Split the cash, and know which bills to ask for.

What people ask about cash envelopes

What bills should I withdraw for cash envelopes?

Whatever makes each envelope exact without breaking a bill later. This page works it out for you: it splits your cash by category, breaks each envelope into the fewest bills, then adds every denomination up into one withdrawal slip you can hand a teller.

Why can't I just take out twenties?

You can, but then any envelope that isn't a multiple of $20 forces you to break a bill somewhere else, which is how envelopes start borrowing from each other. And the total is not the answer either: $347 as one lump is eight bills, but $347 split five ways is twenty-six, because every envelope has to come out exact on its own. That is the arithmetic this page does.

What percentages should I use for cash envelopes?

There is no correct set — it depends on what you actually spend. A common starting split is groceries 40%, gas 20%, eating out 15%, fun 15%, misc 10%. Change them here and the amounts and bills update as you type.

Do my percentages have to add to 100?

No. They're treated as shares, so 50/50/50 means equal thirds rather than 150% of your money. Whatever you type, the whole amount gets used and nothing is left unassigned.

Do I need to print cash envelope templates?

The printables people search for give you labelled envelopes and a place to write amounts. The labels you can write yourself; the arithmetic — how much goes in each and which bills that requires — is the part worth doing here, because it changes every time your paycheck does.