Saving Money is easy when you don’t even notice you’re doing it. This year I’m trying a money saving challenge putting away a certain amount every week till the end of the year – 52 weeks of saving.  I have noticed that I tend to get a little busy and forget and have had to double up my savings amounts once or twice. It takes effort to remind myself to do it. I actually have it on TWO calendars in my home just to keep me on track. But there are ways to save and I do some of these too that you won’t even notice.

1. Limited access to your funds
Open a high interest yielding online savings Account, one that is linked to your account but not part of the same bank. Why? Some online banking services offer a bonus for signing up. Could be $25 or more. That right there is the beginning of your savings and it didn’t cost you a cent. Referral bonuses get you more money. When your bank account holds your checking and savings it’s way too easy to transfer money from one account to another. If we impulse buy and think “Oh, I’ll just transfer the money from the savings over.

Stop right there!

You’ve just taken a step in the wrong direction. Easy access to your funds does not help you save. But if your Savings Account requires a few days to transfer from one bank to another or maybe keeps a hold on transfer funds for a few days you will be less likely to impulse shop which will eliminating your need to transfer funds out of your savings in the first place.

2. Make the most of your coupon clipping
Coupon clipping is great and it helps you save on the products you normally buy. But if you buy a product just because you have a coupon for it chances are you are spending more money than you need to. Here’s an idea for you, total up the amount you saved in coupons you used on your shopping trip and put that amount into a savings account or piggy bank instead of just leaving it in your checking account.

3. Keep the change
My bank has a program set up that allows them to round up to the nearest dollar on every debit card charge I make. Then at the end of the day all that spare change gets transferred into the saving account. So a daily deposit is being made into the saving account without even being noticed. If your bank doesn’t offer this type of program, set one up yourself. Round up all of your receipts to the nearest dollar for the day and put that money into a savings account or piggy bank (which ever works best for you). Even $1.50 a day adds up. In a year’s time you can save several hundred dollars just from rounding  up your day purchases.

4. Make some extra money and voice your opinions at the same time
Paid online surveys pay you for your opinions. It’s not a lot of money but even a few bucks a month here and there will add up. Remember it’s all the little extra cash (not regular income) that helps you save.

5. Skip the last trip
Skip the last trip to the vending machine or convenience store. Not only will your wallet be grateful so will your waistline.

These were a few ideas I had to help you Start Saving Money. Do you have any other ideas? What have you tried and what has worked and what hasn’t?

© 2016, Nanette. All rights reserved.