Having cash on hand is a bad thing, in my case anyway

[cantdrv55]

According to my bank statement, it seems I withdrew the sum total of $700 from ATMs last month. Heck if I know where all that cash went. I usually put my purchases on AMEX or VISA and don't carry a balance. Those expenses I can track easily enough. I don't do so well with cash though.

I hate keeping/maintaining journals but looks like I'm gonna have to start one for keeping tabs on my cash expenditures. Now I'll really know how much I spend at Starbucks!

[hatpix]

I'm really bad at that too, if I have cash in my pocket, I'll spend it. The only solution I've found is to not carry and cash (except for parking meter change) and put every thing on a card.

[cantdrv55]

When I was a kid I used to have to take public transportation to school because we lived outside school bus route. One time I had spent all I had on lunch and didn't have enough for the entire bus ride home. It was looong walk the rest of the way. Traumatizing. I think that's why I feel I must always have cash in my wallet.

If anyone has a good system for keeping track of your cash, please lemme know.

[alf]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
...
If anyone has a good system for keeping track of your cash, please lemme know.

Reciepts.

I get a stack of them everytime I travel to China and Japan. Take out $100, when the cash is gone, you should have $100 in reciepts. Works for me.

[cantdrv55]

I've got a wallet full of receipts but they don't add up to $700. Obviously, I'm missing some. I have to remember to ask for them every time.

[dd74]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
When I was a kid I used to have to take public transportation to school because we lived outside school bus route. One time I had spent all I had on lunch and didn't have enough for the entire bus ride home. It was looong walk the rest of the way. Traumatizing. I think that's why I feel I must always have cash in my wallet.

I carry a set sum that will last myself and family for a couple days in case of a disaster. Call me paranoid, but I've lived through enough earthquakes, floods, mudslides and power outages to know it's good to have a reasonable amount on your person at all times.

[on2wheels52]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
...
If anyone has a good system for keeping track of your cash, please lemme know

Don't spend it!
Maybe it's a security blanket thing with me, I'd feel naked w/o $40 in my back pocket. Should I be found dead with <$250 in my wallett either I had just purchased something or suspect a robbery/homicide.
Credit card is for mail order.
Jim

[vash]

oh o....does your butt hurt?

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
I use a credit card for about 80-90% of stuff, including most lunch places too. And Starbucks as well...

-Wayne

Same here and my airline points show it. Over 1,000,000 points between three accounts, all from putting everything on a credit card. BTW, most of the cards are paid off in full at the end of the month.

Have not used an ATM in years and could carry $200 in my wallet for a month and not need to replenish it.

Starbucks? Do not drink coffee so not an issue...

[juanbenae]

it's all the ho's you been tipping.

[LakeCleElum]

I used to go out with the girl that saved $500 a month buy cutting out Starbucks and not renting movies.....It all adds up....

[syncroid]

CASH! Whats that? I usually don't keep much cash on my person. I use my credit cards for most everything and try to pay it off in full each month. The times I do have cash in hand I find it harder to let go of it then using a card.

[artplumber]

Originally posted by syncroid
CASH! Whats that? I usually don't keep much cash on my person. I use my credit cards for most everything and try to pay it off in full each month. The times I do have cash in hand I find it harder to let go of it then using a card.

Cash is King. Besides you might save yourself some money if you don't like parting w/it as described above.

If you're using the CC for everything, don't you guys get sticker shock every month?

[epbrown]

Originally posted by LakeCleElum
I used to go out with the girl that saved $500 a month buy cutting out Starbucks and not renting movies.....It all adds up....

Yep, a friend of mine freaked when I calculated how much she spent at *$ a year - it was over $4000.

For myself, I carry cash but I'm not much for impulse buying; I come in pretty much on budget every month, and have for years. I track everything in Excel, though, just to have a record.

[911boost]

I carry a set sum that will last myself and family for a couple days in case of a disaster. Call me paranoid, but I've lived through enough earthquakes, floods, mudslides and power outages to know it's good to have a reasonable amount on your person at all times.

Nah, that is what guns are for. Didn't you learn anything watching CNN covering New Orleans during Katrina?

[cantdrv55]

Originally posted by vash
oh o....does your butt hurt?

Yup, wifey ripped me a new one. All of the ATM withdrawals are off my company card.