Depending on what you have going on in your financial life at any given time, it can feel like a nearly impossible task to put money back into your savings account. That being said, you never know when storm clouds will gather to rain on your parade in the form of an unexpected and/or massive expense. It’s best that you sock away money now, so you’ll have a sturdy financial umbrella to keep you protected during heavy rains.
Depending on your bank, you might have the option of rounding up your purchases to the nearest dollar and transferring the excess change into a savings account. What this means is rather than paying $10.25 for a movie ticket, you would instead be charged $11 on your debit card and the extra 75 cents would go into a savings account. This is a great way to put a bit of money back every time you use your debit card.
Sit Down With Your Money
Either every week or every other week, it’s a good idea to sit down and go over your current finances, budget and financial goals to make sure you’re on track and to see if any adjustments need to be made. Just as you should regularly sit down with local insurance agents to ensure you aren’t paying more for insurance than necessary, the same is true of your finances. Course correcting is always easier when you spot the problem in its beginning stages.
Take Good Care of Your Car
Rather than be reactive when it comes to taking good care of your car, it’s better to be proactive and keep up with regular maintenance. Yes, you could put the money you spend on maintenance into your savings account, but doing so might come back to haunt you when your car develops a problem that’s more expensive than the maintenance that could have prevented the issue altogether. Work with your mechanic to develop a maintenance schedule so you will be able to start saving up well in advance for upcoming oil changes, tire rotations and the like.
Plan Your Meals Out for the Week
If you either eat out a lot or make more than one trip to the grocery store a week, take some time to plan out your meals for the week before you go grocery shopping. When you make your list, stick to it, no matter how tempted you might be to deviate. Eating at home is a great way to save money that would otherwise be spent on marked up meal prices and tipping. You can also save on gas money by not having to drive to a restaurant
Focus on Lowering Your Electric Bill
Your utility bill can seriously chip away at money that could otherwise go into your savings account. If you haven’t already, switch to energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs. While these bulbs are more expensive than standard light bulbs, they last longer and don’t need as much power to maintain the same intensity. Other ways to save on your electric bill include turning on the fan before turning on the air conditioner, making sure you cut lights off when you aren’t in the room and maintaining your HVAC system so it’s not working harder than it has to.
Make Your Coffee at Home
If you simply can’t get through the day without coffee, switch to making it at home rather than swinging by a coffee shop. While you’ll have a few more steps to take to get your caffeine fix, and what you make at home might not be as fancy as what you’re used to ordering at a coffee shop, you’re sure to appreciate the savings you just made. And best of all is the fact you don’t have to wait in line.
Rather than focusing on ways to save hundreds of dollars a month for your savings account, start small. Over time, you’re sure to think of other money-saving strategies on your own.
Article Submitted By Community Writer