Cash-in-envelopes budgeting post-covid

[niq]

We are trying to get mom to take better control of her finances. I brought up the idea of "cash in envelopes" budgeting, and she seemed interested. Is there a way to simulate this with debit cards? Has anybody tried it? Or should I just have her use a debit card for everything and then use her bank's website to track spending by category?

I asked and it seems like most places she goes regularly take cash, but there are a bunch of businesses in her neighborhood that are contactless now.

[jennysmitten]

Maybe prepaid debit cards?

[awkwardpenguin]

So a zillion years ago I did cash in envelopes, and I actually did cash in a coupon organizer with different tabs for each category. I think in this day in age, I'd probably do that plus a debit card for anything where cash is not an option and "pay back the bank" (or a jar) from the cash.

That said, there is Mvelopes, which is an app that simulates this sort of thing. I think the Chime debit card is linked to its own similar spending app. But all those require tech savvy, and I think it takes away the "there is no money in the envelope" feeling that cash creates.

[lizlemon19]

Our local grocery store offers bill paying. Can she go in person with cash?
At the customer service desk.

[dellabear]

I used to use the Goodbudget app, it’s a digital envelope budgeting tool.

[twinmomma]

I have two checking accounts with two different debit cards. One is only for budgeted bills and the other is for extra/spending money. Most of my direct deposit goes to the bill pay account. All the budgeted stuff is basically on auto pay and just withdraws automatically from that bigger account. I only use that debit card for gas and groceries. Then the other spending money account gets a much smaller portion of my direct deposit each week and I can use it for anything that would fall under entertainment, eating out, etc...

[quesyrah]

I like the dave Ramsey every dollar app. I use the free version.

I love a cash budget but it’s hard these days when people don’t want cash.

[dragon's breath]

YNAB is great, I just hate that they went to subscription based software (I still used my old one-time-purchase software I got for $15).

If she needs something more "physical" though, she could use Monopoly/play money to help track the debit purchases with physical envelopes. Some people just can't get the mental connection to money when it's all digital.

[zarapipe]

I love YNAB and I use the budget like envelopes. But like pp said it is more expensive now. I just renewed and it was $80 for the year. But you can have more than one budget I believe so a whole family could share if you all had separate accounts or if you take care of her finances.