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Living a Better Life
(featured column... from the editor's desk)

Finding Money for Savings

by Michelle Jones

 

Setting money aside for savings on a weekly or monthly basis can sometimes be difficult, especially for low income families or those living on a limited budget, but it's definitely a financial habit we should all strive to do very well at. Some families may simplify this task by setting up direct deposits through their bank or employer, while others look for more creative ways to build their savings.  More...

 

These creative methods of saving are also helpful, not only because they result in money being saved, but because they also allow people to see and feel for themselves that the money is really available—and therefore, can safely be tucked away into a savings account for a rainy day.  

There are endless ways to find extra money for savings but here are just a few of my favorites…

Include Savings in Your Budget

Somewhere after listing the mortgage and the electric bill be sure to include SAVINGS in your monthly budget!  Often just having a plan for it is all it takes to see that savings account grow.

The Jar Method

Probably one of the most traditional (or as some would say, old fashioned) ways of setting money aside for savings is the method of saving one’s change or small bills in a jar for safe keeping.  This may not be very creative, but it certainly works.  However, it would also be a good idea at the end of each month to deposit whatever savings are in the jar to a (safer) savings account at the bank.  I know I’ll at least sleep a lot better if you do!

Money Saved, Can be Money SAVED

Over the years we have discussed thousands of money saving tips here at BetterBudgeting.com and just about every one of those ideas could be turned into a deposit for your savings account.  Whenever I’m able to resist buying something that I can live without or save money on something that I decide to buy anyways, I just have to smile because I’ve saved another dollar (or ten, or a hundred, or whatever…) and those dollars add up.  It’s great to feel good about the money you’re saving every day on (insert whatever you spend or don’t spend your dollars on), but setting that money aside for your savings account at the end of each week is even better!

Bonuses, Gifts and Tax Refunds

Instead of spending the extra cash received via bonuses, gifts, tax refunds or other unexpected checks, put at least half of the money in your savings account.  Do this every time you receive extra money and eventually you may have quite a nice nest egg, or at least an emergency fund that will be there when you really need it.

Write Yourself a Check

If all else fails and an entire month goes by without any new deposits for your savings account… just write yourself a check and put that baby in the bank.  If you don’t, one month could turn into two, and two months could turn into six, and before you know it, an entire year could go by without any money being set aside for savings. 

 

*  *  *


What about you, are you a direct depositor or have you developed your own creative ways to set money aside for savings as well?  Regardless of how much money you set aside for savings each month (even if it’s just $5.00) or even HOW you set it aside, the bottom line is this... you are SAVING!  And over time, your savings will GROW!!!

If you'd like to share one of your favorite ways of setting money aside for savings with our readers please contact us at editor@betterbudgeting.com, we'd love to hear from you!

*  *  *

 

Copyright © 2006 by Michelle Jones, author of Frugal Family Recipes, Dealing with Debt, Grocery Saving Tips and the Basic Budgeting Class. All rights reserved.

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