Had to choose between an envelope system and a locked safe for my cash

I was keeping my grocery money in an envelope but my roommate kept borrowing from it. So I bought a $25 lockbox from Harbor Freight in Austin. Now I have to physically unlock it every time I need cash, which stops me from impulse buys and keeps my roommate honest. Has anyone else dealt with roommates and cash hiding?

3 comments

3 Comments

willow6727d ago

I get what you're saying @faithf77 about the unlocking thing feeling more like stealing (that's actually a pretty interesting point), but I see it a bit different. The lockbox isn't really about making the roommate feel guilty, it's about setting a clear boundary that doesn't rely on trust. Some people just need a hard barrier, you know?

faithf771mo ago

Oh man, I read somewhere that people are way less likely to take cash that's locked up (like the physical act of unlocking makes it feel more like stealing). Sounds like you found a solid workaround for your roommate problem though.

jakef661mo agoMost Upvoted

Man, that roommate sounds like a real treat... guess they don't teach "don't touch other people's stuff" in school anymore.