The Simple Way To Control Your Credit Card Spending

With all the credit cards we have kicking around in our wallets, it can be really difficult to remember what we spent each month. Then, we end up being surprised when our bill comes and have a bit of a panic about how we’re going to pay them.

This absolutely ingenious solution came from an airplane seatmate I had on a trip once. What is her revolutionary new budgeting idea?

Sticky notes.

That’s it. Just sticky notes. It is so simple, I just had to share it with you.

All you need to do is get those tiny sticky notes and physically put one on each card you have in your wallet. When you buy something with the card, you just add the amount to the total and voila! you have the total amount you owe on each card immediately available.

This is especially helpful if you are trying to spread your spending across multiple cards. If you are budgeting $1000 for a card once the balance reaches that amount, put it in the back of the pile. If you forget, as soon as you pull it out, you’ll see the sticky note and know you’ve reached your limit on that card this month.

This is the same principle as a credit limit except it is much more effective because you are reminded visually each time you physically take out the card. It’s not just some abstract number on a paper somewhere in your desk.

Try it for a few months and see how you like not being surprised when the credit card bills come!

I’d love to hear how this system works for you. Please email me to let me know if it works, or if it doesn’t, how it can be improved!