Finance

Save for Expensive Purchases With These Tips

Are you looking to buy a new home or go on an exotic vacation? You may believe that putting the expenses on a credit card is a convenient option, but this isn’t the best financial decision. You are often left with high interest rates and fees, and you end up making payments for years to come. A better way to make these types of purchases is to save up your money. Here are a few ways to accomplish this goal.

Put Money Into Your Savings Account 

One way to easily save money is to set aside a designated amount from each paycheck. Banking manager Basil Mahadeo recommends opening a separate savings account designated specifically for your big purchase. This helps to prevent accidentally using these funds for everyday expenses. It’s important to put money into this account immediately after getting paid because it is easy to spend it when it’s in your checking account. Many banks have the option of establishing automatic transfers, so you don’t have to remember to set this money aside each time you get paid. Another option is to have your employer automatically deposit a portion of your paycheck into this account, so you don’t have to worry about it. If you aren’t sure how much to deposit, the easiest way to calculate it is to take the total amount you want to have in hand and divide that by how many months you have to save. 

Decrease Spending 

If you put money into a separate account automatically, you have less money at your disposal. Instead of reaching for those savings to cover your monthly budget, readjust how much you spend on unnecessary items. Some ways to save are to cut back on streaming services you don’t use regularly, scale back on eating out, and purchase groceries while your favorites are on sale. Some financial advisors suggest using cash to pay for all of your out-of-pocket expenses. When you receive your paycheck, pay all of your bills that are due right away. If money has already been set aside into savings, everything remaining is your spending money until your next check. You can withdraw this cash from the bank and put it into separate envelopes for each spending category: food, fuel and fun. Having the cash is a vivid reminder of how much you have available to spend and reminds you to stick to your budget. 

Make Profit From Your Money

If you want to spend your money in less than a year, consider opening a high-interest savings account. These accounts offer a higher interest rate than a traditional savings account but have a higher minimum balance requirement. If you only have a small amount to begin with or your purchase is a few years down the road, consider investing in low-risk securities or mutual funds. These accounts give a higher rate of return than a savings account when left to mature over a few years. 

Saving up for a big purchase takes time and financial dedication, but it pays off in the end.