Let me show you exactly how I manage my $60,000 salary without using cash. As someone who doesn’t like dealing with envelopes or physical money, I created a digital-first budgeting system that keeps me on track while letting me live a life I enjoy. Every dollar I earn has a job to do, whether paying bills, saving for the future, or treating myself. In this post, I’m sharing my full monthly breakdown, including income, expenses, and how I use my cashless budgeting method to stay organized.
How I Set Up My Cashless Budgeting System
My Cashless Budget Workbook Setup
The foundation of my system is my budget workbook (yes, the same one I’m always talking about!). I keep it inside an old Happy Planner from 2019, using the rings and monthly dividers to stay organized. I write down everything: bills, expenses, spending plans, and goals. It helps me visually map out my month before the money hits my account.
Step-by-Step: My Monthly Cashless Budgeting System
Step 1: Write Out Bills & Expenses
The first thing I do each month is use a calendar to write out every expected bill, recurring expense, and any events that’ll cost me money. If it has a date, it’s going on the calendar.
Step 2: Set Monthly Goals
For June, my goals are:
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Save at least $500
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Track every expense
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Get back on Poshmark to make some extra money
I didn’t include my Discover credit card in my goals this month because… I needed a mental break. I’m focusing on income first so I can tackle that balance with a plan.
How Much I’m Working With This Month
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Paychecks (2x): $3,800 total
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Rollover from May: $1,739.70
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Total Monthly Budget: $5,539.70
My 7 Cashless Budgeting Categories
1. Savings & Financial Goals
I separate all savings into different accounts so it’s automatic and out of sight:
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Retirement: $217.52
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Investing: $227.58
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Savings: $500
These are set to auto-transfer the day my paycheck hits. No cash. No excuses.
2. Home
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Mortgage + Utilities: $1,750 goes into a joint account
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I split bills with someone in my household, and everything is on autopay
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Life insurance, short term disability, and my phone bill come out of my main checking account
3. Food
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Budget: $300
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I’m using a $300 limit credit card to cover groceries and eating out so it stays active
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I’ll pay it off in full at the end of the month
4. Transportation
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I plan to use a credit card for gas to keep my accounts open and credit score growing
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Still debating whether to use my Discover card because of the high balance, but the 2% cashback on gas is tempting
5. Subscriptions
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Trimmed it down to just essentials:
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Apple storage
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Google storage
- Beatlife membership
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My $5.39 TikTok Shop coach membership
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The rest are moving to my content creator card, which I pay off with income from brand deals and affiliate links
6. Debt Payments
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Skipping paying off Discover for now
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Focusing on paying off a smaller collection account first—it’s in the $1,000 range and feels more doable
7. Fun / Miscellaneous
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Budget: $550
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My son’s birthday is this month
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I want to treat myself to a new wig (a braided one, because ease and longevity!)
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$100 set aside for family fun
I know $550 sounds like a lot for fun when I’m still in debt, but I believe in budgeting for joy and responsibility.
Final Breakdown
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Total Budgeted: $4,209.96
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Leftover to Rollover: $1,329.74 (for next month’s mortgage)
This system has helped me take full control of my finances without relying on cash. It’s all about automation, intention, and staying organized with the right tools.
Want to Try This System for Yourself?
I’ve created the exact budget workbook I use every single month to plan out my finances. It includes monthly calendars, category breakdowns, paycheck budget worksheet and more, all designed for people who want to budget without cash.
Let me know in the comments: What’s one category you always go over budget in? Let’s talk about it below.