I've been noticing lately that I'm using my card for literally everything, even tiny purchases like coffee or gum. But my friend swears by cash, says it helps him budget better. Curious what everyone else prefers and why?
I totally get where you're coming from with the card thing—it's just so convenient, right? But I gotta say, your friend's onto something with cash. A while back, I noticed my spending was getting a little out of hand (those daily coffee runs add up quick...). So I decided to try the cash-only method for a couple weeks, just to see.
Here's what I did: first, I set aside a specific amount of cash for each week—groceries, gas, coffee stops, whatever. Then, I left my cards at home. It felt weird at first, but after a few days, I started noticing how much more aware I was of each purchase. Handing over physical bills just feels different, you know? It made me pause and think twice before grabbing stuff I didn't really need.
Now, I'm not saying you have to ditch the card completely—I still use mine plenty—but giving cash budgeting a try even temporarily might help you get a clearer picture of your spending habits. Worked wonders for me, anyway.