PSA: I tried the 'cash envelope' system for groceries and it went wrong fast.

I gave myself $80 a week for food, but after a trip to Kroger last Tuesday, I realized I forgot to account for my cat's special food, which is $25 a bag. I had to dip into my rent money to cover it. Learned that a rigid budget without a small buffer for pet stuff or household basics is a recipe for stress. Anyone else have a good way to build in a 'forgot this' category?

3 comments

3 Comments

young.jamie11d ago

My grocery envelope always has an extra ten bucks for the cat food aisle.

hollyc9211d ago

Honestly, the cash envelope thing just made me so anxious. I tried it for gas money last month and got stranded because I forgot about a toll road. My whole system fell apart over three dollars. Now I just keep a twenty in my glove box labeled "Oops" for stuff like that. It's not really a budget category, more like a physical mistake fund. A strict plan never seems to leave room for real life.

aaronclark11d ago

Forget to plan for the little things and your whole budget cracks. @hollyc92 has the right idea with that "Oops" twenty. I tried a strict cash system for my truck gas and supplies, but a flat tire one week meant I had no cash left for the sealant I needed. Do you think having a single bigger buffer fund for all life's surprises works better than trying to guess every small category?