#EXPENSE TRACKER ENVELOPE PRINTABLE HOW TO#

We’re the ones who get to decide where our money goes, after all, and it’s liberating to actually know how much money we have and set aside our monthly expenses according to our financial priorities rather than just flying by the seat of our pants.

Now, we just began this process, but already, we’re seeing the monthly budget not so much as a fun-buster, but as a fun-creator. So, while we may not be earning “rewards” from using our credit cards, we’ll likely be spending less money…a reward of even greater value. I mean, it makes sense: the idea that it “hurts” a lot more to pay for that iced caramel macchiato in cash rather than simply by scanning my glittering Starbucks Gold card. What did we have to lose? The Cash Budget Envelope System Yet after hearing testimony after testimony on the podcast about the system actually working for so many people, we decided to stop pre-judging it and at least try it out. Because with the cash budget envelope system, once the money runs out in an envelope, that’s it for the rest of the month. I also wondered if it would mean eliminating a lot of the “fun” in our lives like date nights and spontaneous trips. We were both resistant to the idea the Dave Ramsey envelope system at first, simply because it seemed like such a hassle (and what about our credit card cash rewards?!). We’ve tried using both paper ledgers and in the past however, we’ve never been able to stick to a system for more than a month or two. While we’ve made great financial progress, one area in which we’re seeking growth this new year is creating and sticking to a monthly budget. It was such an epic moment!Īnyway, The Dave Ramsey Show has really inspired us to get our financial rears in gear, and we’ve worked hard to accomplish several of his “baby steps” such as building up our emergency fund (which we needed last year when one of our cars kicked the bucket). Actually, a fellow blogger and friend, Kelly from View Along the Way, enjoyed a debt-free scream with her husband Andy and their two kids last January. One of my favorite moments on each show is the “debt-free scream” where families actually come to Dave’s studio in Nashville to share their story of getting out of debt ( some of ’em are tear-jerkers, not gonna lie), and then they get to celebrate by counting themselves down to a Braveheart-esque debt-free scream.

#EXPENSE TRACKER ENVELOPE PRINTABLE HOW TO#

For those who may not know, Dave Ramsey is an author and financial advisor who offers advice to callers on how to achieve financial peace. We are both avid podcast listeners, and one of our favorites of 2014 was The Dave Ramsey Show. Here’s a little background on what changed that furrowed brown to an intrigued eyebrow raise that said, “Okay…let’s give it a go!” I know, your eyebrows just furrowed a little, didn’t they? Mine did, too, pretty much for an entire year. Mark and I are taking a leap this year and venturing into something brand new on the financial front: we’re preparing to try out a cash budget envelope system.

Expense tracker envelope printable