Quick Tip: In-Plain-View Budget Bulletin Board

by Mandi on July 29, 2010

bulletin board

The following quick tip comes from Tacy from Homemaking Habits and Love Baby Beck:

We needed a simpler way to keep track of expenses, so we turned a bulletin board into a method for tracking our income and expenses.

How-To

First, we labeled the various categories, and after this photo was taken, we added the budgeted amount to each category in red. Then, whenever we made a purchase, we used pushpins to tack the receipt up under its respective category, with the sum total of expenses for that category tallied on the top receipt. If we didn’t have a receipt, we tacked up a post-it note in its place, with the amount spent and the total sum for the category.

Its Perks

Like the cash-and-envelope budgeting system, a great thing about this method is that it’s tangible. But it is more convenient than the cash system because you can still use your credit or debit card. And unlike a checkbook or online system, which can be “out of sight, out of mind,” this is in plain view, so you cannot forget how much you’ve spent!

Of course, because it is in plain view, you may want to put it in an office or find a way to make it discreet when you have visitors.

Do you have a unique budget system that works for your family?

Tacy Williams Beck lives in Annapolis, Maryland and is expecting her second baby girl this October. She teaches Botany to 2nd and 3rd graders at a Classical School, while her husband Stephen pursues his Ph.D in Greek and Latin Classics. Some of Tacy’s passions (besides reading and writing!) include homemaking, theology, and ballet. She blogs at Homemaking Habits and about her family at Love Baby Beck.

http://naturecanopy.typepad.com/lilolu/ Jackie@Lilolu

I never thought to use a system like this but it will help keep us aware of our budget.
.-= Jackie@Lilolu´s last blog ..Homemade Toothpaste A Bust For Us =-.
http://naturecanopy.typepad.com/lilolu/ Jackie@Lilolu

I never thought to use a system like this but it will help keep us aware of our budget.
.-= Jackie@Lilolu´s last blog ..Homemade Toothpaste A Bust For Us =-.
http://naturecanopy.typepad.com/lilolu/ Jackie@Lilolu

I never thought to use a system like this but it will help keep us aware of our budget.
.-= Jackie@Lilolu´s last blog ..Homemade Toothpaste A Bust For Us =-.
http://www.simplysavvyliving.com Marjorie

I love this idea! I think it’s great because it’s a constant visual reminder. Also, children will have a better understanding of why mom/dad can’t buy the toy they want. Although, my teenager needs to be reminded sometimes as well. LOL
http://www.simplysavvyliving.com Marjorie

I love this idea! I think it’s great because it’s a constant visual reminder. Also, children will have a better understanding of why mom/dad can’t buy the toy they want. Although, my teenager needs to be reminded sometimes as well. LOL
http://www.simplysavvyliving.com Marjorie

I love this idea! I think it’s great because it’s a constant visual reminder. Also, children will have a better understanding of why mom/dad can’t buy the toy they want. Although, my teenager needs to be reminded sometimes as well. LOL
http://www.katiephelps.com Katie

I do something similar, but incorporate an online site, and keep the categories in my purse.

I love using http://www.mint.com online to keep track of our budgets and what we spend. We use our debit card for everything and rarely have or use cash. To keep a visual reminder to take the receipts and make sure they are properly categorized on mint, I bought a small file folder from Wal-Mart that I keep in my purse. I labeled all the sections the different categories and every time I buy something, I place the receipt in the proper spot. Once a week, I go into mint and compare my purchases in there with the receipts in my file.

It’s wonderful for purchases from WalMart or Target that could go in multiple categories. For example if I bought food, pet food and hair stuff, I can go into mint and split the transaction into the pet care section, food section and personal care section.

I’m sure I’ll discover a new way to keep it all organized, but for now, this works so wonderfully!
http://www.katiephelps.com Katie

I do something similar, but incorporate an online site, and keep the categories in my purse.

I love using http://www.mint.com online to keep track of our budgets and what we spend. We use our debit card for everything and rarely have or use cash. To keep a visual reminder to take the receipts and make sure they are properly categorized on mint, I bought a small file folder from Wal-Mart that I keep in my purse. I labeled all the sections the different categories and every time I buy something, I place the receipt in the proper spot. Once a week, I go into mint and compare my purchases in there with the receipts in my file.

It’s wonderful for purchases from WalMart or Target that could go in multiple categories. For example if I bought food, pet food and hair stuff, I can go into mint and split the transaction into the pet care section, food section and personal care section.

I’m sure I’ll discover a new way to keep it all organized, but for now, this works so wonderfully!
http://www.katiephelps.com Katie

I do something similar, but incorporate an online site, and keep the categories in my purse.

I love using http://www.mint.com online to keep track of our budgets and what we spend. We use our debit card for everything and rarely have or use cash. To keep a visual reminder to take the receipts and make sure they are properly categorized on mint, I bought a small file folder from Wal-Mart that I keep in my purse. I labeled all the sections the different categories and every time I buy something, I place the receipt in the proper spot. Once a week, I go into mint and compare my purchases in there with the receipts in my file.

