Comments on: Track Your Spending with a Cash Notebook http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/ Common sense advice on money saving tips, how to get out of debt, high interest savings accounts, cd rates, money market accounts, mortgage rates, money management and more. Sat, 18 May 2013 20:38:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Retha Przybycien http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-3251882 Retha Przybycien Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:36:44 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-3251882 Shedding pounds is not easy for me. I was able to learn few new things about healthy living from your site. Good work. Shedding pounds is not easy for me. I was able to learn few new things about healthy living from your site. Good work.

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]]> By: cbudget http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-640521 cbudget Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:31:06 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-640521 My wife an I have been using this notebook we got for our wedding called mysistersbudget. It is a cool concept and has kept us on track. I actually have $500 saved up in my personal category so I can buy whatever I want. We just downloaded a free trial version of the software on mysistersbudget.com. It has worked for our family. My wife an I have been using this notebook we got for our wedding called mysistersbudget. It is a cool concept and has kept us on track. I actually have $500 saved up in my personal category so I can buy whatever I want. We just downloaded a free trial version of the software on mysistersbudget.com. It has worked for our family.

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]]> By: Annie http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-196248 Annie Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:48:07 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-196248 I get a receipt for every purchase - newspaper, coffee, anything I spend money on. I am forgetful, with the receipts I have proof of where my money goes and can enter it in my book later. This has saved me with my debit card too. The cashiers do not mind they just hit a button! I get a receipt for every purchase – newspaper, coffee, anything I spend money on. I am forgetful, with the receipts I have proof of where my money goes and can enter it in my book later. This has saved me with my debit card too. The cashiers do not mind they just hit a button!

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]]> By: eggspanther http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-162101 eggspanther Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:37:59 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-162101 I record details using the voice memo feature on my phone, and then update my Google Doc's spreadsheet when I get the chance. It's 2nd nature now. I record details using the voice memo feature on my phone, and then update my Google Doc’s spreadsheet when I get the chance. It’s 2nd nature now.

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]]> By: brewer http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-162026 brewer Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:41:06 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-162026 We keep track of our cash with an envelope system. My wife bought an easy envelope system at www.crunchycute.com based on Dave Ramsey’s teaching and it works really well. We have 11 categories for our budget and have had great success tracking our finances. We keep track of our cash with an envelope system. My wife bought an easy envelope system at http://www.crunchycute.com based on Dave Ramsey’s teaching and it works really well.
We have 11 categories for our budget and have had great success tracking our finances.

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]]> By: 8 Ways to Take Control of Your Finances in 2008 ? Get Rich Slowly http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-111164 8 Ways to Take Control of Your Finances in 2008 ? Get Rich Slowly Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:32:38 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-111164 [...] matter how you track your spending — the most important thing is to do it. You can use a cash notebook, you can use an on-line tool like Wesabe, or you can use a piece of software like Quicken or [...]

[...] matter how you track your spending — the most important thing is to do it. You can use a cash notebook, you can use an on-line tool like Wesabe, or you can use a piece of software like Quicken or [...]

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]]> By: Boston SEO Freelancer http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-96801 Boston SEO Freelancer Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:22:33 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-96801 Great tips I also recoment microsoft money is a great tool to keep track of all your expenses. Great tips I also recoment microsoft money is a great tool to keep track of all your expenses.

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]]> By: Get Rich Slowly » 2006 » December » 01 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-23476 Get Rich Slowly » 2006 » December » 01 Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:06:49 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-23476 [...] Featured Entries Cheap Clothing JackpotAre College Funds Necessary?Track Your Spending with a Cash NotebookHow To Acquire a Good Entry-Level Joblinks for 2006-08-25Wesabe: a Web-Based Personal Finance Tool360 Degrees of Financial LiteracyPenny Pinchers: I Want My Four DollarsPop Buys Pop (a GRS re-run)links for 2006-09-26 [...]

