A Financial Plan

So…I figured out a 6th alternative as far as our money goes:  get off direct deposit & get the cash in my hands.  Pay all but the automatic withdrawals with money order; deposit cash for automatic withdrawals the day before the withdrawal; “set aside” cash for non-check/variable expenses (food, gasoline, kids’ hot lunch) in envelopes & divvy out as needed; give husband $100 per month for “mad money” (which is more than I use & WAY less than he does); anything leftover is put in an “incidental/credit card” envelope.
 
I’ve already requested to be taken off direct deposit & set up a spreadsheet to manage the budget.  There’s no control like direct control!  Now, maybe I can sleep at night.