Cash envelope budgeting is one of the baby steps that Dave Ramsey suggests. These 5 free cash envelope templates make it easy for you to budget your money the Dave Ramsey way. Using cash helps you keep better track of your budgeting than using a credit or debit card.
These free cash envelope templates will easily fit in your wallet to make it easy for purchases. They are slim and easy to transport in a small purse as well.
I worked really hard on these free cash envelope templates to make them both cute and functional for your use. Included in this post is information about cash envelopes, why you would need them, how to construct your new free cash envelope templates, and how to download them. Scroll to the bottom of the post to get the 5 free cash envelope templates now!
What Are Cash Envelope Templates?
If you don’t want to spend all of your hard earned money, then you must stick to a budget. These free cash envelope templates make it easy for you to follow a budget. Because you aren’t using your debit or credit card to make purchases, it is easier to track your money.
When the money runs out of the envelopes for the specific category, then you are done spending! Do not transfer money from other envelope categories. This is a big no no!
What Can You Use Cash Envelope Templates For?
Cash envelope template printables can be used to budget your money. Using cash makes it simple, is visual, and eliminates the guess work.
Print out the cash envelope templates and give each one a category such as:
- Groceries
- Eating Out
- Clothes
- Hair
- Nails
- Shoes
- Gas
These cash envelope templates can be used to sort your cash based on the budget you have planned. Having a set amount of cash in each envelope makes it simple to see how much money you have left.
The cash envelope templates that I have designed will fit in any wallet or purse. You can then use your thumb to find the appropriate categorized envelope and use it for your purchase.
For example, you are at the nail salon and have budgeted $60 for a manicure for the month. Go your cash envelope labeled “Nails” to use to pay the nail salon.
Is Cash Envelope Budgeting Right For Me?
Are you a visual learner? This makes it perfect for visual learners to keep track of their budgeting on the go. There is no guess work as to how much money is left in each budgeting category.
Why is Budgeting Important?
Those who stick to a budget can see where their money is going. There is no overspending and buying things that you don’t need. The purpose of having a budget is to save money in an emergency fund. One of Dave Ramsey’s baby steps is saving $1,000 for household or medical emergencies.
Most people do not have $1,000 saved in their bank account, which is scary. If you don’t have $1,000 saved, then make that your first goal of budgeting.
Get the Busy Mom Budget Planner free to help you work out a budget for your family here.
If you stick to a budget, then you are on the road to financial freedom.
How to Create a Monthly Budget
Go through your past financial categories using your bank statement to determine how much you have been spending. Can you eliminate some subscriptions like Netflix or Boxy Charm? What will it take to get you to your financial goals?
Can you lower your monthly bills?
Each year, I lower my own family’s utilities and services. Other companies offer promotions all the time to get new customers. I call the competitors of my current company and ask if they can lower my price. If they can’t, I will call my own company and ask if there are new promotions!
Consider using Trim to lower your costs on services and utilities. The Trim personal finance bot makes it easy to switch providers and find the rate best for your budget.
Click here to check out the Trim Personal Finance Bot!
Determine Past Expenses
Your monthly gas bill might have been $150 in past months, so put $150 on your gas cash envelope. Gas is important so if you are driving more than usual and run out of cash, feel free to use cash in your entertainment envelope.
This would be one of the only instances where you should transfer money from envelope to envelope. You don’t want to get stuck with no gas!
Figure out how much money you have spent on other expenses too and write it down in a bullet journal.
Once you know how much you have spent in the past, you can see if you’d like to cut expenses. Are you watching Netflix enough? If not, consider eliminating it.
Maybe invest in Audible instead to listen to books in the car or at home. It is $16 a month and you receive one credit for a book.
Cash By Paycheck
It’s smart to use cash according to your paycheck. When you get paid, cash out your paycheck into your cash envelopes. You must leave some of your paycheck in your bank account if you have automatic bill payments.
I prefer to pay all of my bills manually if I can. However, there are some services that want automatic debt or credit card payments only.
Use a Spreadsheet
Using a spreadsheet is helpful to manage your expenses, but can be difficult to create. Consider checking out the Mom Beach Monthly Budgeting Spreadsheet to budget your expenses. There is a cash by paycheck tab in our spreadsheet as well as other tabs!
Click here to get the Mom Beach Monthly Budget Spreadsheet!
How to Use Your Free Cash Envelope Templates
After you have used the tutorial below to construct your free cash envelope templates, then you need to know how to use them.
You might feel overwhelmed and scared to try out this new budgeting method. Don’t be.
It’s extremely easy as you will see!
Create categories for each envelope and write the budgeted amount on that envelope. Go to the bank and request cash in $20’s, $10’s, $5’s, and $1’s for your envelopes.
Put the allotted cash into each categorized free cash envelope template. If you have loose change, then put that into the envelope too.
On your free cash envelope template I have typed “Amount”. Put the amount on each categorized envelope in this area. When you have spent some money, cross off the past amount and put the current amount.
I have provided plenty of space for you to do this with multiple lines.
What Categories do I Put on My Free Cash Envelope Templates?
After you planned out your budget, categorize your spending habits. Are you doing your nails and hair each month? Make those into a category.
For years I was spending money on maintaining a bottle blonde hairstyle. It started getting expensive to bleach my roots each month so I decided to go back to being a brunette.
Determine your other expenses in your household budget such as recurring monthly expenses and more.