It’s wonderful for purchases from WalMart or Target that could go in multiple categories. For example if I bought food, pet food and hair stuff, I can go into mint and split the transaction into the pet care section, food section and personal care section.

I’m sure I’ll discover a new way to keep it all organized, but for now, this works so wonderfully!
Angie

I’m teaching a budgeting class to women in my church next month. Thanks for the great idea. I like the visual reminder. It’s a bummer when you wait to check your budget at the end of the month only to realize that you have gone way over.
Angie

I’m teaching a budgeting class to women in my church next month. Thanks for the great idea. I like the visual reminder. It’s a bummer when you wait to check your budget at the end of the month only to realize that you have gone way over.
Angie

I’m teaching a budgeting class to women in my church next month. Thanks for the great idea. I like the visual reminder. It’s a bummer when you wait to check your budget at the end of the month only to realize that you have gone way over.
http://www.tangreen.net Tan@tan/green

It’s like a hands on spreadsheet! (yes, I get a little excited over spreadsheets.) Sounds like it would be great for helping the whole family “see” how the budget works.
- http://homemakinghabits.blogspot.com tacy
  
  @Katie- we also do Mint and I think it is a GREAT system. We were actually having some trouble with splitting up the various categories but we might make our bulletin board with more specific categories in the future. Of course it can get tricky with receipts, but if you do the post-it method it could work.
  @Angie- So GLAD!
  @ Tan – I agree! Although my daughter isn’t old enough yet, I think this would be a great way to teach budgeting to children!
  .-= tacy´s last blog ..Saturday Links- The Back to School Edition =-.
http://www.tangreen.net Tan@tan/green

It’s like a hands on spreadsheet! (yes, I get a little excited over spreadsheets.) Sounds like it would be great for helping the whole family “see” how the budget works.
- http://homemakinghabits.blogspot.com tacy
  
  @Katie- we also do Mint and I think it is a GREAT system. We were actually having some trouble with splitting up the various categories but we might make our bulletin board with more specific categories in the future. Of course it can get tricky with receipts, but if you do the post-it method it could work.
  @Angie- So GLAD!
  @ Tan – I agree! Although my daughter isn’t old enough yet, I think this would be a great way to teach budgeting to children!
  .-= tacy´s last blog ..Saturday Links- The Back to School Edition =-.
http://www.tangreen.net Tan@tan/green

It’s like a hands on spreadsheet! (yes, I get a little excited over spreadsheets.) Sounds like it would be great for helping the whole family “see” how the budget works.
- http://homemakinghabits.blogspot.com tacy
  
  @Katie- we also do Mint and I think it is a GREAT system. We were actually having some trouble with splitting up the various categories but we might make our bulletin board with more specific categories in the future. Of course it can get tricky with receipts, but if you do the post-it method it could work.
  @Angie- So GLAD!
  @ Tan – I agree! Although my daughter isn’t old enough yet, I think this would be a great way to teach budgeting to children!
  .-= tacy´s last blog ..Saturday Links- The Back to School Edition =-.
http://www.talesofthetightwad.blogspot.com Michelle

I do something very similar, but I have envelopes tacked up, labeled, in the due date order, and insert a colored index card to show as paid for that month. It’s nice because I put the bill in the envy when it arrives, then when I take it out to pay, I replace it with the colored card. I can see literally at a glance what has been paid, and what is still due. Another note was I wrote account infomation on a card that stays inside the envelope (account #, telephone # of the business and bill due date) so that if my husband has to pay the bills, he can without having to dig around). Since we don’t have credit cards, most of our bills are utilitys and services, so there is very little danger of someone else using the information.
.-= Michelle ´s last blog ..Kroger Summer of Savings =-.
http://www.talesofthetightwad.blogspot.com Michelle

I do something very similar, but I have envelopes tacked up, labeled, in the due date order, and insert a colored index card to show as paid for that month. It’s nice because I put the bill in the envy when it arrives, then when I take it out to pay, I replace it with the colored card. I can see literally at a glance what has been paid, and what is still due. Another note was I wrote account infomation on a card that stays inside the envelope (account #, telephone # of the business and bill due date) so that if my husband has to pay the bills, he can without having to dig around). Since we don’t have credit cards, most of our bills are utilitys and services, so there is very little danger of someone else using the information.
.-= Michelle ´s last blog ..Kroger Summer of Savings =-.
http://www.talesofthetightwad.blogspot.com Michelle

I do something very similar, but I have envelopes tacked up, labeled, in the due date order, and insert a colored index card to show as paid for that month. It’s nice because I put the bill in the envy when it arrives, then when I take it out to pay, I replace it with the colored card. I can see literally at a glance what has been paid, and what is still due. Another note was I wrote account infomation on a card that stays inside the envelope (account #, telephone # of the business and bill due date) so that if my husband has to pay the bills, he can without having to dig around). Since we don’t have credit cards, most of our bills are utilitys and services, so there is very little danger of someone else using the information.
.-= Michelle ´s last blog ..Kroger Summer of Savings =-.
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