Stopped using budgeting apps and went back to a spiral notebook

After 6 months of trying every popular app like YNAB and Mint, I went back to writing everything down in a $1 notebook from Walmart. Tracking my spending by hand forces me to actually think about each purchase instead of just auto categorizing it. Anyone else find that old school methods work better for them?

2 comments

2 Comments

rivera.jesse23d ago

My budget app just turned into a sad little notification that I had already spent too much money. Spiral notebook can't judge me from a push notification. Plus now I get to feel like a detective matching receipts to handwritten entries.

the_lisa23d agoMost Upvoted

Have you seen that study about how physically writing things down actually helps your brain remember stuff better than typing it? I heard it on a podcast about habits and it stuck with me. Makes sense why the detective work with receipts feels more real than an app that just tells you you messed up.