Doctor Money
- Apr 29, 2021
- 5 min read

The Secrets to Saving Money

Racking up savings is no rocket science, yet many people just aren’t doing it. We know that you have tried your best to save, but something always comes up. Sometimes it’s your car that needs new tires or your house requiring an expensive roof repair. It could be your teenager needing braces, or perhaps you are going through a job switching phase. In any case, life gets in the way and often puts your plan for saving money on the back burner. Does this sound relatable? Read more below – “The Secrets to Saving Money”

The hard truth is, things won’t magically line up perfectly to allow you to start saving money. In fact, if you are waiting for the right time to start saving, know that there’s never going to be a right time. The ultimate secret is to start saving right now.

Fortunately, there are a few tricks and secrets that you can put to use to start saving. So even if it seems that you don’t have any money to save, we have some solid “Secrets to Saving Money” on a tight budget. But these secrets are more about using the best practices in building your savings than some swish-of-the-magic wand tricks.

Here’s how to save money with five “Secrets to Saving Money” tips to put your savings on the fast track in no time!

Pay off Debt

Yes, our first money-saving tip is no secret, but it is one of the most effective steps to accumulate savings. It is nearly impossible to save a substantial amount for future or emergencies as long as debt payments take away a good amount from every paycheck. Moreover, the interest on your loan is always higher than what you can earn with a traditional savings account. So, there is no better way to save than by reducing your current debt and then putting that extra money into your savings.

That said, it also doesn’t mean that you should put all of your extra income into debt reduction. Therefore, even if you still have some debt to pay off, it is a good idea to set up a savings account. Apart from emergencies, you also have to ensure that you have enough money for upcoming expenses like insurance premiums. The best way is to draw up a budget that allows you to pay off debt as quickly as possible while building up savings at the same time.

Cut Back on Food Spending

Many people think they don’t spend much on food until they go through their last bank statement and credit card bills to check. And while it is okay to make a few impulse buys on your grocery runs, those little expenses can add up over time to sabotage your money management goals.

A few good ways to cut back on your food spending include sticking to meal planning, shopping grocery with a list, and using discounts and sales. Using meal plans can also help you cut back on dining outs. If you find shopping with a list challenging, you can order groceries online. You can also use a store app to get groceries from a designated area in the parking lot to avoid spending a huge amount of money.

Pay Yourself First

Often when you have to wait until your paycheck to pay the bills and shop, the amount left behind for savings is pretty small. In most cases, people also worry that they might need those few dollars for unexpected expenses later in the month. As a result, many decide not to put this extra amount into savings.

However, an alternate approach is to think of your savings just like you would any other bill. For instance, when your electric bill is due each month, you make sure it gets paid as soon as you get your paycheck. You need to have a similar approach to saving money. If you think of your monthly savings goals like a bill that is due, you will be able to build up your emergency fund in no time. You can also set up an automatic transaction on your income so that each month a particular amount from your paycheck goes into your savings account before you even have a chance to spend it.

Save the Windfall

Suppose you have just got a certain amount of extra money that you weren’t expecting this month. It could be an inheritance, earnings from selling old stuff, or even a tax refund. You can either splurge that amount or use this opportunity to build up your savings. Needless to say, it doesn’t take a second guess to say the latter is a much better idea.

In fact, a regular windfall is also a great opportunity to give your savings a boost. The regular windfall could be a raise at work or the extra amount you now have on hand after paying off your auto loan. Thus, any extra amount of money every month that you didn’t have before is the regular windfall that can be put into savings. The truth is if you were doing fine without it before, you could continue to get along without it now. The bigger the windfall, the better it is to put it into long-term savings.

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Take on a No-Spend Challenge

Jacqueline Gilchrist, a personal finance advisor, recently came up with a no-spend challenge. A no-spend challenge is actually about keeping yourself from spending money for a certain period. It could be any length of time, like a weekend, a week or a month. You can also set your own rules, like to spend only on essentials or any other allowances that you can think of.

This no-spend challenge not only helps you save but also makes you more creative with what you have. So if you feel like you have no money to save, a no-spend challenge can be a great way to save money on a tight budget.

Bottom Line

When it comes to how to save money, prioritizing your future needs over your current wants can go a long way. And this cannot be done without learning some good money habits and implementing them every day. So, use these money-saving tips or “The Secrets to Saving Money” to end the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck.

Are you ready to start saving to find your financial freedom with your money goals? Get our money management app, Doctor Money, so you can keep track of your money matters in one place. Be it your income, expenses, or savings; this smart tool can help you forecast current and future spending.

So, download the app today and make money management a cinch and gain greater control over your finances.