I thought the 'cash envelope' thing was just for people who couldn't handle a debit card, but putting $400 in an envelope for groceries last month stopped me from buying a $12 jar of fancy pickles.

Has anyone else had a system they mocked actually work for them?

3 comments

3 Comments

Oh man, I totally get this! I used to laugh at the idea of a paper planner, swore by my phone calendar. But I started writing tasks down in a cheap notebook and it just clicks in my brain differently. Actually seeing the list and crossing it out stops me from forgetting little stuff. That physical barrier, like your envelope with cash, makes you pause and think twice. It’s wild how a simple switch can fix a spending or planning habit you didn’t even fully see.

andrew_kelly3mo ago

Honestly though, is forgetting little stuff really that big of a deal? Tbh my phone reminders work fine and I don't lose the notebook. It feels like making a simple thing into a whole project. Ngl I tried the paper thing and it just made more clutter for me to keep track of. The envelope thing seems like a hassle when a card works fine. Maybe some people just like the extra steps.

gavine4129d ago

Bought one of those fancy reusable water bottles with the time markers on it, you know the ones that say "9am" and "noon" to remind you to drink. Thought it was the dumbest thing, like who needs a bottle telling you when to chug water. I used it for a week and honestly it worked better than I expected. Not because of the times but because I kept seeing it on my desk and it bugged me until I took a sip. Same with the envelopes I bet. The physical thing sitting there is harder to ignore than a notification you swipe away.