Taking control of your savings is a great way to get on track financially. There are plenty of options for how to save money and it is important that you find the best way that works for you and your income.
You can try just one method of saving or multiple methods. In doing so you can establish a solid savings account to properly manage your finances.
1. Reduce Your Spending
I know, I know… this isn’t a ground-breaking new tip. But cutting back on your spending is the absolute easiest way to start saving money immediately.
To start you should first track your spending and make note of everything you currently spend your money on, both essential and nonessential.
Essential expenses can be rent or mortgage payments, transportation, utilities, and groceries. Nonessential expenses fall under anything that you do not need to buy to survive such as take out food, cable, subscriptions, or travel.
In doing so you can then create a budget to see where you can cut your expenses and save money. Simply calculate all of your necessary expenses versus your monthly income. Whatever you have leftover can then be used at your discretion, however, if you are trying to build your savings, it is recommended that you put that leftover money away for a rainy day.
2. Cut Out Debt
Taking a look at how much debt you have acquired over the years can help you then assess the best way to start saving your money properly. There are plenty of ways to either pay down your debt or pay it off entirely.
One way to do so is to start paying more than just the minimum amount on your balances. While it may feel like you are spending more money by doing so, you are actually saving money because you will not fall victim to high-interest rates that linger by paying the minimum.
Another way you can remove debt is with the debt snowball method. You begin by listing out all of your debts from smallest to largest without taking into account interest rates. Next, you make minimum payments on all of your debt except for the smallest so that you are instead paying as much as possible on your smallest amount of debt. Then you can repeat this process until your debts are paid in full.
3. Try a Money-Saving Challenge
Aside from simply putting money into a savings account, there are alternative methods such as a money-saving challenge to make the process something to look forward to and easy to track.
One money-saving challenge you can use to build your wealth is the dollar savings challenge. With this method, you should aim to put one dollar away each day to accumulate $365 by the end of the year. If one dollar feels too easy, you can aim to put $20 away each week to then accumulate $1,040 by the end of the year.
Another money-saving challenge you can give a try is the 52-week money challenge. With this method, you can either begin with one dollar or $52, and each week you increase or decrease the dollar amount by one. No matter whether you start high or low, with consistency you will end up saving $1,378 in one year.
4. Create a Money-Saving Chart
If you are more of a visual learner and saver, creating a money-saving chart might work perfectly for you.
A money-saving chart is something you create either on your computer or with pen and paper and can be an excellent way to visualize your budget. You can also pair this method with a saving challenge, or have it be a stand-alone way to get your finances in order.
Consider using a spreadsheet to keep columns and rows of your numbers in order. For example, set up columns that track what week you are on, the amount you are depositing into your savings, and the total amount you have in your savings at that point. Each row will then depict a new week’s entry and you can watch your savings grow right before your eyes, which is an excellent way to remain motivated.
5. Consider Investing Your Money
Getting yourself involved in the vast world of investing is also a great way to save your money. The best part about investing is that once you put in the initial work of deciding how you are going to invest, your money does the rest of the work for you.
One way you can do so is by teaching yourself how to invest in stocks. By taking the time to learn about what stocks are currently successfully trending, you can then invest your money and watch your profits grow while taking a back seat.
Another form of investing that many individuals use towards their future savings is a 401k or IRA program. A 401k is offered through your employer and can only be accessed or contributed to as an employee of a company with a 401k program. An IRA program is for individuals who are interested in investing in their retirement but do not have an employer that offers a retirement savings plan.
Start Saving Today!
No matter if you want to save money for an emergency fund, a vacation, or simply a rainy day, having established savings is crucial. Whether you decide to use all of these methods to save money or just one, it is important to remember that getting your savings in order can lead you down the path to financial stability.
This article originally appeared on Life on a Discount and has been republished on My Life, I Guess with permission.
Image Credit: Africa images via Canva.com.
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