Although there are no magic tricks to make you into an instant millionaire, there are a few ways you can become more organised and change your habits to help build up your savings account in no time.
No matter how much debt you have or how little money you make, financial freedom is attainable for anyone, and these nine easy steps will help you get there, according to www.mint.com.
Make a realistic budget
Making a budget isn’t difficult, but it can seem daunting if your finances need a big overhaul and you’re desperately trying to build up your net worth. There are plenty of helpful budgeting tools to get you on the right path, but the most important thing to remember is to make your budget realistic. When you’re trying to decide what to cut from your current spending, look for things you know you can live comfortably without. That means getting rid of your magazine subscriptions, cable, home phone, trips to the nail salon, or anything else that’s more of a want than a need.
After you’ve made those cuts, divide your income into three piles: one to pay your bills and basic necessities with, one for savings, and one just for fun. Too strict of a budget will drive you crazy, and the best way to maintain good financial habits is by rewarding yourself, even if it’s just with a fancy latte or new outfit from time to time.
Set specific savings goals
Even if you make the most amazing budget in the world, without setting any specific savings goals, the chances of you actually sticking to your budget are pretty slim. Do you want to save up to buy a home? Pay down your student loan or credit card debt? Quit your job so you can backpack around Southeast Asia for a year? Whatever your goals are, give them price tags and deadlines to give your budget purpose and to keep you motivated.
Set it and forget it
The great thing about online banking is that for almost everything, you can set it and forget it. If you want to allocate 10 per cent of your income for retirement savings and five per cent to your down payment fund, set up transfers every pay cheque so that money goes exactly where it needs to automatically. This will help reinforce the habit of paying yourself first, and will save you time and effort as well.
Spend with credit, not debit
Many people are wary of using credit cards since it can lead to hefty debts if not used responsibly, but not only are they generally more secure to use than debit cards; they can also make you money that you can put directly into savings. Depending on the cash back credit card you get, for every dollar you spend, you’ll get money back either directly onto your card or in cheque form. Now that’s just easy money.
Keep tax deductions in the back of your mind
If it’s not tax season, write-offs may be the last thing on your mind. However, if you want to maximise your tax refund at the end of the year to top up your savings account with, you should always be thinking about possible deductions. For instance, if you take transit daily, you may want to consider buying a monthly pass instead of individual trip tickets because passes can be written off. Same with donating to charities, as long as you keep the receipts and the charity is government-registered.
Know your worth and be paid for it
Although sometimes you might just be thankful to have a job, it’s important to know your worth and be paid accordingly. Do some research to see if you’re being paid the median salary for your current role, and if not, it might be time to ask for a raise or look for a new job that pays better. Remember, the more money you make, the more money you can put into savings.
Get a side gig
Many people these days have second jobs or side hustles to supplement their full-time income, and it’s a great way to accelerate your savings, too. Are you a natural craft-maker? Maybe you should consider selling some of your crafts. Do you enjoy concerts and sporting events but don’t want to pay for them? Why not find a part-time job at night working at the stadium?
Invest, invest, invest
Putting money into savings is important, but to make sure that money grows or even just maintains its worth over the years with inflation, you need to have an investment strategy. The more you save, you need to make sure that big chunk of change is put to good use, and that might mean putting it into bonds, stocks, or other investments.
Make some sacrifices
Above anything else, the oldest trick in the book to build up your savings account is to make some sacrifices. That might mean cutting some creature comforts from your life for a while. It might mean cutting back on eating out or participating in social activities. No matter what, at the end of the day, all of those sacrifices will be more than worth it. Not only will you be a heck of a lot richer for doing it, but you’ll never have to waste another night losing sleep worrying about money.
If you are really serious about getting on the right track financially and building up your savings account, these nine tips will definitely help steer you in the right direction.
Regardless of your age or current financial situation, right now is always the right time to start curbing those bad spending habits and planning for a richer and more fulfilled future.
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