1. Save a pound a day
As simple as it sounds. Literally put aside a pound, every day. Make things easier by setting up a standing order from your current account into your savings. Try this for a year and you’ll have £365 to show for it.
2. Save 1% of your monthly wage
This one gives you a better understanding of how much you’re earning and how putting a small percentage of it aside could add up in the long term. Calculate 1% of your monthly wage (after deductions) and arrange a standing order for this amount into your savings. If you set it up for the same day you’re paid, you’re less likely to miss it. After a year (or sooner if you can manage it), try upping the percentage.
3. The 52-week challenge
At the end of week one, save £1. At the end of week two, make it £2. Carry on increasing the amount until week 52 (when you’ll be saving £52). By doing this, your savings for the year should be £1,378.
4. Try the no-spend month
Don’t worry – we’re not saying you can’t spend any money for a month.
- Make a list of the things you will need and another of ‘nice to haves’ that aren’t essential.
- Scrap the latter for a month and you could save a surprising amount. Here are some examples of both:
Essentials
- Mortgage/rent
- Utility bills
- Basic groceries like fruit, vegetables, pasta, milk and toiletries
- Travel costs
Non-essentials:
- Takeaways – including everything from coffee to sandwiches to dinner
- Eating out in restaurants
- Salon treatments or haircuts
- Non-essential clothes
- Entertainment (like the cinema)
Note down a ‘normal’ monthly spend on those non-essentials. Then once you’ve done the hard work of getting through your no-spend month, transfer the money you would have spent into your savings.
5. Sell to save
Look around your home and list stuff you haven’t used or worn for a year that could be sold online (or at a car boot fair, or garage sale). Put the proceeds straight into your savings for an easy win.
How to stay motivated
Think of a goal that’s specific to you
- it could be a big one like saving for a car or a deposit for a house.
- Maybe it’s clearing down credit card or student loan debt and building a healthy “Emergency fund”
- Whatever your motivation, make sure it’s present in your daily spending thoughts and remind yourself of it whenever you can (so you’re putting money away towards it).
Even something as simple as sticking up motivational sticky notes can help.
- By taking your savings seriously (and only dipping into it when you really have no other option), it should become just as important in your life as the way you spend your money.
You can create pockets within your Thamesbank account and save money and move monies for different things like I’ve suggested earlier.
Let’s try and put some “Fun ways to save money” with Thamesbank Credit Union.