That $5 budgeting binder I bought at a garage sale changed how I save for trips.

Found this beat up binder in a box in Portland back in 2018. Had a whole system with cash envelopes and a tracker sheet. I used to just guess what I spent eating out but this thing made me write down every coffee and taco. Now I plan vacations and actually have the money for them. Anyone else use a weird old system that just works better than apps?

2 comments

2 Comments

wood.john13d ago

That $5 budgeting binder" - man I feel this so hard. I still use a literal receipt shoebox from 2019 that I decorated with stickers like a middle schooler. I tried those fancy apps but I kept forgetting to log stuff until 2 AM when I was half asleep and then I'd just guess and round down. My shoe box system forces me to actually look at my spending while I'm still holding the crumpled receipt from the gas station. It's ugly and dumb but somehow I saved $800 for a trip to Nashville last year using it.

briancampbell13d ago

I mean, kinda the opposite for me - apps catch my spending in real time before I lose the receipt.