Cave2626 -> You’ve hit the nail on the head with why most people aren’t able to get ahead. As fate would have it, I just finished a post on that very topic that will be published next week. Interesting idea on the pre-loaded cards. As you mention, it’s a great way to control incidental expenses by incorporating them into your budget.

Getting a grip on the frivolous spending helped a lot. I found that pre-loading a Tim Horton’s or Starbucks gift card at the beginning of the week with my maximum coffee budget made me ask myself “do I really need another coffee today?”. I was astonished how much I was spending on the incidentals each month.

This doesn’t have to be limited to just coffee bars. Most fast-food restaurants, pharmacies, and grocery stores offer gift cards. If this up-front budgeting helps you get a better grip on you spending in one area of your life, why not try it in a few others?