By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com
August 21, 2009
Since last October's economic freefall, consumers have changed
their behavior; spending is down and saving is up, higher than it has
in years.
Many who aren't yet saving have expressed a desire to do so. Here then are seven steps to put you on the path to saving money.
Rule 1: Pay Yourself First
When you sit down to write checks each month, the first one you write should be to yourself. Hardly any of us do that. The natural inclination is to pay all your bills, then, if there's any money left over, set it aside - unless there's some special thing you want to buy.
Once you've decided how much money you can save each month, make sure you take it off the top each and every month. Pay your bills with what's left.
Rule 2: Set A Goal
Before you can pay yourself, you need to decide how much you can save and that means setting a goal. Without a goal, you won't have nearly the desire or discipline required to save. Your goal could be to save enough money for a down payment on a house or car, or it could simply be to create a nest egg, to make you feel more secure.
The goal should be realistic. In fact, make it a small amount to start out. To save $1000 a year, for example, you would only need to save $83 a month. Try it for a couple of months, then increase it as you find more ways to save. You'll find that saving is a lot like dieting; success breeds success.
Rule 3: Keep A Record Of Your Expenses
This is another rule borrowed from dieting. People trying to lose weight often find they are more successful when they keep a food journal, writing down everything they eat in a day. Becoming aware of what you're consuming can be an eye-opening experience.
The same is true with spending money. Once you see where your money is going on a day-to-day basis, it makes you stop and question that expense.
Rule 4: Cut Expenses
This one sounds hard. Your monthly budget may seem set in stone, but are there places where you can save? What about your mortgage? Can you refinance to a lower rate? It's not as easy as it used to be, but it's worth checking into, because saving more than $100 a month can add up.
Here's where we get a lot of questions about credit card debt. Consumers want to know if they should pay down the debt first or save. The answer is, you should do both. Everyone needs to reduce their debt and everyone needs to have a little savings. If you have a lot of debt it won't be easy, but you have to make the effort.
If possible, consolidate card balances. It's unlikely you will get a lower rate these days, but at least you'll be making one minimum payment instead of three each month. That will help with the cash flow. Take the savings and apply some of it to paying off your debt and some of it to building your savings.
If your car is nearly paid for, don't plan to buy another one anytime soon. A couple of years without a car payment, with that extra money going into savings instead, will help build your savings program.
Little things add up too. One personal finance blogger recently revealed that she never buys anything from a vending machine. To paraphrase the late Sen. Everett Dirkson, a dollar here and a dollar there, and soon you're talking about real money.
Rule 5: Increase Income
As you cut expenses, look for ways to increase your income. It may mean asking your boss for a raise. I know, it's a tough time to be doing that. But if you haven't had a raise in a while, and you feel you're deserving, this is as good a time as any to ask.
If you want to get really serious, you might look for a second job, but it doesn't have to come to that. Consider starting a small home-based business on the side, but don't fall for anyone of those work-at-home scams. The idea is to make money, not spend it.
If you're good at crafts, you could make things you could sell. If you have an attic full of "treasures," you might try selling them on Ebay. Just a little extra income each month could go a long way if it's directed toward your savings plan.
Rule 6: Pay With Cash
Paying with cash is actually a very effective budgeting tool. When the allotted money is gone, you don't buy anything. It's also much easier to keep track of what you spend when you pay in cash. Put the credit cards away for the indefinite future. And unless your bank provides fee-free ATM withdrawals, get your weekly cash by writing a check and handing it to the teller.
Rule 7. Make Your Money Work For You
So, where are you going to keep the money you're saving? The bad news is, there aren't many places where you can get a decent return. A savings account may not even pay a full percentage point in interest. But there's one place where your money can actually save you money, and that's just as good.
If your bank charges you a fee for having a checking account, move your business to a bank with either free checking or one that is free with a minimum balance. Let's say the fee is $25 a month unless you maintain a balance of at least $500. By keeping an extra $500 in your checking account, you save $25 a month.
We know from the large number of complaints to ConsumerAffairs.com that many consumers often overdraw their accounts, resulting in costly overdraft charges. If you have been paying $25 a month for your account and have been averaging one overdraft charge a month at $35, you would save $55 by keeping an extra $500 in your account. The annual return on that $500 is a whopping 132 percent! The trick is to just forget that $500 is there - don't be tempted to spend it.
Saving money, is in fact, a lot like losing weight on a diet. It can seem painful at first, but over time can provide a significant payoff. Just like going on a diet, you have to take that first step - even if it's a small one.
