In a digital age, where money is just a mere number on the screen and can disappear without you knowing, it can really help to have a physical representation of it in front of you, so you know exactly what you’re spending on what.
Having cash in your purse or wallet isn’t easy - sometimes, things can get disorganized, and that twenty-dollar note you were saving for gas can accidentally get spent on eating out instead.
Why Would I Want to Use a Cash Envelope System?
The cash envelope system is perfect for people who feel like they need a little extra control over their finances.
If you’d like to ensure that you are spending within your budget, whilst also making sure that important bill money gets put aside to be spent only on its specific purpose, the cash envelope system might be just what you are looking for.
Cash envelopes can help you to clearly label each amount that you wish to set aside for each bill/ spending category. Some cash envelopes are able to be labeled using a pen or pencil, whereas others can come already pre-labeled into the most common categories for you.
There is a large range of styles and sizes - some cash envelopes are perfect for fitting into a wallet you already own, some come with the wallet that they are intended to be used with, and others can come with super handy extras, such as calculators or a notepad for budget plans. Whatever your needs, there is sure to be a budget planner out there for you!
How Do I Use the Cash Envelope System?
Cash envelopes are absolutely perfect for saving money - simply distribute your chosen amounts throughout each of your envelopes, making sure to put at least one ten-dollar bill (or more, depending on how much you have spare) within your ‘savings’ envelope.
By putting this money within the envelope and then allowing yourself to ‘forget’ about the envelope for the month (perhaps by leaving that envelope at home), you can save a bit of extra money up each month. You might choose to assign an envelope to coins.
By using this savings system, you can add your coins to your savings envelope at the end of each month also - it might not seem like much, but every small amount adds up to a bigger one eventually.
If you struggle to make your money stretch throughout the month, a cash envelope system is perfect for helping you keep track of exactly what you’re spending, and on what.
At the beginning of the month, you allocate a certain amount of money to each category.
For example, you may choose to put thirty dollars into your gas money envelope. Once you have allocated your thirty dollars, this then becomes the maximum amount of money that you intend to spend on gas that month.
Of course, you may have an emergency fund envelope that you can tap into if absolutely necessary, but by having all of your money allocated already with the chosen amount put aside for that specific task, it’s easier to stay organized and spend within your budget plan.
The budget planner comes in a sleek black wallet, with four RFID blocking slots to ensure that your card details don’t get stolen.
The RFID blocking is particularly useful with this wallet, as the wallet itself includes thirteen different card slots, alongside the ID holder, to make sure that you’ve got absolutely all the room you need to keep all your financial tools in one place, and allowing you to prioritize the most important cards as necessary.
The cash envelopes themselves have tabs on them allowing you to clearly label each one and see all of your labels at the same time.
The budget sheets and expense sheets are perfect for allowing you to keep track of all of your finances, so you can quickly check your wallet at any moment for a decent round-up of exactly how much money you have to spare, as well as how much money you have spent (and on what) at absolutely any time.
This budget planner comes with absolutely everything that you need in order to get your cash envelope system up and running, including:
RFID blocking wallet
twelve beautifully designed cash envelopes
twelve monthly budget sheets
twelve monthly calendars and to-do lists
twelve expense tracking sheets
coupon and receipt booklet
zippered change pouch
Twenty-four labels
Pros:
RFID blocking wallet - helps to protect your cards from being cloned
All of the budgeting sheets you need - to ensure that you stay on track throughout the month
Zippered change pouch - ensures that you don’t list any coins throughout the month
Cons:
All of the different budgeting sheets may be hard to keep track of
These gorgeously designed cash envelopes are all tabbed, allowing you to stay organized by seeing each different money sorting category at once. This makes finding each envelope much smoother - helping you to skip the awkward fumbling that can often happen when at the store checkout.
The set includes twenty-four sticker labels, allowing for a much easier time labeling each of your cash envelopes, as well as twelve tracking sheets that you can fill in throughout the month, helping you to keep track of your finances.
This beautiful cash envelope set includes:
Twelve beautifully designed, plastic cash envelopes with tabs
Twelve tracking sheets
Twenty-four sticker labels
Pros:
Twelve beautiful designs
Tracking sheets - all of the tracking sheets that you should need
Sticker labels allow for ease when labeling your cash envelopes
Yes, you read that right - this brilliant cash envelope kit even includes a marker, which you can use to make sure that all of your notes are legitimate.
Alongside the twelve wear and tear-resistant cash envelopes, which come in a range of assorted colors, you also receive a cash organizer wallet, which helps you to keep all of your envelopes safe in one place.
