Life can get expensive quickly when you least expect it. Whether you need to make unexpected home repairs, get into a car accident, or perhaps you have medical issues which require attention, it’s important to make sure that you’ve got enough money on hand to pay for whatever you need it for.
In order to ensure that you’re prepared, you should put money aside every month. Don’t have a lot of cash on hand? Fear not, saving is possible even with a tight budget. Here are some of the best strategies for getting started,
Sell Your Belongings
Make an assessment of everything that you have lying around the house. Are there things you don’t need? Are there things which may be of value which you haven’t touched in a long time?
It may be time to have a garage sale or sell on the online marketplace. You’d be surprised how much money you might have lying around that you didn’t even realize was there. Fight the temptation you may have to spend what you earn and instead, use the money you earn from selling your old belongings to put aside for your emergency fund.
Cut Expenses Where you Can
Take a good look at where your money goes every month. Try to explore where you can cut costs even on bills. Shop around for alternative companies which may offer better deals. Eliminate unnecessary expenses like memberships you don’t use.
Take a look at credit cards which have lower interest rates. Stop eating out as much. Try to think of any and all ways to cut back on where your money goes every month and instead, put the money towards savings. You’ll be surprised that your small efforts can go a long way when you add them up.
Set Goals
Most money experts can agree that the best way to save is by creating realistic and attainable goals. Try to think of the big picture. For example, if you want to have $4000 tucked away for emergency savings, create a timeline of how you can achieve that.
Do the math with a calculator and adding up the amount that you can realistically save per week.
Separate Your Savings From Your Checking
It’s difficult not to spend money that’s in front of you. Therefore, rather than risking the temptation, put your saved money in an entirely different account than the one you take from for your everyday expenses.
Not only will putting it into a savings account ensure that it’s out of sight and out of mind, but it will also gather more interest than in a drawer or checking account.
