For years, the cash envelope system was my financial lifeline. I divided my budget into labeled envelopes, each holding a set amount for a specific spending category. If I overspent on dining out, I’d simply pull from another envelope — like “household” — to cover the difference. For someone with ADHD, having that physical, tangible system made all the difference in keeping my spending on track.
Then the pandemic changed everything. Suddenly, cash wasn’t practical anymore. My bank location made it hard to access, I was unable to make large ATM withdrawals in a single trip due their limits, and the world had shifted toward contactless and online transactions almost overnight. I reluctantly made the switch to my debit card. Still, I held onto one piece of the old system — cash envelopes for my sinking fund categories — and that small connection brought me real comfort.
Fast forward to recently: with some big trips on the horizon, I knew it was time to tighten things up. I decided to return to cash for everyday expenses, hoping to rein in the loose spending that might occur. There was just one problem — I live somewhere deeply entrenched in the Apple Pay era, where pulling out a $20 bill earns you a puzzled look. Spending cash for an entire week turned out to be far more challenging than I’d anticipated, and I can’t exactly call it a success. Here’s how it all unfolded and how much I spend on my card:
How the Week Went:
Monday
Motivated by a fresh commitment to my fitness journey, I went searching for a simple pedometer watch, something close to my old Max Buzz. I did check out my local sports shop and Best Buy. The only tracking watches they had were the app-dependent watches like Garmin or FitBit. The only place I could find a simple pedometer watch was Amazon. So much for reducing my dependence on big corporations. I caved to convenience, placed the order, and then discovered the watch did not function properly and was also app-dependent to sync the clock. It’s going back. Spent: $24
Tuesday
A fun evening out with my other half. We split a delicious plate of lasagna and washed it down with some beers. Dinner was covered by my other half. Afterward, we headed to my favorite arcade spot for a few rounds of hoops (a game I happen to excel at). Cash victory turned defeat: the games are card-only, tokens nowhere in sight. Spent: $10
Wednesday
I headed out for a run, carrying only the essentials and no wallet. On the way back I passed the hardware store and remembered I needed a new window screen. With no cash on hand, my phone stepped in to save the day. Spent: $12
Thursday
Starting a new HRT regimen came with an unexpected challenge: getting an oil-based substance through a 27-gauge needle without a syringe full of air bubbles is nearly impossible. Finding a medical supply store near me proved unsuccessful. The solution, 18-gauge needles, came from, predictably, Amazon. Spent: $8
Friday
My elderly cat has been off. The vet gave her a clean bill of health, and she briefly bounced back, but the malaise returned within a couple days. I’ve been experimenting with different foods to find what agrees with her. I successfully paid cash for cat food this trip, but underestimated the total and had to cover the rest on the card. Spent: $3.68
Saturday
A Costco run for protein staples turned into a two-for-one when I spotted a great deal on an Apple Watch SE. If I wasn’t able to find a decent non-app pedometer, I was going to invest in a fitness watch I know works. I had the cash. While this is a “loose end” purchase, it still fit within my variable expense budget for the week. And yet, Costco’s self-checkout is card only, and I wasn’t about to hold up the people I was with, the line behind us, or the employee who would have had to cancel the whole transaction. Plus the need to wait in line again to complete the transaction with a cashier. Card it was. Spent: $289
Sunday
A Sunday morning walk to get my steps in led to a spontaneous breakfast stop. Wallet at home, phone in pocket. You know how this ends. Spent: $26.80
My Thoughts
This week held three goals: reduce my dependency on my phone, spend with cash, and break free from big-box dependence, all in service of supporting small businesses and pushing back against corporate consolidation. None of it proved easy. And I never faced these hurdles in the suburbs. Are these new challenges due to location now that I am living in a big city or the result of a stronger digital dependency era? I am not sure. What I do know, spending cash in 2026 isn’t just inconvenient; it’s increasingly unwelcome. That’s a trend that shows no signs of reversing.