Latest posts by Kumiko Ehrmantraut (see all)
- 7 Ways to Support Local This Holiday Season Without Breaking the Bank - October 14, 2021
Are you finally ready to organize your finances and budget, and have fun while doing it? I’ve seen too many people give up on their money goals because they don’t have an organized system in place.
And if all you’re doing is crunching numbers, budgeting can be an incredibly tedious task. That’s because working on your finances is about more than just looking at the numbers every day.
Working on your finances involves coloring in your visual trackers so you can see how much progress you’re making. It involves making colorful envelopes for a new pay period and designing new savings trackers.
It’s about organizing your Budget By Paycheck Workbook in a way that makes sense for you and finding ways to get the work done creatively.
My Favorite Budgeting Supplies
Having the right tools on hand will not only make budgeting easier and more efficient, but you’ll have a lot more fun doing it. So today, I want to share with you all of my favorite office supplies that I use to organize my finances and budget.
Budget By Paycheck Workbook
I use my Budget By Paycheck Workbook for all things related to my budget and finances. It allows me to organize my bills, see what upcoming payments are due, and organize my cash for the cash envelopes.
It also gives me a place to identify my short and long-term financial goals. And I can track my progress from month to month, so I always know if I’m on target to hit my goals. Basically, it’s my home base for everything related to my finances.
Here is a list of supplies that I use alongside my Budget By Paycheck workbook:
Mildliner Highlighters for my Expense Trackers: I use the highlighter method to track my expenses, and I LOVE using the Mildliner highlighters in all different colors. They’re water-resistant and dry quickly, so they never smudge or bleed through the page.
Sharpie liquid highlighters: You can find Sharpie liquid highlighters on Amazon in a variety of different colors. One of the things I like about them is that the ink indicator lets you know when you’re running low on ink. These highlights are perfect for filling in your visual budgeting trackers or using them on your expense tracker.
Pens: When it comes to pens, I just go for a black pen that doesn't smear or bleed. One of my favorites is the Zebra Z-Mulsion EX 1.0, and I love it because it never smudges and writes smoothly.
Teller Slip Sticky Notes: Whenever I go to the bank, I like taking a Teller Slip Sticky Note so my bank teller can see exactly how many bills I need of each specific denomination. That way, when I go to stuff my envelopes, I have the right bills that I need.
Cash Envelopes
There are a couple of different products that I love using when it comes to my cash envelopes. I design, print, and make all of my cash envelopes at home, and I’m very particular about how they look.
For instance, I’m really picky about the type of paper I print my envelopes on. I’ve learned that certain types of copy paper will make the colors look dull. Finding the right paper and supplies ensures that your envelopes will be more functional and last longer.
Here is a list of products that I use for my cash envelopes as well as the printer that I use at home:
Paper: Since I make all of my envelopes at home and carry them in my purse a lot, they need to be durable. I like to use a 28lb. weight paper so that it doesn't bend or tear easily.
TBM Filofax Wallet: One way I protect my envelopes is by keeping them in my Filofax wallet. I keep the wallet in my purse at all times, and my cash envelopes never get damaged. In fact, after a month, they still look brand new.
Double-sided tape roller: For a long time, I used paper glue to make my Horizontal Design Cash Envelopes. But now, I like to use a double-sided tape roller. If you’ve ever used a white-out roller, it looks similar to that.
Hole punch: I use a 6-hole paper punch so I can keep my cash envelopes easily accessible and secure in my Filofax wallet.
Printer: I get a lot of questions about what type of printer I use at home. I’ve used a couple of different printers over the years, but currently use a Brother Business Color Laser Printer.
It prints professional color documents quickly and efficiently, without sacrificing quality. And it uses high-yield 6,500-page replacement toner cartridges, which cuts down on the money I spend replacing printer ink.
Other Office Supplies I Love
Markers for My Visual Trackers: If you follow me on Instagram, then you know I am a huge fan of visual trackers for tracking my progress on my financial journey. They genuinely make budgeting fun, and they keep me motivated along the way.
It's nice to have a visual reminder of your progress, especially when you feel like you aren't making any. I bought a pack of fifty Crayola Super Tip Markers, and love having all of the color choices!
You can find other of my favorites (budgeting and household-related) in my Amazon Shop.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully, after reading through this list, you’ll see that buying budgeting supplies doesn’t have to be expensive. Many of the supplies I use, like markers, paper, tape, and highlighters, are all relatively inexpensive.
And it’s possible to make many of your own supplies, like the cash envelopes. Of course, you may want to invest in a more expensive, high-quality item like a printer, but that’s not something you’ll need to replace frequently.
Budgeting doesn’t have to be a chore — I think you should be excited to work on your finances every day! These are some of the products that make my financial journey more manageable, and the work becomes a lot more fun (and beautiful), too.
Hopefully, this list of supplies makes it easier for you to organize your Budget by Paycheck Workbook and gets you started on a creative system for your finances!
What supplies do you use for budgeting and managing your finances? Let me know in the comments!
Hello! How do you create visual trackers, like your Discover Card one? Is it as easy as creating a word document?
Thanks,
Melissa
I make all of my own in word, but you can get a ton of free ones from >> https://debtfreecharts.com
I know you print your own cash envelopes using good quality paper, But are the cash envelopes that you sell online made from paper too?
I have both planners one BBP is almost used up and the other one-Live Rich Planner-I will start using in November. I’m debt free other than a credit card I pay off monthly that I use for food groceries and gas. Is there a planner that is better for me?