Does anyone only use cash?

[PumpkinPie2016]

Hi

Although me and DH are pretty frugal anyway, I know for a fact that we waste money - things like popping in the co op for milk top ups but spending £10 on random things - sweets/a cake etc.

We are very good at ensuring we have the cheapest utilities/use a very reasonable and reliable mechanic/have the cheapest phone and internet. However, day to say we still seem to spend more than we'd like.

I'm guilty of taking DS (3) to the park/library/soft play and ending up buying lunch in the cafe! I also sometimes buy a school lunch or lunch from the bakery on the way to school - this is expensive and I know I could do my own but when I'm shattered/have a busy week I end up doing it

So, this last week, I have tried using cash more rather than my debit card - it has worked quite well and so I am considering using cash for food/fuel/day to day and then only the bills are paid from my bank.
Has anyone else done this? Did it help you to stop wasting money?

In addition, last week when I took DS to soft play, I timed it so that we didn't need food while there and I plan to keep that up to reduce spending in that way.

We could really do with cutting down on spending, hence my post on here so any advice would be appreciated.

i've started doing the same as you and using cash when i'm out, use it for food shop etc, really makes me keep things under control, i don't have credit cards and take a set amount of cash each week from atm to keep me on track.
savings have improved and i've cleared some debt to boot, what's there not to like ?

I do all of my food shopping, cleaning products and personal care products in cash, as a way of being more careful with my spending and paying off some debts. I basically withdraw the cash I think I will need at the beginning of the month and that's it! I know that I have to make it last until the end of the month so I definitely end up spending less than I would if I used a card. When I first started doing this I couldn't believe how much I was saving and had left in our account at the end of each month. It really makes money mean something again.

I try to use cash, I find I'm much more measured. Handing my card over is no problem but I resent handing over much cash!

Yes I mainly use cash other than purchases online. I try not to use my card in shops if I don't have to.

I often use cash but not 100% of the time. I think it's easy to spend on cards but seeing the physical cash makes you consider your spending more.

I'm a big user of cash for day to day things as well. I really only use my card for 'big' purchases, or getting my petrol once a week. I am saving hard, and agree it helps you keep a handle on little spends.

I think I'm going to adopt this for future use now. I have 5k worth of debt to clear by January 2018 and know that our biggest problem is using the card here and there.

Any other suggestions on saving to pay off debt would be welcome! Xx

Yes, I. A big fan of using cash. It really does help me cut back. I find it too easy handing over my debit card then before you know it you've forgotten how much you've spent.
I also try to use the envelope system. I withdraw a certain amount on pay day and assign it to different envelopes for certain things, i.e. Petrol , groceries, window cleaner are some of my examples

I'm now using the envelope system on my phone. I use cards but every single expense gets added and you can see what's dwindling in each envelope and cut your cloth accordingly xx

Join us frugaleers on this thread

I also use an envelope system called YNAB - you need a budget, cash just slips through my fingers and looking at my bank balance when there's money there makes me think I can spend, this system helps me to budget for future bills and I've not had an unexpected direct debit or gone overdrawn since I started using it. There's a 34 day free trial but if you use my referral link you'll get 2 months for free.

Hi,

I use cash. I budget for food (£100 per week), car fuel x 2 (£25 each) and pocket money for myself and DH (£50 each/week). I draw that amount out each Friday and the food money goes into a 'food purse' and the car fuel is put in each car every Friday. We usually spend about £75 on food so the remaining £25 goes into the 'food purse' to cover top ups of milk/bread/fruit.

I know the value of the direct debits each month so that amount is left in the BILLS ACCOUNT and I tick them off as they come out. I leave the money, above for pocket money/food/car fuel, in the SPENDING ACCOUNT and draw out a fixed amount each Friday. Anything else is transferred, on pay day, to another account 'SAVINGS POT'. I have 3 accounts with Barclays and all are linked in an offset arrangement with the mortgage.

I save, on average, £1200 a month doing this and helps us to stay in control. If I let DH loose with a debit card he'd clear the account in days!

Cash for groceries, everyday spending etc. Use card for buying household things etc. You can work within a budget if you see your money rather than trying to remember what you have been buying. It's old fashioned but any older person is likely to tell you it works.

I'd like to do this, but DH always worries about having cash in the house or keeping large amounts in our wallets in case they get lost or stolen.

In an ideal world what I'd like is to be able to add sub folders to my bank account and put certain amounts in each folder.

In reality what I've decided to do is to use a very comprehensive spreadsheet I've put together and every day or couple of days log into my online banking and record what I've spent in certain areas. I've added sums to my spreadsheet so whatever I add should total and give me a balance at the bottom ... we'll see how I get on otherwise I may have to try and convince DH that cash is the way forward!!

In an ideal world what I'd like is to be able to add sub folders to my bank account and put certain amounts in each folder

I'd really recommend Monzo - it has the above facility and will warn you if you're spending more than you should have been on track to for that category.

Oh thanks pigeon I'll check them out!!!

I set myself challenges to see how many days I can go without spending money ( excluding bills, food shopping and fuel)
I'll start the week with £30 ( for example ) in my purse and I want to see how much I've got left by the following Monday.
It's like a personal competition and immediately stops me buying coffee, magazine sets. In addition, what money is left over I put away as savings and start all over again!