I'm strange.

[nonethefewer]

I currently have, in Excel because I do everything there it seems, a workbook that will print one page.  It prints lines for folding the page thusly.  It has a section in the middle...

Okay, this is faster.

* A printed page.  (.pdf)

* The workbook itself.  (.xls)

So lo, I make a little envelope, and I put money in there each time.  That thing on the right is a scale, so's I can pencil over how much is in the envelope.  (Pencil rather than pen because I might want to move money around.)

I want this because I am utterly awful at budgeting, because it's not real or tangible to me.  Sooo, I'm wondering if it'd work instead to combine evelope budgeting with pictures, and a scale of how close I am to achieving that goal.  I'm not even thinking about bills yet.  I'm just thinking of things I'd like to save up to buy someday.  Like a BlackBerry, or more yarn for this one thing, or things like that.  If I can see both the object and the scale, I will be reminded that I want that thing, and I'll get all picky about finishing the scale.

I know there's a better way of doing it than Excel, but I haven't found it just yet.  In the best possible universe, it'd be a page based off this.  Eh, in the meantime.

Comments

[glib-dichotomy.livejournal.com]

nifty = excel file for templating envelopes
niftier = said excel file posted =)

grand idea actually. I've no sense of budgeting and I sense that this might help.

[the-xtina.livejournal.com]

OH RIGHT THE EXCEL FILE.

Jeez.

*edits post*

[cutieperson]

i think it's worth trying if you're not going to beat yourself up if it does not work, you know? but scales & charts & graphs are fun.

[the-xtina.livejournal.com]

I would just get envelopes and write on them, except (a) images definitely help and (b) I loathe printing labels.

[cutieperson]

*nodnod* i think the images are key.

[heinleinfan.livejournal.com]

I say go for it. David and I have managed to save more money, for longer, in a stupid jar than we were ever able to in a bank. "But, you aren't earning interest!" people say. Well, my $0 in my savings account wasn't earning any interest, either, you know?

So, go for it. Hell, I'd used color coded and candy scented condoms as a money saving device if I thought it'd work for me, so an envelope/picture/graph system that make sense to you is in no way a bad idea.

[fourgates.livejournal.com]

I think this idea is brilliant. I suggest you set up a web site similar to the PaperCDCase one, and rake in some Google AdWords cash.