A TikToker paid off $17,000 in credit card debt by 'cash stuffing' — could it work for you?

Lily W., a 22-year-old nurse who goes by @lilyrnbudgets on TikTok, says she’s managed to pay off $17,000 in credit card debt since she started “cash stuffing” her income in 2019.

While Lily — who requested her last name be withheld to protect her privacy — was in nursing school, she didn’t have a full-time job and racked up plenty of credit card debt.

“When I started working … I realized very quickly, I needed [a way to control my spending]. And I found cash stuffing through YouTube,” she says.

Now she has amassed over half a million followers on TikTok who watch her do just that.

You may have stumbled across this budgeting phenomenon on your FYP (For You Page, for the uninitiated) on TikTok, or on YouTube. Influencers with immaculate acrylic nails count cash and file them into personalized cash binders, labeled with spending categories like groceries, rent and travel.

With prices rising rapidly in those categories — and just about every other — here's how this old-school budgeting hack turned TikTok trend can help keep your costs under control.

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How does cash stuffing work?

Cash stuffing is by no means a new phenomenon — money icons like Dave Ramsey have long recommended the budgeting method, also known as the envelope system.

“My grandma used to do it,” says Elaine King, a certified financial planner based in Miami, Florida.

The idea is simple: You take your paycheck in cash and divide it into envelopes based on your budget for different needs, including both spending and saving.

Say you have $200 budgeted for groceries this week. You'll take that cash out of your "groceries" envelope and bring it with you to the store. If your bill ends up above $200, you will be forced to put some items back.

King says paying with cash feels more tangible, compared to paying with your credit card, especially if you’re just tapping with your phone. With digital payments pulled from one big pool of funds, it's not immediately obvious when you're going over budget.

She compares cash stuffing to kids putting coins in a piggy bank: “You need to touch it and feel it.”

Making it work for you

King recommends that people new to cash stuffing start with the 50/30/20 rule — 50% for your needs, 30% for your wants and 20% for your financial goals.

“I always tell people, go through your bank statements and see how much — let's say, you've been spending for groceries — for the past three to six months, and give yourself a comfortable amount that you know you're not going to go over,” adds Kuburat, a 27-year-old Canadian TikTok influencer (@itsmisssk), who began cash stuffing in early 2021. She also requested her last name be withheld.

She says you can adjust your budget month-to-month depending on your circumstances. If you go under budget, she recommends putting the extra cash toward your emergency fund or keeping it as a buffer in your bank account.

Kuburat’s goal was to save $13,000 Canadian, but she ended up saving thousands more. This also helped her start her own business, ItsMissK, where she sells budgeting materials and offers local coaching on budgeting.

Lily says her main spending categories include groceries, expenses for her dog Scooby and beauty purchases, including nails and hair. She decides how much cash to budget into each category based on her paycheck and what her priorities are at the moment.

She regularly contributes to her 401(k) plan at work, plans to open a Roth IRA in the future and puts at least $50 each into her emergency fund and her personal savings on a biweekly basis.

Young people budget to deal with rising costs

Kuburat says her savings took a big hit when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“Everything is expensive now — food, gas. But when you budget … it gives you a better idea of how much you're going to have to put aside every single time,” explains Kuburat.

The Consumer Price Index rose 8.6% in May over the same month last year; that’s the highest increase since December 1981. Gas prices continue to peak at new records, and food prices are expected to climb between 7% and 8% this year.

Whether you use the envelope method or not, King suggests finding ways to cut back where you can — like taking public transportation or carpooling to deal with soaring gas prices. Buying groceries in bulk can often be cheaper as well, so you can split the purchase with a friend.

“I think the message here is that planning works,” she says.

People spend less when they pay with cash

That's backed up by research. In fact, a 2001 study from Drazen Prelec and Duncan Simester of MIT reported that shoppers spend up to 100% more when they pay with credit instead of cash.

Fast-forward to 2018, and research showed Americans are still willing to spend as much as 83% more when using a credit card, in some cases.

Credit cards are useful tools, but it’s important to wield them responsibly. Banks and lenders look at your credit history and score when you apply for things like a mortgage, loan or insurance.

On the other hand, cash limits you. If you have only $50 onhand, you can’t spend over that amount — whereas it can be easier to overspend when you can just swipe your credit card and worry about the balance later. By only spending the cash you have on hand, you can avoid things like bank overdraft fees, which are usually around $35.

King recommends using your credit card for fixed expenses, such as your monthly cell phone fees or car payments, but says to be cautious when it comes to variable expenses.

“The sky's the limit. You could really go above your means.”

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.