[...] Featured Entries Cheap Clothing JackpotAre College Funds Necessary?Track Your Spending with a Cash NotebookHow To Acquire a Good Entry-Level Joblinks for 2006-08-25Wesabe: a Web-Based Personal Finance Tool360 Degrees of Financial LiteracyPenny Pinchers: I Want My Four DollarsPop Buys Pop (a GRS re-run)links for 2006-09-26 [...]

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]]> By: Get Rich Slowly » Wesabe: a Web-Based Personal Finance Tool http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-18035 Get Rich Slowly » Wesabe: a Web-Based Personal Finance Tool Sat, 18 Nov 2006 21:55:47 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-18035 [...] Conclusion I often stress the importance of tracking what you earn and spend. It’s one of keys to accumulating wealth. From my limited use of Wesabe (I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks) it offers some keen features. I can’t foresee it replacing Quicken at this point (and I’m not sure its creators intend for it do so), but it’s certainly an excellent supplemental tool. [...]

[...] Conclusion I often stress the importance of tracking what you earn and spend. It’s one of keys to accumulating wealth. From my limited use of Wesabe (I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks) it offers some keen features. I can’t foresee it replacing Quicken at this point (and I’m not sure its creators intend for it do so), but it’s certainly an excellent supplemental tool. [...]

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]]> By: Get Rich Slowly » Wesabe: Web-Based Personal Finance http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-18034 Get Rich Slowly » Wesabe: Web-Based Personal Finance Sat, 18 Nov 2006 21:54:51 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-18034 [...] Conclusion I often stress the importance of tracking what you earn and spend. It’s one of keys to accumulating wealth. From my limited use of Wesabe (I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks) it offers some keen features. I can’t foresee it replacing Quicken at this point (and I’m not sure its creators intend for it do so), but it’s certainly an excellent supplemental tool. [...]

[...] Conclusion I often stress the importance of tracking what you earn and spend. It’s one of keys to accumulating wealth. From my limited use of Wesabe (I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks) it offers some keen features. I can’t foresee it replacing Quicken at this point (and I’m not sure its creators intend for it do so), but it’s certainly an excellent supplemental tool. [...]

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]]> By: Get Rich Slowly » Wesabe: a Web-Based Personal Finance http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-18031 Get Rich Slowly » Wesabe: a Web-Based Personal Finance Sat, 18 Nov 2006 21:52:09 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-18031 [...] Conclusion I often stress the importance of tracking what you earn and spend. It’s one of keys to accumulating wealth. From my limited use of Wesabe (I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks) it offers some keen features. I can’t foresee it replacing Quicken at this point (and I’m not sure its creators intend for it do so), but it’s certainly an excellent supplemental tool. [...]

[...] Conclusion I often stress the importance of tracking what you earn and spend. It’s one of keys to accumulating wealth. From my limited use of Wesabe (I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks) it offers some keen features. I can’t foresee it replacing Quicken at this point (and I’m not sure its creators intend for it do so), but it’s certainly an excellent supplemental tool. [...]

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]]> By: Jeremy Eaton http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-17909 Jeremy Eaton Sat, 18 Nov 2006 02:57:38 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-17909 I am a financial retard and spendthrift. However, I worked my way out of 20K in debt on a nominal income through tracking my expenses. This IMHO is THE WAY to stay on budget, spend wisely, and get rich. Now I can blow money securely, knowing that I can budget for it. It feels like I have more money than most people I know, but it mostly because I am rigorous in tracking it. Try it. Track, budget, save, invest, and you are guaranteed to become rich. I know, because I did it. I am a financial retard and spendthrift. However, I worked my way out of 20K in debt on a nominal income through tracking my expenses. This IMHO is THE WAY to stay on budget, spend wisely, and get rich. Now I can blow money securely, knowing that I can budget for it. It feels like I have more money than most people I know, but it mostly because I am rigorous in tracking it. Try it. Track, budget, save, invest, and you are guaranteed to become rich. I know, because I did it.

