Personal Finance & Money Stack Exchange
Personal Finance & Money Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [envelope-system]

For questions on the envelope system of budgeting, or its modern digital equivalents.

Traditionally, the envelope system is a method of budgeting where a person places cash into various envelopes set aside for various purposes (a grocery envelope, a transportation envelope, an entertainment envelope, etc.) Cash is taken out as it is spent, and when the envelope is empty, you are done spending in that category until you put more cash into the envelope.

Some modern budgeting software packages provide a digital version of the envelope system, where the user funds digital envelopes with money and the software deducts the envelope balances as the user makes purchases.

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How does the envelope budgeting system work?

I have seen a little bit about the "Envelope System" for spending, and while I think I have the rough idea of it, how does it work in detail. I know there is http://www.mvelopes.com/, but this site will neither tell me how it works nor explain how…
MrChrister
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In the envelope system, how often do I "clear" my envelopes?

I use digital envelope budgeting by creating subaccounts in gnucash and allocating my income between the subaccounts every month. Some expenses are relatively constant every month. Examples are groceries, electricity, internet, telephony, magazine…
gerrit
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Checking/Savings accounts that have sub-accounts

I like to use the envelope system for budgeting, but I can't escape the convenience of debit cards, so a few months ago I set up 5 debit cards, one for my primary account, food, gasoline, household items and personal entertainment. That way I can…
kenwarner
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Multi-Account Budgeting Tools/Accounts/Services

Every time I get paid, I take some of the money and allocate it for certain uses. I track this in a spreadsheet. This works fine, but it's not what I want in the end. Basically, I think what I want is the "envelope system" (cash in envelopes) but…
three-cups
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Digital envelope system: a modern take

Is anyone successfully using a digital form of the "envelope system"? I have some of the pieces, but have not figure out a complete process to automate. I am thinking of using a pre-paid debit cards (e.g. Kaiku) or another checking for food, gas,…
Sun
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Can I label my checking accounts? Trying the envelope system with debit cards

I want to use an envelope system and categorize my expenses. So lets say I have 3 checking accounts for: Grocery Restaurant GAS ... each will have its own debit card. I can write a label name for each debit card on the back, so I know which one…
FatherFigure
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With one checking and one savings, virtually divide into multiple funds?

I have one checking account and one savings account. I get my checks direct deposited to my checking account. Though, when I get my check, I divide it up into separate "funds" (or envelopes). But in reality, all those "funds" are just clumped up in…
Rob Avery IV
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