Latest posts by Kumiko Ehrmantraut (see all)
- What is Your Starting Balance & Why Does It Matter for Your Budget? - November 25, 2020
Are you finally ready to organize your finances and budget, and have fun while you are doing it?
One of the reasons people give up on their money is because they don't have an organized system. Budgeting can seem extraordinarily overwhelming and boring if you are only crunching the numbers, but working on your finances is so much more than that!
It's coloring in your visual trackers to observe progress, it's making colorful envelopes for a new pay period, it's designing new savings trackers, it's organizing your budget binder in a way that makes sense for you, and it's finding a way to get the work done creatively.
Today, I want to share with you all of my favorite office supplies that I use to organize my finances and budget.
MY BUDGET BINDER
My Budget Binder is used for all things finance related. I currently use the 2019 Budget-by-Paycheck Workbook to help me organize my budget and finances.
Here is a list of supplies that I use for my Budget Binder:
Binder (1.5-inch): This year I opted for a 1.5-inch binder instead of the 1 inch. I use my binder to hold multiple worksheets and printables, so having a bigger binder gives me extra space if I need it.
Pencil Pouch: I use different pens and accessories for all of my different binders. For example, I like to use different pens for my Meal Plan Binder than I do my Budget Binder. Having a pencil pouch filled with all of my different binder accessories in the front of each binder helps me to access what I need quickly. I am currently using three different pencil pouches for three different binders.
Monthly Tab Dividers: My Budget Binder is currently organized by month. Even though I am a paycheck budgeter, which means I create a new budget every time I get paid, I like to have all of my budget worksheets organized with monthly dividers.
Sharpies for my Expense Tracker: I use the highlighter method to track my expenses, and I LOVE using the 10-pack Sharpie Liquid Highlighters. They don't smudge or bleed through the page.
Pens: Unfortunately, the pen I love writing with is no longer available. I use the Zebra Z-Mulsion EX 1.0, and I love it because it never smudges and writes smooth. I bought these on Amazon about a month ago, and they work just as well.
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. I am really picky about the type of paper I print my envelopes on because I have learned that some copy paper made my colors look dull. 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, it's important that they are durable. I use a 28lb weight paper, so that don't bend or tear easily.
Clear Carrying Pouch: One way I protect my envelopes is by keeping them in a clear plastic pencil pouch. I keep the pouch in my purse at all times, and my cash envelopes never get damaged. In fact, after a month, they still look brand new.
Paper Glue: To make my Horizontal Design Cash Envelopes, you need glue. I have been using Zip Dry Liquid Glue for about six months after a friend recommended it to me. It dries super fast and is very strong.
Printer: I get a lot of questions about what type of printer I use at home. I am currently using a Canon TS9120 All-In-One. It has a 6-color individual ink system which makes printing large blocks of color fast without sacrificing quality. I originally got it to print high-quality photos at home, but it has done an excellent job printing off all of my colorful cash envelopes as well.
OTHER OFFICE SUPPLIES THAT I LOVE
Markers for My Visual Trackers: If you have been following my Instagram, then you know I am a huge fan of visual trackers for tracking my progress on my debt and savings journey. They genuinely make budgeting fun, and they keep motivated along the way. It's nice to see your progress, especially when you feel like you aren't making any. I bought a pack of fifty Crayola Super Tip Markers, and I love having all of the color choices!
Pens for My Meal Plan Binder: I like to use multiple colors for my Meal Planning Printables. I use a different color for every day of the week, which makes it easy for me to reference recipes for a specific day, plus it just makes my Meal Planning prep a lot more fun. I am currently using an assortment of colors from Pentel. They don't smudge like most gel pens, and they don't bleed through the paper.
You should be excited to work on your budget and finances every day! These are some of the products that make my financial journey more manageable, and the work becomes a lot more fun too! I am hoping that these list of supplies make it easier for you to organize your budget binder and gets you started on a creative system for your finances!
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