Categories in my Envelope System

I still need one for clothes, but here is what we have right now....

Relationship/Dates

Food

Gifts

Eating Out/Shops

Household

Miscellaneous

My very own cloth cash envelopes!!!

So Joshua and I use the cash system and try our best to avoid using credit or debit cards. We still use it for some things like gas but we are trying to adhere to our budget and the best way is by using cash. Amazing what you realize you don't really need when you are paying in cash. We started out just doing a "food envelope" with cash but have slowly been making more and more envelopes. If you've ever used the envelope system you know how terrible using paper ones are since they deteriorate and get ripped and you could actually lose your money. Well I've been dying to make my own cloth ones and I finally got around to making my very own set of cloth cash envelopes. Below are pictures of them and each envelope is different and has a fabric that reflects the category--can you guess what they are? Also they magnetically close which is so amazing!!!

Moneysavingmom's New Book!

I am so excited about a new book that Crystal Paine (otherwise known as Moneysavingmom) just wrote on budgeting!!! I go out to her site pretty much everyday to check on deals she shares and read about things she is doing or learning! She is quite an inspiration. So I am so happy that she is getting her first book published and I can't wait to read it myself.

Here's a little bit about it: Crystal Paine, who has helped busy women everywhere take control of their finances, presents her most effective strategies designed for families of all sizes and income levels.With hundreds of inspiring “why didn’t I think of that?” TIPS, plus WORKSHEETS, Paine breaks down your goals into easy, manageable steps so you can• Achieve a complete financial makeover • Set up a realistic budget • Never pay retail • Slash your grocery bill • Organize your time & your home• Us e coupons wisely • Pay with cash only • Live simply • Become debt free • Choose contentment • Make every dollar count

If you want to get it you can pre-order it (it doesn't come out till January) at Amazon here.

Money Saving Tips Part 1

• If you are in need of a five gallon bucket with a lid to store food in--I store bulk flour and popcorn so far--don't use the pickle buckets you can buy for $2 at Firehouse Subs as you can't get rid of the pickle smell and eventually your food starts to absorb it. But you can get free buckets with lids at Sams Club from the baking department if you ask--they get their icing in them.
• If you need a free 8x10 picture take up Walgreens on their "free collage" and just have one picture on it which makes it an 8x10 with a border. That's what I do to print my little ones pictures for the mantel. 
• Chik-Fil-A (which we love) has just released their 2012 calendars which cost $6 but for each month they have a coupon for a free food item. They are wonderful and more than pay for themselves--they have things like drinks, pairfait, chicken sandwich, chicken chef salad (which cost about what the calendar costs normally). You can really use the coupons anytime even though they say to use them during a particular month. These are so great to have in the car when you are riding around doing errands and need a snack! We have gone through two calendars this year!
• Watch your food receipts...at Moe's if you buy something then fill out an online survey they give you a free taco so that winds up being a whole free meal since they give you free chips and salsa as well. Joshua can make buying a $5.55 burrito and drink into three meals. Since the burrito is so big he splits in half and get chips for both meals, then fills out the survey and gets his taco meal as well. I also hear that Arbys does something similar if you buy anything on the back of the receipt you can fill out a survey and get a free sandwich...you can keep doing this with extra receipts that people throw away as well if you have another email address or phone number!