Do not do "moonlight clan" of the five methods

Author : Hannah Gao Source : Release on : 2017-01-07 14:06:25

Many of us would like to have money in savings.Frankly speaking, a dollar spent now seems toprovide a lot more pleasure than a dollar saved, howcan you make sure you're motivated enough to putmoney aside on a regular basis?
Here are five things that could work for you...
Do you tell yourself that it's not worth saving if you don't have at least 100 (or 500, or 1000)to put into a savings account? This is a bit like telling yourself that it's not worth getting someexercise unless you have a whole day clear to jog.
How about saving just a dollar or two each day? Most of us can cut a couple of dollars ofunnecessary spending every day (how about skipping that latte, carpooling, ditching your dailynewspaper..?) It's a tiny amount that you'll barely notice on a daily basis, but over the courseof a year, you'll have saved several hundred dollars.
2. Read Personal Finance Blogs
I find that I get encouraged to save--and to adopt good financial habits in general--by readingabout others'tips and success. One of my must-read blogs for this is The Simple Dollar; Trentwrites very well, and covers topics in-depth without making them too complicated. He also hasan upbeat and motivating attitude towards savings and finances (some personal finance blogscan make for rather dour reading).
Other good blogs on personal finance are Get Rich Slowly and Wise Bread.
3. Keep a Savings Log
Something that's often recommended for those sorting out their finances is to keep a spendinglog--to write down what you spend, so that you have a clear picture of where all the money isgoing. I've done this in the past, and it's always revealing (and occasionally a bit horrifying!)
A twist on this, though, is to keep a savings log. Each time you make a deposit into yoursavings account (or each time you shove a few dollars into the jam jar hidden under your bed),write down the date and how much you saved. This can be a great way to motivate yourself tosave more. You could also use your calendar or diary for this.
4. Save Towards A Specific Goal
Having a very clear goal in mind can make it much easier to save up. If you know that you need1,000 for that new computer, or if you're determined to reach ,000 in your emergency fund,focusing on the end goal can keep you motivated.
Your end reward might not be a tangible thing like a vacation or a new purchase: it might bepeace of mind, or a sense of security or freedom. Consider visualizing how you'll feel once youhave your target amount in the bank. Will it take a weight off your shoulders? Will you be proudof what you've achieved?
5. Automate Your Savings
Finally, if you do find that your motivation waxes and wanes, simply automate your savings. Getyour bank to transfer 100 (or 200 or 500 etc) from your checking account into a savingsaccount, at the start of each month. If the money goes out without you having to lift a finger,chances are that you'll simply let it head off into the savings pot ...