Saving money is one of those things that often sounds easier than it feels. On paper, all you need to do is spend less money than you earn—but in reality, there are bills to pay, unexpected expenses to cover, inflation to consider and a steadily rising cost of living. It’s not always easy to get ahead, especially if you’re dealing with student loans or consumer debt. But it is achievable, and Interior Savings is here to help. If you’re trying to save more money, here are three tips to help you reach your goals.
Create a budget
Have we talked about budgeting a lot in recent months? Yes. Are we going to keep talking about budgeting? Absolutely, because it’s a critical part of your financial health and long term success. Here’s a great post that explains why budget isn’t a bad word, and another post that will help you stay on track. There’s also this helpful commentary on habits that can harm your budget—something we should all be aware of because knowing what doesn’t work is often as useful as knowing what does. If you’d like personalized guidance on developing a budget that reflects your current financial situation, needs and goals for the future, please contact us. An Interior Savings advisor would be happy to help.
Set up a savings account for each goal
Putting money into a savings account is almost always a good idea, but multiple savings accounts can be even better. If your list of goals includes a vacation and a down payment on a house, for example, have separate savings accounts for each goal. You should also have a rainy day fund as well as savings accounts for any other significant expenses you plan on making. By separating your savings by goal, you’ll have a clearer picture of how close you are to hitting individual targets. Decide which goals are your priority and channel the appropriate amount of money into each one. When you hit a target, enjoy the reward—then, redirect the amount you were saving for that goal towards another one.
Automate all of your deposits
The best way to ensure you’re meeting your goals for each savings account is to automate weekly or monthly deposits as per your budget. This way, you’ll never forget to save and after a while, you may not even notice the withdrawals from your day-to-day bank account. It makes it easy and convenient—essentially building a good habit on your behalf. When you check your savings account balances after a few months of automated deposits, you’ll quickly understand how gratifying this approach is. And on a larger scale, you can set up automatic withdrawals that contribute to your RRSP, TFSA or an RESP for your children.
While we hope these tips inspire you to focus on your goals, build security and enjoy peace of mind, personalized advice remains key to your success. To speak with a skilled, dedicated advisor in your region, please contact us. We look forward to working together to improve your financial health.