Budgeting with Quicken: Implementing Dave Ramsey's Envelope System Digitally

Track your spending

Dave Ramsey describes using an system of envelopes to create a budget. This is done by writing a category on each envelope and placing cash in each envelope. I personally don't like to carry cash or have it sitting around at home so I have developed a method to keep track of my spending using virtual envelopes. I would like to share this method with you below.

Step 1

List out all of the categories for your budget on paper.

Step 2

For each item in your budget create a cash account in Quicken. Title each of those accounts with "Envelope - 'category'".

'category' is the name of your budget category.

Step 3

Whenever you are paid, create a deposit entry in your main account for your payment amount.

Ex: I get paid my salary through automatic deposits, so if I were to get paid $2000 then I would create a deposit entry for my checking account in quicken for $2000.

Step 4

In Quicken transfer whatever is planned from your written budget for each category from your checking category.

Step 5

Whenever you spend money from your "Envelopes", keep track of it in your Quicken "Envelope - 'category'" accounts.

Things You'll Need

• A Computer

• Quicken Software

• Pen and Paper - To create your initial budget.

• All of your monthly bills.

Warning

It has been proven that you are less likely to spend cash then you would be to spend with a card, therefore, for you impulsive buyers, you would best be served by using Dave Ramsey's Cash Envelope System.