last updated February 19, 2008
Automate Your Savings for a Brighter Financial Future
by Bonnie Conrad
We all know how important it is to save and invest for the future, and we all know that most Americans are not saving enough. Despite the importance of saving for a rainy day, the devil is in the details, and finding the money to start a savings plan can be difficult, especially in the current era of rising gas prices and increased costs for virtually everything else.
One of the most important steps in repairing and rebuilding your credit is having enough money should an emergency come up which comes over an above daily expenses: car repairs, medical costs, loss of job.
When it comes to saving money, it may be helpful to take a hint from Uncle Sam. Most workers in this country have their taxes automatically withdrawn from their paychecks, and as a result many of us never realize exactly how much we are paying into the federal kitty. The money is gone before it ever reaches our hands or our bank accounts, and over time we have simply learned to make do with what’s left.
Savers can use this same principle to put aside money for emergencies, large purchases and even retirement. By dedicating a portion of each and every paycheck to savings and investments, workers can learn to live on the remaining funds while building up a significant nest egg.
One of the simplest ways to get started is through the magic of direct deposit. Today many workers already have their paychecks deposited directly into their bank accounts, avoiding the hassles of long lines at the bank and the risk of lost or misdirected checks. Many employers will allow workers to split their direct deposits between two or more financial institutions, making it easy for workers to dedicate a portion of their paychecks to a savings account or money market fund. Even in today's low interest rate environment it is possible to find some accounts with attractive rates, and dedicating a portion of each check to savings can help that emergency fund get off to a good start.
Whether the portion devoted to savings amounts to 1% or 10% of each paycheck, the important thing is to get started. After taking this important first step many workers find that they miss the "extra" money less than they feared, and many are able to ramp up their savings over time.
Those same workers can help fund their emergency accounts even faster by dedicating any "extra" money they receive to their favorite savings account. From cash birthday and holiday presents to bonuses and incentive payments, workers can build up their rainy day funds without impacting their lifestyle or that of their family.
The same is true with annual raises, and many workers will want to dedicate a portion of their annual raise to the savings portion of their direct deposit arrangement. Ramping up the percentage devoted to savings is a great way to grow a significant nest egg with a minimum of hassle and hardship.
Learning to live on less than we make is definitely a learned behavior, but it is one of the most important lessons we will ever learn. No matter what your current salary, chances are you can set aside at least a few dollars from each paycheck. While that may not seem significant, those dollars can add up quickly, and a well funded emergency fund is a great way to cushion the blow of an unexpected financial setback.
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