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Putting your savings on autopilot is a low-effort way to save.
Key points
- Experts agree you should automate your savings.
- Make sure you have enough in your checking account to cover the transfers.
- Only use your savings for their intended purpose.
There’s a lot of conflicting financial advice out there. For example, some experts will tell you to use credit cards for everything. Others will tell you to steer clear of credit cards for anything. And still more experts will tell you to get credit cards — but only use them sparingly.
Despite all the differing opinions, there is at least one thing any financial guru will tell you: You need to have savings. And, in a shocking twist, most personal finance experts actually agree on the best way to save: automation.
The “set it and forget it” saving method
Automating your savings is a simple, no-effort way to consistently add to your savings account. It allows you to save behind the scenes, without having to remember or take the time to manually move money from account to account.
All you need to set up automatic savings is a checking account, ideally with direct deposit, and a separate savings account. Most, if not all, banks will allow you to set up automatic transfers between your bank accounts.
To set up automatic savings, you’ll want to determine the following:
- How often do you want to move money to your savings account?
- How much money do you want to transfer each time?
For many folks, having a savings transfer occur after every paycheck makes the most sense. So, if you get paid every other Friday, have your transfer go through every two weeks after your paycheck clears.
As for how much to save, that will depend on your budget. Here’s a quick chart to give you an idea of how much your savings could add up if you make a transfer every two weeks:
|
2-Week Transfer Amount |
Yearly Savings |
|---|---|
|
$25 |
$650 |
|
$50 |
$1,300 |
|
$75 |
$1,950 |
|
$100 |
$2,600 |
|
$150 |
$3,900 |
|
$200 |
$5,200 |
|
$250 |
$6,500 |
…….