Your reading skills are atrocious. Let me explain it like you are five, since your reading comprehension is on that level.

I keep enough to pay my bills plus an "oh shit" buffer in my CHECKING account so that I am not in OPs position.

I keep savings and trade/stock accounts for my extra funds. Which I am blessed to have a decent amount of. And yes, you can only transfer 6 times per month. However, anyone planning with an appropriate buffer should not need to dip in unless there is an emergency.

I even give me spouse and kids a cash envelope with their allotted spending for the week.

Would you like an explanation of my 401K next, or are you satisfied with my explanation? Keeping multiple checking accounts is stupid and speaks to a serious lack of self control, in my opinion. Which is just that : My opinion. You are welcome to do whatever makes your nips tingle.