It’s all good and well being able to meet your everyday expenses, but it’s also important to keep an eye on the future. That’s going to come one way or another, and you’ll find it much easier to weather whatever it may bring if you’ve made the effort to put together a substantial amount of savings.
Of course, for most people, that’s easier said than done. It’s not easy to save when you’re not overflowing with money. But with a little bit of creativity and smart planning, you’ll find that you can turbocharge your savings and give yourself a sizable safety cushion.
Set a Target
It’s one thing to say that you’d like to have a lot of savings. After all, who wouldn’t want to have plenty of cash in a savings account? It’s another thing to actually do it. You won’t build your savings if you’re only motivated to save your cash for a month or so. It should be a long-term project. One way to stay motivated and on the right lines is to set a target, for example setting a goal to reach an amount of money within a set period (say: save £5,000 in the twelve months). You’ll find that it’s much easier to save when you know that you’re working towards something specific.
Automate Savings
The problem most people have with saving is that they only do it when they’re in a strong position to do so. It might be easy to save in January, when there are no fun plans to join in on, but will you be just as eager to put money into your savings account during the summer months?
Consistency is paramount for building savings. It’s much better to put £25 into an account each week, every week, rather than waiting until you feel inspired to move money to your savings account. The best way to do this is to automate the savings process. Simply set it up so that money is moved to your savings each week, and you’ll be building your savings without even noticing it. It’s recommended to use one of the many ‘round-up savings’ apps that are available; they’re an easy and effective way to turbocharge your savings.
Get a High Yield Savings Account
You’ll make your savings go much further if you put it to work. What do we mean by ‘put it to work’? Keeping it in a high-yield savings account. Not all savings accounts are the same. Some offer low interest rates, which means that you won’t get as much money from the account as you would if it were in a high-yield interest account. There’s a host of options available online, so take a look at what’s available and see which ones suit your needs best. You’ll typically get a better interest rate if you choose an account that doesn’t allow easy access (for instance, having to wait 30 days for a withdrawal).
Uncovering Cash
If you’re finding it difficult to make ends meet, then the idea of saving might not sound like a realistic goal at the moment. But remember that most people usually have at least one additional source of cash that they haven’t yet explored. For instance, could you rent out your driveway or even a room in your home? HP claims and injury compensation claims are also typically overlooked; if you’re eligible, then you may be entitled to hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds. You can put this money directly into a savings account.
Reduce Your Spending
Most people find it difficult to live frugally. But building your savings account doesn’t mean having to live frugally forever. If you close your wallet for a month, for example, then you’ll likely be in a position to add much more money to your savings account. All the cash that you’d ordinarily spend on coffee, lunch, and other treats could, instead, be used to safeguard your future.
Don’t Touch It
Finally, perhaps the best way to really make your savings account grow: don’t touch it. It can be tempting to withdraw money from your savings to travel or buy something nice, but you’ll find it much more difficult to build a substantial amount of savings if you’re constantly dipping into the piggy bank and making withdrawals. It’s best to simply automate your savings and then forget about them — within a year or two, you’ll find that you’ve got a small fortune, which you can then use to do something that’s a lot more exciting than a week-long holiday.
