110+ Cash Envelope categories Ideas for your Budget

The Cash Envelope System

The Cash Envelope System is a method of organizing your budget cash in separate envelopes. You designate an amount based on your budget for each envelope. First, choose your cash envelope categories that are a part of your budget. Then, money is then placed in each envelope at the budgeted amount.

If you set aside for example $100 for Groceries, you are only allowed to spend the money you put in the cash envelope labeled Groceries. Once the envelope is empty, you are done spending. It’s that simple! So it is important to always track your spending. The hard part is sticking to your budget no matter what. If you need more money you have to discipline yourself not to dip into other envelopes.

How to organize cash envelopes

You can organize your cash envelopes by writing the expense category for each one and then placing them in your wallet or a binder. There’s a step-by-step article on how to get started with the cash envelope budget. . You should take a look at this guide for cash envelope budgeting if you are just starting out. And I even have a breakdown of how to do the Envelope budget even without cash! Otherwise just so you have an idea. Below are the main steps.

Basic Budgeting with Money Envelopes Steps

1. Pick out which categories of your budget will be for the cash envelopes
2. Withdraw the Cash when you receive your income to stuff envelopes (Bi-Weekly or Monthly)
3. Label Envelopes and Stuff the alloted Budget amounts
4. Take the desired envelopes with you depending on what you are doing.
5. Spending only what is allowed in the envelope.

Plain envelopes are good enough to get started with this system, but who doesn’t love getting creative? Some other ways you can organize your cash envelopes are with a budget binder with cash envelopes, plastic cash envelopes, or clear cash envelopes.

A lot of fun cash stuffing envelopes can be found on Etsy or Amazon.

Related Articles on Cash Envelope Categories

• How to use the envelope system without cash
• How to start a cash envelope system
• The common monthly expenses to list in your budget
• Financial Planning in 2021: Are you ready to take the First Step?

Cash Envelope categories that should be in a budget

The Cash envelope categories that I would consider to be essential budget categories are the following:

• Housing (25-35 percent)
• Transportation (10-15 percent)
• Food (10-15 percent)
• Utilities (5-10 percent) …
• Insurance (10-25 percent)
• Medical & Healthcare (5-10 percent)
• Savings (10 percent)
• Debt Payments (10-20 percent)

Dave Ramsey Suggested Cash Envelope Categories

Each of your cash envelopes should be part of your budget categories. Dave suggests that you first think of the budget categories that you need cash for. Place and fill the envelopes based on your budgeted amounts. And only, ONLY spend what is in each envelope for that category.

Below are some of the cash envelope categories that Dave Ramsey recommends.

Additional Cash Envelope Category Ideas to use in your Budget

Conclusion

The types of budgeting that you try exist as well the cash envelope budget. Dave Ramsey and Clark Howard agree cash management is important for controlling your spending. Keeping track of the cash envelope budget makes the money look great and encourages spending. Click through our How to budget page to learn all you want to know about planning your budget. If you don’t think it will work at least try it for 30 days! At least you will get an idea of how to control your spending!