Since 2007, America Saves Week has been an annual celebration as well as a call to action for everyday Americans to commit to saving successfully. America Saves Week encourages local communities to do a “gut-check” on their finances and saving behaviors. The America Saves pledge is the framework that allows savers to set a goal and make a plan to achieve better financial stability.
Let's be honest, it's easy to spend money these days. With so much spending and buying, sometimes saving isn't all that easy, but having money stashed away in savings can help give you financial flexibility and freedom. There are numerous ways to begin saving money, from making your coffee at home to taking a brown bag lunch to work. Little by little, those cuts will add up. Here are four tips to help you get started.
1. Make a budget. Before you set new goals or make changes, it’s good to know where you stand. Use this budget worksheet to add up your income for last month and compare it to how much you spent. You might be surprised to see where your dollars are going.
2. Prioritize your debts. Are debt payments dominating your budget? Make a list of your debts and their annual interest rates. The debts with the highest interest rates are costing you the most. Focus on paying those off first.
3. Start small. Look at your budget for areas to cut back. Try starting with one small change, like inviting friends over instead of going out. Put that money to work right away by setting up automatic transfers with your bank or employer, so money goes straight to your savings account.
4. Sign up for alerts. Many banks, creditors and utility companies offer free alerts and reminders when your balances are low or payments are coming due. These services can help you avoid late fees, overdraft charges or other unexpected costs.
Visit AmericaSaves.org to find more tools, plans and resources to help you save more money in more ways.
If you’re ready to start saving, BancorpSouth makes it easy. Start a savings account with BancorpSouth today. We have several to choose from. Find the one that fits your needs.
Would you like to save automatically? Set up an automatic recurring transfer. BancorpSouth’s transfer feature allows you to schedule or set up recurring transfers in order to help manage your funds between internal and external accounts. Learn more here.
It’s never too late or too early to start saving money. Consider making the America Saves Pledge and commit yourself to saving money today!
© BancorpSouth 2020
