I always spend less money if I use cash instead of my debit card or check book.
An excellent tip that I have used for years is so easy. When I shop, I always use money. When my change back consists of loose change, I always throw it in the bottom of my purse, instead of placing it back in my change compartment. At the end of the week, I empty all the change I've collected for that week in my change jar at home. I don't touch it till it's filled. Then I go to the bank with the change and deposit it into savings. It's always amazing how much I've saved by a simple task.
By Kathy
Leave your debit/credit cards at home when you go shopping. Take only the amount of cash you need, or have budgeted to spend. If you have any left at the end of your shopping trip, put it in a jar at home to save up for a special treat.
By Susan from Mount Vernon, WA
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I too now shop with what cash I have instead of using my debit/credit card. Now I play the coin game; of trying to use up all my coins instead of dollar bills. It's challenging but fun too. It's easy to stash all your coins in a jar, save and take to the bank, but I hate loose change. Now I give the cashiers my change instead of them giving me change.
I have decided to do this too. I have a job at a factory but I also work part time as a waitress and boy does that change add up. The other day I had 5 dollars in quarters alone.
I am going to do this, but I shop at 3 different grocery stores, and two of them participate in the U-Promise program (which means you need to use the debit AND savings card) But I do the bulk of my shopping at the lowest priced store, and buy the "participating/special bonus" products for special occasions. I got a $5 off school supply coupon at one of the more expensive stores with my shopping card, which is great because all I need are glue and erasers, which should be free after the coupon!
Speaking of spending less when using cash...I switched from credit cards to cash a few months ago, & my regular trip to the grocery store went from around $35 each trip to $18-20 each trip. It's amazing how much easier it is to throw something in the basket when you aren't "REALLY" paying for it with real dollars. It's sick that credit cards have ruined our perspective on money. So kudos to all of you who have gone back to spending real dollars!
Also, as encouragement to some of you, I tried the envelope system & got frustrated with is because I got bogged down in the little details. Now, I get cash out now on a weekly basis--1/4 of my monthly budget each Wed. I try to break $20s each time I shop during the week, and I know that I have $100 to spend each week, so I budget accordingly.
My method of saving is a little bit different--any one dollar bills I have left from breaking $20s go into an envelope on the fridge to save for things that aren't regularly in my budget (saving up for my little boy's birthday party, gifts for friends, etc.) I use ccoins that I have for any treats during the week (my husband coaches football, so we may get a little snack at the game...or we may go out for a treat occasionally).
The bottom line is--don't give up if one method of saving doesn't work for you--anyway you can find that works for you to save money is the method you need to use! keep trying until you find one--don't get discouraged if the traditional envelope system doesn't work for you.
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