Budgeting Made Simple: The Envelope System [with Free Printables] (2024)

Finding the time and energy to budget can be hard sometimes, but budgeting doesn’t have to be stressful if you have the right system in place. One way to easily budget and save money at the end of the month is to use the envelope budgeting system.

What is the Envelope Budgeting System?

The envelope budgeting money management technique uses envelopes to keep track of how much money you can spend for different categories each month.

This is a traditional method used by the previous generations, and it can be extremely effective especially if you are a person who works better with something tangible in front of you.

The envelope budgeting system is a cash based system, that doesn’t require cards or using bank accounts.

Here is how to use the Envelope Budgeting System:

Create categories and come up with a budget

For expenses you have, group them into categories and label the envelopes accordingly. Examples of categories are bills, rent, groceries and other. Then allocate a reasonable monthly budget for each category so you have a limit of what you can spend every month.

2. Add Cash to Envelopes

Once your budget is set for each category, cash out the necessary amount and place them inside each envelope accordingly.

3. Spend Wisely

When paying for your groceries, or bills, take the cash out of the respective envelope and use it to pay, and save the receipt inside for better tracking.

Any money left you can add it to the next month’s envelope or put it in your savings account, or a savings envelope.

Are you ready to start budgeting? With these free printables from Mint below, all you have to do is cut, fold and glue according to the instructions and start budgeting!

To saveand print this envelopebudgeting printable set use thisdownload link

Family Savings Challenge Printable

While you’re focusing on budgeting and saving money, it doesn’t mean that life has to be miserable. On the contrary, there are many ways to have so much fun without spending anything at all, or spending very little.

This family savings challenge printable has a grid of 12 simple suggestions that will keep your kids busy and entertained on a very tight budget, allowing you to save the pennies.

The beautiful thing about these ideas is that the children will not even realise that you are budgeting, they simply enjoy the quality time together.

Once you have completed and ticked off everything on the list, you can always expand and create a second family challenge for yourselves with your own unique ideas for activities and family fun to continue the budget lifestyle.

To save this family savings challenge printable set use this download link

Mason Jar Savings Tracker Printable

This mason jar savings tracker printable is a cute visual way to keep a track of the progress you are making towards your savings goal.

Stick this mason jar print out up somewhere easily visible and mark off every savings milestone that you reach.

You can write the amounts at the side and colour the relevant section of the mason jar as you make your way up to the top to complete your savings goal. Whatever you are saving up for, this is a fun and cute way to see yourself progress!

To save this mason jar savings printable set use this download link

If you prefer to manage your budgeting in a digital way, check out this list of the best budgeting apps in the UK

More Practical Printables

Printables can be a great way to keep yourself and your life organised, in all kinds of ways.

Here is a selection of just a few more of the printables available here on In The Playroom, to keep your organised or save you money.

Back to School Lunch Box Note Printables

Reindeer Food Recipe Printable

Today Is a Great Day to Read a Book Printable Poster

Free Printable Christmas Labels

Free Printables for a Construction Party

Free Printable Wall Stickers for Kids Rooms

Printable Fruit and Veg Diary

Printable Bunting to Celebrate a New Baby

Free Printable Wrapping Paper

I hope these free money saving printables sets help you out on your budgeting journey. Please share with friends, or pin them to your Pinterest boards

In The Playroom

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Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.

As an expert and enthusiast, I don't have personal experiences or emotions, but I can provide you with information on the concepts mentioned in the article.

Envelope Budgeting System

The envelope budgeting system is a money management technique that uses physical envelopes to track and control spending in different categories each month. It is a traditional method that can be effective, especially for individuals who prefer tangible tools for budgeting. The system is cash-based and does not require the use of cards or bank accounts.

To use the envelope budgeting system, you can follow these steps:

Create categories and set a budget: Group your expenses into categories such as bills, rent, groceries, and others. Label envelopes accordingly and allocate a reasonable monthly budget for each category.
Add cash to envelopes: Once you have set a budget for each category, withdraw the necessary amount of cash and place it inside the corresponding envelope.
Spend wisely: When making payments for groceries, bills, or other expenses, take the cash out of the respective envelope and use it for payment. Keep the receipts for better tracking. Any money left can be added to the next month's envelope or put into savings .

Free Printables for Budgeting

The article also mentions free printables that can be used to support budgeting efforts. These printables include envelope templates for different categories such as fun money, gas & travel, groceries, rent & utilities, as well as a customizable envelope budgeting template. Additionally, there is a family savings challenge printable that provides suggestions for activities to enjoy on a tight budget. Finally, there is a mason jar savings tracker printable that visually represents progress towards a savings goal.

Please note that the specific printables mentioned in the article are not provided in the search results. However, you can find various budgeting printables online, including on websites that offer free resources for organization and money management.

I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article. Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with!