The envelopes can stand up against water and a bit of rough and tumble, which is always super important for any container that is responsible for keeping your money safe. You can even write on the envelopes, helping you to keep track of your monthly budget and expenses.
This money envelope set genuinely does have everything you need to keep your money organized, whilst making sure that it’s real. This set includes:
Twelve tear and wear-resistant envelopes
Cash organizer wallet
Counterfeit bill detector marker
Pros:
Wear and tear-resistant - envelopes won’t break easily, keeping your money safe
Wallet helps to keep you organized - everything gets kept in one place
Counterfeit bill detector marker - means that you know that your money is always legitimate and will be accepted
If having a calculator around is absolutely crucial to making sure that you get your numbers right each month, then investing in this cash envelope ring binder like this one might be a good decision.
Not only does this ring binder come with twelve cash envelopes to help you manage your money, but it comes with labels to label them with and a calculator that fits inside of it, ensuring that you've got something to help you to add finances up on the go, no matter what!
The label tags also give you the freedom to label your cash envelopes in whatever way you need, meaning you can have your cash envelope system up and running in no time at all!
This ring binder is sure to provide you with everything that you need to make sure that your finances run smoothly each month.
The binder includes:
One leather ring binder
12 envelopes with zippers to seal
12 pastel labels
One calculator with an inbuilt ruler
Pros:
Pastel labels - allow for a good aesthetic feel
Calculator with an inbuilt ruler - ensures that you have everything you need at all times
This wallet really does keep everything nice and neat within it. By using the handy binder note, included within the wallet, you can keep each of your cash envelopes nicely organized and easily accessible whenever you need them.
The set also comes with twelve budget sheets, helping to stay on track with your budget plan throughout the month, alongside its twelve beautifully designed envelopes - helping you to stay stylish, as well as organized. Amazing!
This cash envelope wallet has everything you need to keep your finances organized, all neatly packaged into this one wallet.
The set includes:
One PU leather wallet
Twelve cash envelopes
Twelve budget sheets
One binder note
Pros:
Quality material - allowing you years of use
Wet erase marker envelopes - great if you’re just starting out with the cash envelope system, as you can erase mistakes as you go
If you like to organize in color, then these cash envelopes might be perfect for you.
The cash envelopes in this set are each made from cardstock, with a clever budgeting system nicely printed onto each one, ready to be filled in. The cardstock helps them to stay strong and sturdy through any wear and tear that the cash envelopes might be put through.
These envelopes are printed in an assortment of different colors, so if you organize best by color, these envelopes will help you to achieve your goals.
Simply add your cash, fill in the sheet, and place it neatly in your purse or wallet, ready to be used the next time you need to go shopping.
Pros:
Color coordination - easily see your situation at a glance
Perfect fit - carry your envelopes in your existing purse or wallet
Not only is the binder absolutely gorgeous, but it also has enough room for a bank card, ID, passport, another card, and even includes a pen holder! The binder is A6, and has just the right amount of room to keep both you and your money organized, without taking up too much space or being too bulky.
The set also includes budget sheets, as well as transparent cash envelopes, which help you to easily see your money without having to open the envelope each time.
This is another great set with everything you need in it to get started on your cash envelope budgeting system. The set includes:
One PU leather binder
Twelve cash envelopes
Twelve budget sheets
Twelve customized category stickers
Pen loop
Pros:
Includes twelve customized category stickers - ensuring you can label your envelopes as you need
Budget sheets - allows for better organization throughout the month
Pen loop - ensures that you always have a pen handy without losing it
Not only are the included cash envelopes super stylish, with gorgeous designs, but they are both water and tear-resistant, helping them to hold up against the rough and tumble of your everyday life.
If you’re new to using cash envelopes as your chosen budgeting system, this set is perfect for you, as it includes a quick start guide with all of the information you need to know in order to start your own cash envelope system, including information on how to use the included double-sided budgeting sheets. Perfect!
Okay - this set is pretty awesome.
Not only are the designs absolutely beautiful, but the set includes:
Twelve gorgeous cash envelopes
Twelve double-sided budgeting sheets
Carry pouch
Quick start guide
Summary of the year
So this set really does have it all.
Pros:
Beautiful designs - help you to look forward to distributing your cash
Quick start guide makes it super easy to get your budget plan rolling
Summary of the year allows you to track your progress
This set is simple, but it has everything you need in it. As well as the leather binder, the kit comes with eight clear cash envelopes that fit into the binder perfectly, twelve budget sheets in six colors, helping you to keep track of all of your finances. To keep you even more organized, the set doesn’t forget to include twenty-six category labels, ensuring that you have what you need to label your envelopes as well as keep them safe.
