Went from paper ledgers to QuickBooks six years ago, and I still miss the feeling of actually crossing out numbers by hand.

Back in 2018 I was still handwriting every single expense in a spiral notebook, but now that I use tracking software I don't even remember what I paid for internet in March without pulling up a report, and has anyone else found that switching to digital actually made them less aware of their spending habits?

3 comments

3 Comments

charlieh7417d ago

@kelly.margaret that article rings a bell actually - I think I saw a similar study that said handwritten notes make your brain process the info differently than typing it in. Maybe it's just me but I've noticed since switching to apps I can't even ballpark my grocery spending without checking the screen.

charlie19817d ago

The point about 40% of app users only checking once a month really got me thinking, @kelly.margaret. I bet that number would be way lower for handwritten folks because you literally can't avoid seeing your totals when you flip through pages. There's a friction to writing things down that forces you to process the numbers, while apps just do the math for you and hide it behind a clean dashboard. I remember when I used a notebook, I'd notice right away if my coffee spending was creeping up, but now I'll blow past my budget for weeks without realizing it. Digital tools make it too easy to just track without actually feeling the weight of where your money goes.

kelly.margaret17d ago

I read an article last year that said people who use budgeting apps actually check their accounts less often than people who write things down. The number stuck with me - something like 40% of app users only look at their spending once a month when the report comes out. With a notebook, you saw those numbers every single time you wrote them. That's probably why I still catch myself reaching for a pen when I pay a bill.

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