Cinnamonhuskies:

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.

Cinnamonhuskies:

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?

What categories were you putting into your envelopes to put cash in?

Misc. & cash on hand

Grocery

Gasoline

Household

Livestock Feed

Dining

I have an extra unmarked envelope

Brandy I tried it this way Im giving it a try the envolope methoed  but I need to back track on the fourm to read more on it first...

In the past I did quickin software which to this day I love specially when it has to do with numbers anyway can the envolope system and qucken work together keep the money in number 1 for rent and insurance and 2 for regular bills like waater, power ,heat and nuber 3 gas and food for the week the have the daily tally put on quickin or would something like this be a big royal pain in the butt...    I just like an openion because I failed several attemps on the envolope systems and I am not giving it up until its done right..

cindy

Cinnamonhuskies:

Gasoline

This is the one I can see you having some trouble with when it comes to your husband's fuel use. Do you plan to budget yours in cash then track his with Quicken as he will likely use the debit card or do you have another plan?

cheapChic:

In the past I did quickin software which to this day I love specially when it has to do with numbers anyway can the envolope system and qucken work together keep the money in number 1 for rent and insurance and 2 for regular bills like waater, power ,heat and nuber 3 gas and food for the week the have the daily tally put on quickin or would something like this be a big royal pain in the butt...   

Quicken has an option for calling an account a cash account. I found it to be a pain as I would be off with the cents or forget entries. I am sure it can work though and it might be worth a try to see if you like it.

I just want to note, that I really do like using cash for groceries and I do recommend it. I don't however have categories for school supplies, household items, gifts through the year and such as these are included in my grocery and household budget. This is where the concept of the cash envelope does not work for me. I tried to separate these purchases into categories and would find I left some of the funds at home or be fumbling around trying to extract from the different ones for the cash I needed at check out as I would often have food, household, OTC medicine, clothes and school/office things all in one trip. I do make two shopping trips a year for clothes and I do set aside funds to finish off the Christmas gift purchasing and for these I put aside cash to spend.

The other issue is lack of having much else to choose to spend in cash.I pay bills and use our bank's billpay for that and I am not responsible for paying much else. The remainder of spending is my husband's and most of it is work related, needing the paper trail of being put on his credit card or being on a bank statement.

Prior to the Dave Ramsey method, I would use budget categories in Quicken by creating accounts that I would transfer money back and forth. However, this made a huge mess for reconciling with the bank statements that could be worked through but it was a hassle.

When I go to the dollar store, some things are household, some are grocery, some are misc. I would pay out of one envelope then try to make up the differences later at home. Again, a pain.

Each plan has it's pros and...pains.

Brandy, as for gasoline, I usually take care of that as dh has a company truck. BUT if he's out and about and our truck needs gas, he won't have the cash with him UNLESS we plan for fill ups.

What dh does is oftentimes stops and picks up groceries for me on the way home, or dog food, or kleenex, or he will buy auto or tractor parts or tools.

I'm taking the cash left from dh's side job last night to partially fill an envelope or two.

When I use the envelopes and Quicken together, this is how I do it:

When I cash out dh's paycheck I have a split entry:

Salary                           $580.

Grocery                        -$200

Gasoline                      -$150

Dining                          -$80

Livestock                     -$40

Cash on hand               -$80

Household                    -$30       

Deposit                                      $0.       

So the paycheck is accounted for but no deposit actually made and all the expenses for the month are accounted for.                

Cinnamonhuskies:

I would use budget categories in Quicken by creating accounts that I would transfer money back and forth. However, this made a huge mess for reconciling with the bank statements that could be worked through but it was a hassle.

When I go to the dollar store, some things are household, some are grocery, some are misc. I would pay out of one envelope then try to

You can track amounts you want budgeted for spending in Quicken by entering the amount as if it was a payment made but placing the date in the future. For example, I have an entry for our rent payment. I have it dated for February 1st as that is when it is due so it reminds me of actual due dates or pay by dates. Each week I add $375 to the entry's amount so we build up for the rent without worrying that we cut ourselves short on it. When I make the actual payment I change the date to the one I am paying on.

This allows me to easily look at the total above this post dated entries to see our real balance and then also to see what is available for spending after these amounts are taken into account. The entries. are easily adjusted or deleted as needed.

This is in a way an envelope system that works better for us with our higher debit card use.

Cinnamonhuskies:

Brandy, as for gasoline, I usually take care of that as dh has a company truck. BUT if he's out and about and our truck needs gas, he won't have the cash with him UNLESS we plan for fill ups.

Ahh ok. I was thinking you were dealing with his making regular fuel purchases. That's not too bad.

OK, when i plan for our mortgage, I have an acct on Quicken called PreMortgage Acct. Quicken thinks it's a physical other bank acct but I just use it for transefers,,,on paper.

So each week I

TXFR to premortgage +$220.

 TXFR  from HSB Checking -$220

Then I can see the balance of the account build up each week.

However, IF I don't have all my transfers zeroed out by reconcile time, it gets confusing within the statement reconciliation.

Plus when I run a report, I have all these TXFRs that affect the bottom line.....when they really shouldn't. It's a Quicken peeve!