New technologies often offer helpful ways to manage work, including saving, and a growing number of apps claim they can track expenses, winnings, alert you when you’re spent, or even push you toward profit. The aim is simple: save money day by day.
Today the focus narrows to a traditional savings method that many grandmothers relied on decades ago and which still serves well today.
Echoes of older techniques reappear as this money-management approach gets revived by creators on platforms like TikTok. It is commonly known as cash stuffing, and on this platform it has drawn a wide audience because the method proves effective for keeping finances in check.
Save like grandma did
The idea is straightforward: set aside cards and apps for payments and return to cash handling. This may seem like a step backward in a world of digital wallets, yet many find that cash discipline offers clear visibility into spending.
A visual reminder of the concept can be seen here: a young person holding a piggy bank.
- Estimate the money needed for each expense such as food, transportation, and entertainment.
- Label envelopes with these categories.
- When you receive a paycheck, allocate funds into envelopes according to needs.
- When making purchases, take money from the corresponding envelope. If there are changes, return the money to its envelope.
- Keep a regular check on remaining funds and adjust spending as needed.
- Transport: covers all related costs, from gas to public transit fares.
- Groceries: includes food, cleaning supplies, and pet products.
- Leisure: accounts for recreational activities such as movies or evenings out.
A final reminder of the savings approach is shown here: a caption indicating the method in practice.
The important point is to maintain a clear view of how much money remains to prevent overspending. The basic rule is simple: when cash runs out, spending stops.
Prefer digital?
For those who feel more comfortable online than with cash, the envelope approach can still work in a digital form. Instead of filling real envelopes with cash, simply write out the budget and track it there.
The key takeaway is to maintain a constant sense of remaining funds to stay on top of spending. The rule remains unchanged: once the cash is gone, no further spending should occur.