If you’re looking for a cash envelope set that includes everything you need, then it may be worth considering this one.
This kit includes:
One PU leather binder
Eight cash envelopes
Twelve expense budget sheets
26 labels in different categories
Pros:
26 labels in different categories make labeling an easy process
PU leather binder - ensures that everything is kept in one place
Expense budget sheets - these make sure you stay on track throughout the month
These cash envelopes are beautifully designed and are worth buying the set for their designs alone. Not only are they laminated, but each cash envelope has a tab on it, making for easy labeling and organization.
The binder includes multiple card slots, alongside a couple of large storage pockets and two pen holders. The binder uses magnets to keep it closed, ensuring that it won’t just randomly fly open as you go about your day.
This amazing set even includes access to an online library, meaning you will be able to download and print all of the printables you could ever need, including budget sheets, calendars, to-do lists, and sheets for writing your notes down on! This binder is sure to keep you and your finances organized - without a doubt.
When initially imagining a cash envelope ring binder, this may be the type of set that everybody has in mind.
As you can see - this kit really doesn’t hold back when it comes to ensuring that you have everything you need to get started.
Alongside the gorgeous wallet and included strap, the kit comes with a marker, as well as all of the cash envelopes and sheets you need to create a beautifully organized cash envelope system. It even comes with a ruler, sticker labels, and a pen - just add your money, and you’re off!
With this kit, you’ll have your cash envelope system up and running in no time.
This cash envelope wallet system takes it to the next level.
The kit includes:
One wallet
One moveable wrist strap
One marker
One binder clip
Twelve cash envelopes
Twelve budget sheets
Quick start guide
One summary of the year
Five binder dividers (multicolored)
Fourteen sticker labels
One ruler
One calendar
Fourteen monthly budget sheets
Fifty-four weekly to-do lists
Fourteen calendar sheets
Pros:
RFID protection - keep your cards safe
Personal planner - stay organized while staying on budget
ID card slot - easily display your ID making this the o ku purse or wallet you need to carry.
This binder comes in a gorgeous pastel purple color, perfect for the most stylish cash envelope organizers. It comes with some beautiful labels to label each of your envelopes with, and even the included budget sheets have really pretty designs!
The plastic cash envelopes are clear and waterproof, ensuring that you can see which envelopes have money in upon opening your planner, without risking getting any of the contents of your binder wet. Perfect!
If aesthetics are important to you, this planner has your back.
The kit includes:
One pastel binder
Twelve water-resistant cash envelopes
Twelve budget sheets
Eighteen sticker labels
A ruler
Pros:
Pastel colors - aesthetically pleasing
Water-resistant cash envelopes - keeps your money safe
You can count on this binder to include everything you need, whilst incorporating some absolutely beautiful designs! The included cash envelopes all include beautiful designs, and they seal with a zipper, so they’re also secure!
The included binder is designed to make sure it’s got enough room for your cards and ID, with a simple pull open/close system on the binder rings.
This set goes as far as to include twenty-one sticker labels to label your pretty cash envelopes with, alongside a couple of category labels. With this kit, you also receive a mini calculator and detachable ruler, ensuring you have all the tools you need whilst on the go.
Finally, you also receive twelve budget expense sheets, allowing you to stay on top of your finances and keep track of where you are against your budget plan for the month, with ease.
This kit includes:
PU leather pink budget binder
10 cash envelopes/binder pockets
Twelve budget expense sheets
Two category stickers
Twenty-one sticker labels.
Bookmark ruler
Mini calculator
Pros:
Mini calculator - allows you to do quick maths on the go
Whilst this kit doesn’t include as much as other kits, the beauty of this one is how wonderful the designs of the cash envelopes are!
You could buy this as a top-up for a kit you already own, or you could use the envelopes as a starting point due to how handy the budgeting sheets printed on each of them are.
If you’re looking for some really pretty cash envelopes, these cash envelopes might be for you.
This cash envelope kit includes:
Thirty-six beautifully designed cash envelopes
Pros:
Beautiful designs
Thirty-six envelopes ensure that you have enough to last you
Budget sheets on envelopes mean that you don’t have to juggle different pieces of paper, it’s all in the same place
Not only do the cash envelopes come with a plastic organizer wallet, with thirteen pockets providing you with all of the space necessary for your organizational needs, but the pockets come with two sets of labels - one pack of rainbow labels, and one plain, making sure to give you all of the freedom you need to organize your system as efficiently as possible.
The kit also comes along with twelve budget sheets, which are double-sided, meaning that checking your expenses for the month should be as easy as opening up your cash envelope wallet.
