14 Free Printable Cash Envelopes for Family Budgeting

In today’s fast-paced world, managing finances can often feel like a daunting task. From monthly bills to everyday expenses, it’s easy to lose track of where your money is going.

That’s why my family and I got into the habit of using cash envelopes to track our spending. We initially started using regular, plain envelopes to hold our cash, but I decided to spice up our money envelopes with some color.

I created fourteen designs of printable cash envelopes that are completely free to download and print as many times as you like. You’ll find easy instructions for putting together the envelopes below. So, choose your favorite design(s) and get started organizing your spending!

Why You Need Cash Envelopes

If you’re not familiar with cash envelopes, they’re super easy to implement. I’m a huge fan of Dave Ramsey, and his books originally introduced me to the cash envelope system (which you can read about on his website here.)

For those new to the idea, cash envelopes are a budgeting system that involves allocating cash into designated envelopes for different categories of spending (such as groceries, dining out, entertainment, and more). This allows you to visualize and manage your money, making it easier to stick to your budget and avoid overspending.

Another benefit of printable cash envelopes is their ability to adapt to your changing financial situation. If you find that you’re consistently overspending in a particular category, you can adjust your budget accordingly and reallocate more cash to that envelope. Likewise, if you have extra cash left over in one category at the end of the budgeting period, you can carry it over to the next period or allocate it to another category as needed.

In addition to helping you stay on budget, printable cash envelopes also offer peace of mind and reduce financial stress. By having a clear visual representation of your spending, you’ll feel more in control of your finances and less likely to succumb to impulse purchases.

Plus, since you’re using cash for your transactions, you’ll be more mindful of your spending habits and less likely to overspend! It’s so easy that my kids even use a simple version of the envelope system with their weekly chore charts!

How to Make Them

To get started, all you need is a printer, paper (cardstock works best), glue or tape, and scissors. Once you’ve printed out the templates, simply follow these directions:

1. Cut out the envelope along the outside edges.
2. Fold along the dotted lines (shown in the image below).
3. Glue or tape the tabs to the spreadsheet flap. (For vertical cash envelopes, glue the small, bottom tab AND the long side tab. For horizontal cash envelopes, glue the two small tabs.)

You can then label each envelope with the corresponding spending category, such as groceries, transportation, utilities, and so on. Once your envelopes are ready, it’s time to allocate your cash.

At the beginning of each budgeting period, whether it’s weekly or monthly, withdraw the amount of cash you’ve budgeted and divide it among the envelopes accordingly. For example, if you’ve budgeted $200 for groceries for the month, place $50 in your groceries envelope each week.

As you go about your daily spending, use the cash from the designated envelopes for each category. When an envelope runs out of cash, that’s your cue to stop spending in that category until the next budgeting period. This simple yet effective method helps you stay accountable and prevents overspending, as you’re limited to the cash you’ve allocated for each category.

Printable Cash Envelopes

When you’re ready to get started, you can download and print the cash envelopes. I created 14 separate designs, but many of them coordinate with each other.

I like to print a different design for each category to make the organizing easier. When printing, I recommend using cardstock as it is thicker and more durable. You can use glue for the tabs, or double-sided tape works as well.

The button below will take you to a PDF file that holds all of the cash envelope templates. These are free for you to use as many times as you like!

Conclusion

Printable cash envelopes are a simple yet powerful tool for organizing your finances, tracking your spending, and staying on budget. With their versatility, convenience, and effectiveness, they’re a must-have for anyone looking to take control of their finances and achieve their financial goals.

So why wait? Print out your cash envelopes today and take the first step towards financial freedom!