Has quarantine life taken a hit on your budget? I swore, when this all first happened a year ago, I thought I would go broke trying to keep toilet paper and hand sanitizer stocked. And now? Over a year in, someone please take my phone because I’m addicted to Uber Eats and shopping more than ever. Can you relate? Although I’m home now more than ever, my spending has gotten out of hand and I barely leave the house! It’s so much easier to shop at home nowadays, we all can go a little overboard. I knew I had to get it together and start budgeting like I had done before the pandemic because the weather is getting warmer here in New York and I know I’ll go out more which means spending more.
Coincidentally, I’ve been eyeing a bunch of items from Gale and Co, which specializes in handmade and handcrafted couture career and travel accessories. Based in Trinidad, Gale and Co offers an array of document carriers, planners, wallets, checkbooks, and clip boards that are fashionable and functional. Their vegan leather goods can be personalized and customized to your liking. The item that caught my eye was one of their wallets.
I reached out to get more information and decided to go with a customized Taylor SS wallet. I was able to choose gold hardware and hide vegan leather with black vegan textured leather for the wallet. So, what does a wallet have to do with saving money? The Taylor SS wallet is designed to keep you organized and on a budget. I couldn’t wait to get my order and to get my spending under control. I’m hoping for a hot girl summer, not a broke girl summer. Ha. Okay, give me a break, I’ve been in quarantine for over a year.
When I received my wallet, I was blown away. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are breathtaking. I’ve never been this excited over a wallet. Each wallet comes with sections/PVC envelopes for cash and card holders. You can also add charms and decorative paper clips. There’s a lot of room for your ID, cash, credit cards, bank cards, loyalty cards, coupons and receipts. This wallet was designed to be used along with a cash envelope system. And although many of us are shopping online or using credit cards, I think we all can benefit from using a wallet like this.
If you’re not familiar with a cash envelope system, it’s a method used to stay on budget. Setting aside money for various things like groceries, eating out, and gas, helps you stay on track and monitor spending. If you can adapt to cash as your method of paying or spending, you’re more likely to spend less or more wisely. So, I decided to give it a go. Although I still need to shop online, I can budget with cash when shopping in store…sorry, Target.
It only took me a few minutes to set up my new wallet. I decided to divide my budget between groceries, family activities, eating out, clothing/beauty, and work related spending. If cash isn’t your thing, this wallet is still great and can keep you organized. I’ve even found that I’m able to keep a small hand sanitizer and an extra mask in one of the envelopes.
Whether you try the cash envelope system or not, this wallet is gorgeous and way more functional than my old one. I can find everything I need faster and I can definitely see this wallet helping me to stay on track with my budget.
View my video below to get a look at the Taylor SS wallet and head over to Gale and Co if you’d like to purchase your very own.
*This was NOT sponsored. All opinions are my own. Prices and availability are subject to change. Please visit their website for information.
lifeontheup.com 