What is a good way to save money?

Question

everytime i think i got money..i look and its gone. i need to save and i thought i knew how. but i'm not doing a good job. advice anyone?

Answer 1

Yep, all you have to do is get 4 or 5 envelopes. Mark one for food, one for rent or mortgage, one for savings, one for clothing, and one for giving. Every payday, divide up your money into these envelopes, then hide the savings envelope until next payday.

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Answer 2

Open a savings account in a bank that is really far away. Maybe in the next city over or on the other side of town, just make sure it is a really inconvenient part of town in a place that you rarely go to. Open the account in a bank that is small. Try to make sure they don't have branch banking where you could withdraw from any banking center. Try a local bank with a few branches. Open the account and get only deposit slips and the address you can send a deposit. Once a month, twice a month, or whatever schedule you can do; write a check for $100, $50, $10, whatever you can do and fill out the deposit. Put it in the mail and forget about it. In one year you'll be shocked at what you've saved. Then keep doing it. Don't close the account. Maybe take $50 and reward yourself. Then keep depositing that money and forget about. It is off limits to you. You have to make yourself think that. You'll also learn alittle self-control and some money management so that you can open an account at your bank and not kill it with withdrawals and loose spending. Good Luck.

One more idea. Once you get enough money in that savingss account, go to your bank and open an IRA account. This money is locked up and if you try to get it the penalty will be so great it will not be worth it. Contribute to that account everytime you can with the maximum contribution, if you can. Lock it up in a money market to begin with, but once you get $10K you can do alot of things to make money fast and save for your future. An IRA cannot be touched until you are 59.5. If you do, you'll lose over half its value in taxes and penalties. Check it out with your bank.

Good Luck

Answer 3

Stop spending. Have a % taken out of your check and put into a savings that you cant get to easily. A savings is like $ you sent to a bill. you can't get it back. Eat @ home don't eat out. Save on gas only go out when it is a real must. Do you really need what you are about to buy, or do you just want it because it is on sale? Think about were your $ goes. If you have nothing to show for than your a waist-fully spending $

Answer 4

I have a saving money problem too. When you get money put it in some kind of safe or something, so you won't bother going in there and taking money out.

When you're at the store to go buy something, say, milk. Go in the store just for that. If you go and buy milk but you pass by this cute shirt or something - You want to save money, right? So forget it. Now, I'm not saying you can't go buy clothes or music or whatever whenever you want. I'm just saying if you only have enough money for a couple things, don't go off and try to get something you know you can't afford for right now.

Because when you go into a store to buy a certain something, stick to it and don't go around finding other stuff to buy.

Sometimes you might want to go and get money so bad and you want to spend it on something unnecessary(sp?)
That's one of the reasons why people can't save money.

Like you need to pay a bill or something but you couldn't help it; you just had to get that DVD or new computer or something right away.
That keeps you from saving money. Then you find yourself asking for money from family, friends, and even people you don't know (<-- You know, like those guys next to the express ways and streets of Chicago and other places. I live in Chicago, so I know.)

Just be careful when you're spending money. Buy what's necessary and important for right now. If you have money left over, then it's safe to buy whatever.

Hope I helped.
=)

Answer 5

Each and every day make a list of what you spend money on, and the amount you spend to the penny.. At the end of the week tally up the amount. See what you can cut out, and do. Don't buy stuff you don't need. Make a budget. List your income, and subtract fixed items like rent, car payments, etc. Then list variable expenses like groceries, clothing, utilities. Subtract your expenses from your income. Save the rest.

Answer 6

As tough as it is, next time you want to buy something ask yourself if you NEED it or just WANT it. If you know deep down that you really don't need it, then don't buy it. Also, open up an online savings account (like ING) and collect interest. It will be harder to access the money that way. I also use Quicken to track my spending, which is great because you can see when your money goes and you can create a budget to follow.

Good luck!

Answer 7

If your company has direct deposit, have them put a small amount each payday into a savings account and the rest into your checking. I did that with one of first jobs and by the end of the year, i saved over $2,000. Then you can use the small amount to invest in something with a higher interest rate and watch it grow!
Consider paying yourself, as if it was a bill, each pay period or each month. AND DON'T TOUCH IT!

Answer 8

when you get ya paycheck, take 20% and put it into savings account. dont get a cheque or a card for it. just so that you cannot draw it even if you wish. dont even check the balance. just keep doing it. soon you will be accustomed to the present lifestyle with 80% of your income.

when you get a raise, put it all in with the 20%. very soon, you'll be rich. after a few years, take a look at the balance and feel the power you have.

now, put targets for yourself. example you have 30k. aim for 40k. once hit, get a BBQ going to celebrate (dont spend 10k on the BBQ!!!) set new targets once time you meet them along with a time frame. when you have hit a million, deposit it all in a bank, demand 5% interest and live happily ever after.

Answer 9

If you have access to a Credit Union open a savings account and sign up for your Employer to take a little out of your check to put it in the account. Don't touch it ! You be surprised how fast that adds up. They don't charge a fee for having it, unlike Banks.

Answer 10

there are lots of ways...

*instead of buying new clothes, change old ones. it's just as satsfying to sew on some beads and make an old top gorgeous as it is to buy a new one.

*eat omelette.

*put all your money in a jar. have a notebook next to it and write down all your income and spendings. it will make you realise what you're overspending on.

*only get the newspaper every other day

*don't get a coffee on the way to work, have one before you leave

*buy food in bulk, it's cheaper. watch out for good offers.

*cycle, don't drive!

*when shopping for fun, give 50% of what you spent to charity. eg if you spend £3 on nail varnish, put £1.50 in the charity box as well. Eases guilt, benefits others and dissuades you from buying things you don't need!

works for me. good luck!