What are the Average Household Budgeting Categories?
You may not have the average household. I sure don’t! I hope this helps regardless to see what categories you may need.
- Monthly Recurring Expenses – These are expenses like car payments, your mortgage, utilities, water, etc.
- Emergency Saving Fund – Try to save at least $1,000 in your savings fund for emergencies like health car or house mishaps. Open a savings account at your bank and transfer a percentage of your paycheck into this fund.
- Groceries – I have a 3 person household so spend $150 for each adult and $100 for my child. The total is $400 a month for groceries. I still have some money left over when I coupon. How much has your grocery bill been in the past? Consider planning your meals with our Weekly Planning Worksheets!
- Eating Out – Sometimes when I am too busy and don’t have time to cook then I will eat out with my family. We only do this 3 times a month or less and budget $150 for this expense. A few months in a row we have not been eating out at all! That’s money saved!
- Hair – Are you like I was in the past and must maintain your hair color or need regular hair cuts? Consider making a category just for your hair. How much have you been paying on your hair? Put that figure on the cash envelope!
- Beauty – Do you spend money on makeup each month? Every 6 months some makeup might expire so it is best to replace your makeup then. You could also put nails into this category too, unless you want a separate category.
- Entertainment – If you like going to the movies, concerts, sporting events, and more, then you need a category for entertainment expenses. Is there a Taylor Swift concert coming up that you have budget for?
- Gas – How much have you been spending on gas in past months? That figure is hard to change unless you invest in a fuel-efficient vehicle. You could also replace your tires to decrease the amount of gas you spend each month. Smoother tires have less friction on the road.
- Car Maintenance – Set aside some money for car repairs and tow trucks.
- Shoes and Clothes – Try to wear the clothes you already have to avoid spending in the clothing category. If you have small children, then regular spending on clothes and shoes is required. Maybe you could make a separate envelope for each child and one for yourself too.
- Pets – Do you have fur babies? Then you need to budget for their food and vet care!
- Other – Having a category for unexpected expenses that come up is paramount. You can’t tell the future, after all!
When you decide on your categories, label your cash envelopes accordingly. If you have expenses that are automatically drawn out like a water bill, then you won’t need to cash out that expense.
What do you spend money on when you are out and about? Only use your cash envelopes for those categorized expenses.
If you need more information about Dave Ramsey’s tips, then check out our article on 20 Simple Dave Ramsey Tips You Need to Know Now!
How do I Make the Free Cash Envelope Templates?
You need the follow to make your free cash envelopes!
- Color or black and white printer – These free cash envelope templates are pink so you may want to use a color printer. I tested them in black and white and they still look pretty. The zig zag design looks like silver!
- 8.5 x 11 Paper – This size of paper works the best. You can choose card stock or typing paper. You can even try other kinds of papers as long as the size is 8.5 x 11!
- Ruler or scorer – This makes it easier to fold the free cash envelope template on the dashed lines.
- Scissors – The free printable cash envelope templates are easy to cut out. There isn’t any fancy cuts you have to make because all are straight lines.
- Pen or Pencil – Use a pen or pencil to label the cash envelope print out
- Tape, glue, or glue stick – You need to hold the free cash envelope template together using something sticky! You could use staples too but it will look ugly.
#1 Print out the cash envelope template
Print the free cash envelope template on white 8.5 x 11 paper or card stock. You want to select “fit to size” so there won’t be any bleed.
#2 Cut out the template on outside edges and fold on dashed lines
Use the scissors to cut out your template on the outside solid lines. Do not cut on any dashed lines because you must fold those. Use a ruler or scorer if needed to make the folds neat.
#3 Fold up Bottom Flap
Fold up the bottom flap of the cash envelope template.
#4 Put glue or tape on the tabs and fold over
On the tabs, put glue or tape and then fold over the flap to create an envelope.
#5 Label the category and write the amount
Write what category the envelope is for and then write the amount inside of the envelope. As you spend the money, cross off that amount and write in the current amount. Keep the envelope current!
#6 Put the cash envelope in your wallet
Make sure to put the cash envelopes in your wallet to spend your cash on the go. Now you don’t have to worry about overspending. Congratulations!
Where do I get my Free Cash Envelope Templates?
Fill out the form below to get your free cash envelope templates sent directly to your email. There are freebies each month and no spam. Unsubscribe at any time!
If you are already a subscriber, then click here! Use the password provided to you in the email.
Related Posts:
- 20 Simple Dave Ramsey Tips You Need To Know Now!
- How to Save Money on Groceries: 4 Frugaltastic Tips
- 101 Mind-Blowing Creative Ways to Save Money!
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Kimberly says
I think your stuff is beautiful. I purchased a lot in the past but was only frustrated time and again that all of the designs printed out black, completely ruining the usable space on the page at times. Someone told me about how it does that when you print from a phone or tablet. I just bought a new laptop so I decided to try again. The images I printed last year are still black, but the images I downloaded this year only the black on the page printed. so the calendar is just a bunch of squares with the name of the month writer in black at the top. As if I did it myself with a ruler and a sharpie. I am an online as well as brick and mortar teacher. I print from the internet constantly. I haven’t experienced this before. Any ideas on how to fix this issue?
Hoping for help!!
Becky says
That’s strange. Maybe there is something wrong with your printer. I never printed from my cell phone before. Maybe it messes up the alignment. The cash envelopes are full color but look good in greyscale too.