The debit card has become the preferred method of payment for most Americans today. Unfortunately, it has also become an addiction for some (me included). $1.75 here, $2.34 there, it seems innocent enough at first. Then you balance your check register! Surprise! All those small transactions added up. If this has happened to you in the past, why not make a change? Start carrying cash!

Carrying cash is by far a better strategy than just swiping a debit card for all those purchases you think you need. The theory is if you start out with $60.00 in your pocket for the week and that money is slowly dwindling away, you’re probably going to re-evaluate the importance of future purchases. My wife and I started doing this about a month ago and you would be amazed at how much fat we cut from our spending plan. With that money free, we now have a considerable amount more to invest every month.

Another great idea to help resolve debit card overload, is to commit yourself to balancing your check register daily. My wife bought a decorative box to place on our computer desk that we deposit what debit receipts we do have, (gas, groceries, etc.) and I enter them into the checkbook (this brings up a good point). If you are married and have a joint checking account, it is better to have just one person balancing the register. This prevents a miscommunication from turning into a costly mistake.

I know much of this post seems like Personal Finances 101, but I feel that we sometimes overlook the smaller pieces of the puzzle. We will rewrite our entire spending plan trying to squeeze out a little bit more when something as easy as carrying cash can save you a considerable amount of money. Try it out…

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