your income. Tbh @felixlane I get that the envelope system works for you but calling it extreme and then going back to it because you bought an $80 pair of shoes sounds like you just have a spending habit you didn't want to fix. Ngl the whole idea that you need physical envelopes to feel money leaving your hand feels a little dramatic in 2024 when most stuff is on cards anyway. The real problem here is probably the wife not being on board with whatever system you choose, not whether it's plastic or paper. Blowing $250 on a forgotten charge just means nobody was checking the account weekly, not that the system failed.
0