Can we talk about the $2 scratch pad trick that finally got my cash spending in line?

Mark Torres · 2026-11-11T21:25:08.098161+00:00

For about 8 months I was losing track of where my cash went every week, and by Friday I'd have maybe $15 left out of the $200 I pulled on Monday with no idea what happened to it. So I tried writing every single purchase on a dollar store pad, even a 75 cent coffee, and taping the receipt next to it so the paper shows the real math. Here's the debate though: my buddy says that's just a budget with extra steps and I should track it all in my head, but I think writing it down is the whole point because my head lies to me. Part of me feels like I'm babysitting myself with a notepad while other folks just carry less cash and call it a day. Which side are you on, does writing it down make you more careful or is it just extra work?

Rigidtalk

Loading…

Can we talk about the $2 scratch pad trick that finally got my cash spending in line? | Cash Only Lifestyle - Rigidtalk