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]]> By: Don http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-17257 Don Thu, 16 Nov 2006 19:02:59 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-17257 I don't have the personal will to write down every cash purchase on a regular basis, but my darling girlfriend and I once did it for every purchase for an entire month. It was remarkably informative, even for someone like me who's a congenital tightwad. I can't recommend the exercise highly enough. I don’t have the personal will to write down every cash purchase on a regular basis, but my darling girlfriend and I once did it for every purchase for an entire month. It was remarkably informative, even for someone like me who’s a congenital tightwad. I can’t recommend the exercise highly enough.

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]]> By: Beth http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-17242 Beth Thu, 16 Nov 2006 18:05:55 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-17242 Odd guy out - I tried to do this off and on for years, and was never successful. A couple of years ago, I had a problem with a member of my household pilfering wallets, and I got fed up, got a debit card and have not carried cash since. It's easier to track, and - *for me*, I know this is not true for everyone - easier to discipline as well. I'm less likely to pull out the card for a $2 or $3 purchase, so instead of spending more, I just pass on the purchase entirely (and this is helping with the weight loss thing as well, particularly with the drastic decrease of chocolate raids at the gas station across the street from my office). If one of my my housemates asks for five bucks for gas, I say, "no, but I will go to the gas station with you and fill up your tank." I remember that I spent it, I have a record of how much I spent, and I know that there won't be another $5 emergency in a day or two. Odd guy out – I tried to do this off and on for years, and was never successful. A couple of years ago, I had a problem with a member of my household pilfering wallets, and I got fed up, got a debit card and have not carried cash since. It’s easier to track, and – *for me*, I know this is not true for everyone – easier to discipline as well. I’m less likely to pull out the card for a $2 or $3 purchase, so instead of spending more, I just pass on the purchase entirely (and this is helping with the weight loss thing as well, particularly with the drastic decrease of chocolate raids at the gas station across the street from my office). If one of my my housemates asks for five bucks for gas, I say, “no, but I will go to the gas station with you and fill up your tank.” I remember that I spent it, I have a record of how much I spent, and I know that there won’t be another $5 emergency in a day or two.

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]]> By: Katy http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-17153 Katy Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:03:38 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-17153 We track purchases with Quicken, and both my husband and I have PalmOS devices as well, so we use PocketQuicken for this sort of tracking. We have virtual accounts set up for "K. cash" and "R. cash", and try to log purchases as we make them. I know I am not as accurate with the cash purchases -- since I don't always get a receipt, sometimes if I'm recording the purchase a bit later, it does get rounded off. We track purchases with Quicken, and both my husband and I have PalmOS devices as well, so we use PocketQuicken for this sort of tracking.

We have virtual accounts set up for “K. cash” and “R. cash”, and try to log purchases as we make them. I know I am not as accurate with the cash purchases — since I don’t always get a receipt, sometimes if I’m recording the purchase a bit later, it does get rounded off.

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]]> By: Matt http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-17147 Matt Thu, 16 Nov 2006 15:53:21 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-17147 Between the computer and a notebook either works well for me but I found that the little notebook captured more. Either or is a matter of self discipline. Between the computer and a notebook either works well for me but I found that the little notebook captured more. Either or is a matter of self discipline.

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]]> By: Emile http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-16891 Emile Thu, 16 Nov 2006 01:44:13 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-16891 I live in China where pretty much all transactions are cash, so I guess I use cash much more than I would in the US. I have a hipster PDA, and in it I have a card on which I keep track of cash I spend (I also have GTD next action lists, and flashcards for reviewing my japanese / arabic when I'm waiting for the subway). Works fine! I haven't gotten around to transcribing it into the computer tho :P But it's still a useful answer to "where did that money go?". I live in China where pretty much all transactions are cash, so I guess I use cash much more than I would in the US.

I have a hipster PDA, and in it I have a card on which I keep track of cash I spend (I also have GTD next action lists, and flashcards for reviewing my japanese / arabic when I’m waiting for the subway).