This is another complete kit, helping you to get a solid start on the cash envelope budgeting system.
What’s in this kit?
Twelve cash envelopes
Twelve double-sided budget sheets
Twenty-four colorful sticker labels
Twenty-four blank sticker labels
A plastic wallet with thirteen pockets
Pros:
Double-sided budget sheets allow for easy budgeting
Assortment of sticker labels gives you the freedom to customize as you would like
Thirteen pockets mean that you have enough space to organize your money as you need to
The laminated envelopes have tabs for labeling, meaning that seeing each of your financial categories should be super easy once you’re all labeled up and ready to go. Speaking of labels - the kit includes twelve labels, helping to make sure that you’ve already got everything that you need.
Finally, the kit also includes twelve budget expense tracking sheets, which should be perfect for helping you to keep on track with your budget plan throughout the month.
The cash envelopes in this set are beautifully designed, like so many others on this list.
You can expect this cash envelope system to come with:
Twelve laminated cash envelopes
Twelve budget expense tracking sheets
Twelve sticker labels
Pros:
Laminated envelopes protect from wear and tear
Expense tracking sheets help you to keep track of where you are against your budget each month
Sticker labels allow for a much easier time labeling each cash envelope
The cash envelopes are really useful, due to how waterproof and resistant to wear and tear that they are. If you live a chaotic lifestyle, these may be the cash envelopes for you.
Not to mention, this set also includes twelve budget expense sheets, so you’ll have no problem sticking to your budget plan throughout the month!
These cash envelopes have some really nice designs!
Included with your cash envelopes are:
Twelve waterproof cash envelopes
Twelve budget expense sheets
Pros:
Stay organized, and stylish due to the beautiful cash envelope designs!
Safe from wear and tear - these cash envelopes are waterproof and sturdy
Budget expense sheets allow you to keep track of your finances as you go
The twelve cash envelopes are both tear-resistant and waterproof, adding some extra protection to your money.
The tracking sheets are perfect for managing your finances throughout the month - and the set comes with twelve, meaning you should have a year’s supply!
The twenty-four sticker labels included with the set make labeling super easy. This kit should definitely help you to stay organized with your money.
The set that these cash envelopes come with once again, had everything that you need in it to get started with your very own cash envelope budgeting system.
This is what you should get in your set:
Twelve cash envelopes
Twenty-four sticker labels
Three A6 zipper pockets
Twenty-four budget expense sheets
Pros:
Everything you need to get started - purchase the set and go!
Budget expense sheets allow for better organization
The twelve cash envelopes have gorgeous geometric designs decorating them, helping you to stay stylish and organized!
The budget expense tracking sheets are perfect for ensuring that you’re staying within your budget for the month, and the labels are amazing for getting your cash envelopes all labeled up and ready to go!
This is yet another set of beautifully designed cash envelopes!
You should receive these items in the kit:
Twelve plastic cash envelopes
Twelve budget expense tracking sheets
Twenty-four sticker labels
Pros:
Front-facing - discreetly and securely transfer money in and out of the envelope
Tab system - easy to see everything all at once
Twenty-four sticker labels make labeling smooth and easy
To start, this entire kit is beautifully designed. The cash envelopes are adorned with floral patterns that provide a bit of stylish flair throughout your cash envelope budget planner.
The budget sheets, calendars, and to-do lists will all come in ridiculously handy when it comes to managing all of your finances through this system. The kit also includes twenty-four labels, allowing you to label your cash envelopes as and when you need them.
Finally, the organizer wallet also includes RFID blocking, helping to protect your cards, thirteen card slots, a zippered coin pouch, and space for your ID, receipts, and coupons.
This is another big kit, with everything you need in it.
Included within this kit are:
Budget planner organizer wallet
Twelve plastic cash envelopes
Twelve monthly budget sheets
Twelve expense tracking sheets
Twelve monthly calendars and to-do lists
Twenty-four labels
Pros:
RFID protected keeping your cards safe
Budget sheets, calendars, to-do lists keep you even more organized throughout the month
Labels allow you to make sure each envelope is niced labeled and easy to identify
This cash envelope system is a bit different from the others on this list, as it includes a pouch with eight different plastic cash envelopes, ready for you to start organizing straight away.
Whilst this doesn’t include printables and stickers like other kits, it’s perfect for those that are looking for a simplistic approach towards this budgeting style.
Pros:
Simplistic system - great for those just getting started
Clear envelopes - allow you to see everything inside
Hi, my name is Deborah White, and I love to save money where possible. I will be the first person to admit that I am frugal, but when you have three children and two low income salaries, saving money makes all the difference. This is why I decided to set up this site, to help others save money too.
