Easy Ways to Build Up Your Savings

Building and maintaining a savings cushion is vital for your
financial health. Most financial experts recommend having a
minimum of three months' worth of living expenses set aside in
case of an emergency, but many people may find it difficult to
build up that much money in savings. If you think that you might
have difficulty in building up the savings that you need, you
might want to consider some of the following ideas.

Focus your spending Create a budget and track your spending.
After seeing where your money goes, it's much easier to decide
where you can cut. Then live by it.

Treat saving like a bill Consider your monthly savings amount a
bill that has to be paid. Pay your account every month or every
two weeks.

Think small Many people don't think their budget allows room to
save, but even a small amount adds up over time. Depending on
the size of your family, skipping a meal out each week could
result in a $160 per month savings deposit. Take a good look at
your spending habits, and you probably can find $150 or so each
month in extras that you could do without to build up savings.

Save your raise

The next time you get a raise at work or a tax refund, consider
directing half to savings. If you're not used to the money, you
won't miss it.

Continue paying When you pay off a car or other loan, consider
making half of the payment to yourself and put it into your
emergency savings account. You will not miss the money if it is
in savings, but you will find a way to spend it if it remains in
your checking account.

Turn off the TV

Don't listen to the advertisements, Ignore sale flyers or
mail-order catalogs. The latest sale tempts you to spend money
unnecessarily.

Think before you charge

Unless you're in the habit of paying your credit card bill in
full each month, don't use the cards for anything you can eat or
wear.

Consider a refinance

Shop for loan quotes and see if interest rates are lower than
they were when you took out some of your major loans. Consider
refinancing your mortgage and your car loan.

Alternate your commute

If you live in an area that has good public transportation, see
if you can get around without the car. Maybe you can get by on
one car instead of two.

Conserve energy

Do an energy check on the house. Replace cracked storm windows
and renew the weather stripping.

Java-jolt savings

If you're a coffee drinker, don't stop at the coffee shop each
morning. Make your coffee at home.

Participate in a 401(k) or 403(b) plan If your employer doesn't
offer these plans, then you could start saving in a
tax-advantaged IRA or Roth IRA account.

Involve the whole family

Even the youngest child can contribute change to the savings
goal. It is easier for children to get involved if they
understand why they must give up pizza night (or at least cut
down the number of toppings!). Also, you are setting a good
financial example for your children.

Savings rewards

Plan a treat for you, your family or both when you reach your
emergency savings goal. Make it something everyone will look
forward to, but not something very expensive, like a day at the
zoo or at the beach. The important thing is to mark the occasion
and congratulate yourself and all those who helped!

You may freely reprint this article provided the following
author's biography (including the live URL link) remains intact: