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1. Set a Clear Target for Your Big Purchase
You can’t save for something big if you don’t even know what it is.
Be crystal clear about what you want and how much it costs. It keeps you focused and motivated.
Once you know your target, everything else becomes easier to plan.
Define your goal in specific terms like “a $10,000 car” or “a $5,000 wedding fund.”
Write it down somewhere you’ll see daily to remind yourself why you’re saving.
Set a deadline so your savings have structure and urgency.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Write your goal, total cost, and deadline on a sticky note and place it on your bathroom mirror or fridge so you see it daily.
Make It Easy: Consider a visual goal tracker notebook to jot down your savings targets and keep your motivation high.
2. Break Down Your Goal Into Smaller Milestones
A giant goal feels impossible until you chop it into bite-sized wins.
You’ll be shocked at how quickly progress adds up when you focus on smaller steps.
Each milestone gives you that little dopamine boost to keep going.
Split the total into monthly or weekly amounts you can handle.
Reward yourself (cheaply!) after hitting each mini-goal.
Track it visually with a chart, jar, or savings thermometer.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Take your total goal and divide it by how many months you have, then focus on just hitting the next small milestone.
Make It Easy: Try a whiteboard savings tracker where you can color in each milestone reached. It’s weirdly satisfying.
3. Create a Separate Savings Account for The Goal
If your savings share the same account as your spending money, say goodbye to progress.
You’ll dip into it “just this once,” and that once somehow turns into three times.
Keep your goal money safe and sacred in its own space.
Open a new account specifically for this purchase. It’s easy and free.
Rename it something fun like “Dream House Fund” or “Vacation Vibes.”
Keep it slightly out of reach, so you can’t instantly transfer it back.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Open a second savings account just for this goal and avoid connecting it to your debit card.
Make It Easy: Use Betterment Cash Reserve Account to automatically separate and grow your goal funds with zero effort.
4. Automate Transfers So You Save Without Thinking
If you rely on willpower, you’ll always find a reason to skip saving “just this month.”
Automation removes the decision. And the temptation.
It’s like having a personal assistant who moves your money before you can touch it.
Set up transfers the day after payday so you never “miss” the cash.
Start small. Even $25 per week compounds over time.
Increase slowly when you get raises or bonuses.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Set automatic transfers from your checking to your savings every payday so your money moves before you even see it.
Make It Easy: Use a Betterment Cash Reserve Account to schedule recurring transfers effortlessly for stress-free saving.
5. Lower Bills to Free Up Extra Cash
You don’t need to make more money. You need to stop giving so much away.
Those bloated bills are quietly sabotaging your savings goals every single month.
Trim them down, and you’ll instantly find more money to save.
Negotiate rates on internet, insurance, or phone plans. They expect you to ask.
Cancel unused subscriptions and skip auto-renewals that sneak up on you.
Compare providers once a year. You’ll be shocked at how many cheaper options exist.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Review every recurring payment on your bank statement, cancel what you don’t use, and call to negotiate the rest.
Make It Easy: Use Rocket Money to automatically identify and cancel hidden subscriptions, negotiate bills, and track monthly expenses without lifting a finger.
6. Spend Less on Stuff That You Won’t Miss
You’d be surprised how many things you buy out of habit, not happiness.
Cutting out the stuff you barely notice keeps your quality of life the same. Just cheaper.
Think of it as trimming the financial fat without losing the flavor.
Pause before buying. Ask yourself, “Will I care about this in a week?”
Audit your spending for small recurring costs like snacks or random Target runs.
Replace pricey habits with free or cheaper alternatives that still make you happy.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Review your past week’s spending and highlight anything you forgot you even bought. Then stop buying it.
Make It Easy: Get a budgeting notebook to jot down small purchases and stay aware of your spending patterns.
7. Use Cash Envelopes to Stay Disciplined with Spending
When your cash runs out, that’s it. No overdrafts, no “oops” moments.
The envelope method keeps you mindful because you can see your limits.
It’s old-school, but honestly, it works like magic for controlling impulse buys.
Label envelopes for categories like groceries, gas, and fun money.
Withdraw cash weekly to refill only what’s necessary.
Track what’s left visually. It’ll make you think twice before spending.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pull out weekly cash for each category, and when it’s gone, stop spending until the next week.
Make It Easy: Consider a cash envelope wallet binder with labeled pockets for easy tracking on the go.
8. Avoid Debt As Much As You Can While Saving for This Big Purchase
Debt is like a leak in your savings bucket. It slows down everything.
If you’re saving for something big, avoid taking on new debt that’ll eat into your progress.
Every dollar not owed is a dollar closer to your goal.
Pay down existing debt first using the debt snowball method for quick wins.
Pause new credit until your savings goal is met.
Redirect payment money from old debts straight into your savings once cleared.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Focus on paying off your smallest debts first, then roll those payments into your savings goal once they’re gone.
Make It Easy: Try Undebt.it to create a personalized debt snowball plan and watch your balance drop faster.
9. Track Progress Every 6 Months to Stay Motivated
You can’t improve what you don’t track. So check in on your savings like you would a fitness goal.
Seeing your progress in numbers keeps you motivated when it feels slow.
It’s like cheering for yourself from six months ago.
Review your balance and note how far you’ve come.
Adjust your goal or contributions if your income or priorities change.
Celebrate progress with something small but fun (you earned it!).
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Set a calendar reminder every six months to check your savings balance and make small tweaks to stay on track.
Make It Easy: Use Betterment Cash Reserve Account for built-in tracking that shows your savings growth automatically.
10. Celebrate Small Wins Without Overspending
Saving money doesn’t mean you have to live like a monk.
You deserve to celebrate your progress. But in a way that doesn’t undo it.
Think rewards, not relapses.
Plan mini treats that feel special but don’t wreck your budget.
Share your progress with someone supportive. It feels more rewarding.
Reflect on your progress and remind yourself how far you’ve come.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Treat yourself to something small, like a nice meal or a beach day, every time you hit a milestone.
Hey, I'm Lily! I'm a mom who's really good at two things: stretching a dollar and talking about stretching a dollar. I created Money Vice after one too many grocery trips where I watched my total climb and thought, "There's gotta be a better way." Spoiler: there is. Think of me as your money-savvy friend who's always got a tip (and coffee in hand).
