Debit card and checks seem to have worked better this month. Reasons?

1. Dh never remembers to cash the first paycheck of the month for my envelopes.

2. We don't make enough in the first week to cover our envelopes...with his old job we did so it was easy:1 paycheck for envelopes 3 paychecks for bills.

3. I run a budget report from documents, and an income/expense report from Quicken, each week after shopping so I know exactly down to the penny how close to budget I am weekly. I can't do that with the envelopes.

4. It's easier than takin X number of dollars each week out for groceries, etc...then dh would have a list with him when he goes to the bank so he gets the right amount out each week in cash for the envelopes. Yeah, that'll happen! Not!

But I still am so used to my leather Dave Ramsey envelope wallet that I don't want to get rid of it. So when I get misc cash (like egg money and survey checks)during the month, they go in the envelopes.

Cinnamonhuskies:

then dh would have a list with him when he goes to the bank so he gets the right amount out each week in cash for the envelopes. Yeah, that'll happen! Not!

I can sympathise. My husband never remembers to take money out or worse, he once lost it.

Cinnamonhuskies:

So when I get misc cash (like egg money and survey checks)during the month, they go in the envelopes.

That would be a good way to save for things you handle like clothing purchases or gift buying.

 1. Direct deposit?  Or dh goes w/o $$ for ? as a reminder of why he needs to remember?

2.  Fill your envelopes weekly

3.  Budget X for your categories.  Put cash in envelopes weekly, or however you are paid.  You can count what is left in the envelope to know what is left until the next envelope deposit.  Or maybe I'm not understanding why you can't do this with cash envelopes?

4.  Why can't dh do this?  Should you take over the banking?  Would seem to be the solution for continuation of your cash envelopes. 

I can't answer why Michelle can or can not follow what you suggest but I do know why envelopes only worked on a limited basis for us and now not really at all.

My husband faithfully deposits his checks but he hates having to take cash out so he refuses to do this on a routine basis.

What I really found difficult with the envelope idea is that I really needed to carry it all with me to take advantage of the system. I often buy gifts, school supplies, clothes and household items during routine shopping trips as I found deals on them with the exception being two large clothing specific shopping trips a year and the christmas fund that I use to finish off the gift pile. The bargain buying is rolled into my grocery and supply budget.

 Another problem that I have had is the bank holding a check. They hold it for 3 or 4 days. That would mean a 2nd trip to the bank to get cash. They dont want my husband to get cash from my check. His goes in a different account. I cant go to the bank during the day. Babs

 Well, that explains it.  I'm just glad the cash envelopes work for dh and I--accountability is needed and that sure does it for us.  I have a Dave Ramsey envelope system but don't use it due to the bulky size.  We just keep our cash envelopes at home and take out the $ we need when planning on spending for groceries, etc.  

 Dh takes careof his paycheck, that's just his way and it's OK.

He'd rather use debit cards.

I can do split transactions in Quicken.

If I have 7 - 9 envelopes, it means taking 7-9 percentages out each week in cash. No it would be a bother to him.

I could go back the next day and withdraw the cash I need. So I spend $5 to get the cash. However, when dh forgot to cash his check, I was going that night to shop so I used the debit card, and listed my transactions in Quicken. So I'm still allowing the same percentages each week for categories, just not in cash.

Maybe next month I'll go back to envelopes if dh remembers to cash his check.

Cinnamonhuskies:

He'd rather use debit cards.

My husband is the same way. He spends cash faster because he knows he won't spend more than we have in the account or funds I am relying on for bills that way.

 I toyed with the envelope system, but it was inconvenient for me; since my checks are direct deposit, it seemed redundant to go to the bank to take cash out.  This is my third month with a "new" system and it's working beautifully for me. It may not work as well for some in different circumstances, but it seems to be my ideal solution. Here's what I do:

First, I stop writing checks/using debit card a few days before the end of the month so that on the 1st, everything has cleared; this shows me where I am, going into the new month. On the first, I go online and transfer from savings into checking a whole month's worth of money; I'm salaried and my income doesn't vary, so I know exactly what I'll be getting. Incoming checks are direct deposited into savings to replenish it during the course of the month. I then pay my whole month's bills right off the bat; I have one cc statement that doesn't come in until the 5th, but after that, I'm done paying regular bills.  What's left is discretionary.  I allow myself one trip to an ATM during the month to withdraw $40 'walking around' money if needed; other than that, everything is done by debit card.  I fill my car up each Sunday, usually between $20 and $25 (I live close to work), and limit myself to no more than $75 per week on groceries and household items. I, of course, try to make the most of this money and trim it whenever I can by shopping sales and using coupons.  My goal is to have as much as possible left in my account on the last day of the month. At that time, after transferring the "new" money into the account, I can use the previous month's surplus to make an extra debt payment, buy something that I need (an item of clothing, replace a broken toaster, etc.), or just put it all back into savings to pad that a little. I don't leave it in checking though; once the month is gone, that money is no longer 'up for grabs'. So far, I have had between $200 and $300 left over to pay extra on debt or save. This is by far the best system I've tried to date. No muss, no fuss; and to know exactly how I'm doing on monthly budget, I only have to look at my checking balance.  

We're trying the envelopes again for February. For my B-Day I bought myself a red designer envelope system with matching coupon organizer from daveramsey.com.

The thing is, with the cash envelopes, when the first payady of the month is a week out like it is for Feb., I actually should use the payday money from Friday the 30th to fill my envelopes for the next month, or it makes it frustrating to wait that week (yeah I know it's only a week) if I need gas in the car. It's more frustrating if I've already spent my budget the week before that!

So I need to think more about when I'm taking out the cash for the envelopes for the month. It was nice on dh's old job where I could fill all the envelopes for the month with one paycheck. Now it takes almost 2 paychecks for the month, so I'll have to cash out a little each week I suppose.

Dh will still have to be able to use the debit card instead. I wonder if it'll work to have one person on envelopes and the other on debit card/checks?

The one nice thing about taking the cash out at the beginning of the month is that it made reconciling a snap....less entries!