Works fine! I haven’t gotten around to transcribing it into the computer tho :P But it’s still a useful answer to “where did that money go?”.

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]]> By: Savvy Samurai http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-16867 Savvy Samurai Wed, 15 Nov 2006 21:34:19 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-16867 You can make personal organizers over at www.pocketmod.com as well. Its free! You can make personal organizers over at http://www.pocketmod.com as well. Its free!

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]]> By: Mona http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-16859 Mona Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:54:40 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-16859 I keep track of cash with an envelope wallet system. I got this wallet from Dave Ramsey's website and it works really well because I can keep a record on the envelope I am using. I have the envelopes categorized- food, clothing, etc. I think using cash is the best way to go as long as you have a budget in place. I started doing a zero based budget about a year ago and it has been the best thing for my family. I keep track of cash with an envelope wallet system. I got this wallet from Dave Ramsey’s website and it works really well because I can keep a record on the envelope I am using. I have the envelopes categorized- food, clothing, etc. I think using cash is the best way to go as long as you have a budget in place.
I started doing a zero based budget about a year ago and it has been the best thing for my family.

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]]> By: Glenn http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-16828 Glenn Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:26:27 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-16828 I used to track cash on a palm pilot, but I found that there was a declining margin of utility in that I was spending a lot of time tracking purchases that were not worth tracking. My current method is much simpler. I go to the ATM only once a month, and I can use that money anyway I see fit. The spending is therefore controlled, which is the original purpose of tracking it to begin with. I usually carry one week worth of cash at a time, leaving the rest in an envelope at home. I used to track cash on a palm pilot, but I found that there was a declining margin of utility in that I was spending a lot of time tracking purchases that were not worth tracking. My current method is much simpler. I go to the ATM only once a month, and I can use that money anyway I see fit. The spending is therefore controlled, which is the original purpose of tracking it to begin with. I usually carry one week worth of cash at a time, leaving the rest in an envelope at home.

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]]> By: Carol http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-16821 Carol Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:09:24 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-16821 I've got one of those daily calendar books (they're called diaries here in the UK). I keep it on the counter in the kitchen. I write my spending down on the appropriate day's page. If I find a receipt in my pocket, I can check it against that day's page in the calendar, and write it in if it's missing. I’ve got one of those daily calendar books (they’re called diaries here in the UK). I keep it on the counter in the kitchen. I write my spending down on the appropriate day’s page. If I find a receipt in my pocket, I can check it against that day’s page in the calendar, and write it in if it’s missing.

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]]> By: J.D. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-16816 J.D. Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:01:23 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-16816 I do this, too, but for some reason I don't like to mix cash receipts with credit receipts. Also, not every place gives a cash receipt. It's always bad news when I empty my wallet to find more than two weeks worth of receipts. That's a sure sign that I'm going to have a marathon Quicken session and I'm going to have trouble finding something... I do this, too, but for some reason I don’t like to mix cash receipts with credit receipts. Also, not every place gives a cash receipt. It’s always bad news when I empty my wallet to find more than two weeks worth of receipts. That’s a sure sign that I’m going to have a marathon Quicken session and I’m going to have trouble finding something…

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]]> By: Binary Dollar http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-16814 Binary Dollar Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:59:01 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-16814 I stuff receipts into my tiny wallet. If I don't want to walk around with a big bulge in my pants (har har), then it motivates me to empty my wallet and record where my money went. I stuff receipts into my tiny wallet. If I don’t want to walk around with a big bulge in my pants (har har), then it motivates me to empty my wallet and record where my money went.

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]]> By: pussfeller http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/comment-page-1/#comment-16767 pussfeller Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:35:14 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/11/15/track-your-spending-with-a-cash-notebook/#comment-16767 Rockefeller used to do the same thing, since like age 6, when he started buying candy in bulk and selling it retail to his friends... Rockefeller used to do the same thing, since like age 6, when he started buying candy in bulk and selling it retail to his friends…

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