These days, it seems that everyone is having a tough time financially. While it may seem that every cent you get paid has to go to a bill, gas, or food, building a nest egg is more important now than ever. Having some money squirreled away can be a blessing if your car breaks down, you lose your job, or someone in your family gets sick, particularly if you live from paycheck to paycheck. Saving can be surprisingly easy, and sometimes even fun!
The first step towards saving up is making your money inaccessible. Open a savings account with a different bank than the one you usually use, but make sure you won’t get charged any fees for doing so. If your chosen savings bank is hard for you to get to, open a checking account as well and get a debit card. Next, pay yourself first. Visit your primary bank, and set up a direct deposit into your new savings account. Make sure it goes into savings, or else you won’t get any interest from your hard work! Once you have the direct deposit set up, take that shiny new debit card and put it somewhere you can’t access it without a fight. One idea is to fill a plastic container partway with water, put the card in the middle of the container, and freeze it. You could also tuck it away with your out-of-season clothes, or in the back of your spice rack. Just make sure you won’t be tempted to reach for it except in a dire emergency.
