Method
Cash envelope system: the discipline, minus the cash
The envelope system works because a finite envelope makes spending visible and painful. You do not need the paper to get the mechanism: category limits with real-time tracking create the same friction. Add dates, and the digital envelope also tells you when each one will run dry.
- Category envelopes
Groceries, dining, transport — each with a hard monthly limit.
- Envelopes with timing
See projected envelope balances by date, not just the month total.
- Refill automatically
Envelopes refill from income on schedule — no envelope stuffing.
- Empty-envelope warning
Know when the dining envelope hits zero before you reach for the card.
Digital envelopes keep what makes the system work
The power of envelopes is the visible, finite limit — when the envelope is empty, spending stops. Digital category budgets keep that limit and add what paper cannot: automatic tracking, a running balance per category, and a projection of when each envelope will run out.
Set up your envelopes
- Decide the categories that actually leak money: groceries, dining, transport, fun.
- Fund each envelope from income on its scheduled date.
- Log spending against the envelope and watch the balance.
- Review at month end and adjust the amounts.
Frequently asked questions
Does the digital envelope system work as well as cash?
For most people, yes — the hard limit is what matters, and digital tracking removes the inconvenience of carrying cash.
Can I have envelopes that roll over?
Yes, and the projection shows you the rollover effect across months.
Is it free?
Budget goals and the calendar are free forever; Pro is one-time.
Envelopes that count themselves
Free core, dated tracking, no bank connection.