Try these 8 easy and proven tips for savings success.

A healthy savings account is a powerful tool. It positions you to pursue your dreams, live with confidence, conquer the unexpected, have choices, enjoy peace of mind, and ultimately do what you love. However, nearly half of all Americans don’t have $400 on hand to cover an unexpected expense, reports the Federal Reserve.

Many workers live paycheck-to-paycheck, in large part because they are living beyond their means, according to CNN Money. Here are 3 clues to determine if you’re doing the same:

1. Your credit score is low.
2. Your housing costs eat up more than 30% of your paycheck.
3. You’re not saving any money.

Becoming a saver is easy once you get the hang of it. Approach it the right way – with a positive attitude. Think of it as a fun challenge. A healthy habit that gets easier the more you do it. Once the spirit of savings captures you, there’s no turning back. You’ve got this. Just follow these 8 easy and proven tips for savings success. Then watch as your life transforms.

1. Pay yourself first. Think of your savings as a bill that you pay yourself. Make it a priority every month. It’s easy to do. Simply write down how much money you take home per month after taxes. Then write down what you want to put aside in savings per month. That amount should include what you want to put toward retirement as well as short-term and long-term savings goals, such as $200 a month toward buying a new car, $50 a month toward an annual vacation, $300 a month for a child’s education, etc. Add up the money you want to save each month and subtract it from your net income. Whatever amount is left, spend freely.
2. Automate your savings. “Set it and forget it,” advises Farnoosh Torabi, best-selling author and personal finance expert. Reroute money from your paycheck directly to savings. These automatic transfers remove willpower and effort from the equation. Commit to a monthly percentage of your take-home pay that will be automatically transferred into its own account. Torabi recommends at least 10 percent. Within a year, you’ll be shocked by how much you saved and with little effort.
3. Invest wisely for retirement. Many employers offer a 401(k) plan and match your contributions up to a limit. Be sure to at least earn that match before investing elsewhere. If you’re already contributing to a 401(k) or don’t have one, you can open an individual retirement account. In a traditional IRA, your contributions are tax-deductible but distributions in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. A Roth IRA is a cousin of the traditional version, with the opposite tax treatment: Contributions are made after-tax, but money grows tax-free and distributions in retirement are not taxed. There are also retirement accounts specifically designed for self-employed people.
4. Distinguish wants from needs. Avoiding instant gratification is one of the most important rules of personal finance. If you have an urge to make a purchase, try waiting 30 days before buying it. Quite often, you’ll find the urge to buy has passed. Waiting gives you a better perspective on whether it’s truly worth the money.
5. Monitor your credit score and credit report. Your credit report is a summary of your borrowing and repayment history—any new accounts, closed accounts, unpaid bills, late bills, and other activity. If you have a loan, mortgage or credit card, it will show up here. Your credit report provides the basis for your credit score. You’re entitled to one free credit report, once a year, from each of the three credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Higher credit scores (also called FICO scores) mean lower interest rates and can save you thousands of dollars. Try to boost your score before you apply for a loan. Start now. Order your free credit report at ANNUALcreditreport.com.
6. Set aside a Rainy Day Fund. Saving for emergencies is critical, advises Dave Ramsey, author of The Total Money Makeover. He suggests saving $1,000 first, and then pay off your debt. After your debt is paid, save for three to six months’ worth of expenses. Saving for life’s little and larger emergencies means you’ll be ready for the unexpected. An easy way to give your savings a boost is to bank your raise, writes Robert Barba for Bankrate. Since you’ve already grown accustomed to living on the old amount, adjust your direct deposit so the extra cash flows directly to savings.
7. Understand the power of compound interest. Setting aside money early on and watching it grow can be a powerful motivator. Whether you’re in your mid-30s or mid-60s, it’s never too late to start saving, according to LearnVest. If you can afford to put away even $100 a month, starting now, compound interest will duly reward you. For example, at age 33, a $100-per-month ($1,200 annual) contribution at a 1% annual interest rate will turn into nearly $54,000 by age 70. If you start at age 66, this same investment amounts to just $5,000. Still, not bad. But, it clearly demonstrates that the longer you can let your investment sit and earn interest, the better.
8. Make saving money a family affair. Talking about saving money won’t mean much if your children see you spending frivolously, according to Take Charge America, a nonprofit financial education resource. Introduce the concept of saving early to your children. Bring them along to comparison shop at the grocery store. Let them know you are regularly contributing to an emergency savings fund (you are, right?) as well as putting away money for retirement. Remember, the way your kids see you relating to money will shape the way they live their financial lives in the future.

As with any new adventure, it helps to have a partner at your side to support you. Here at Skyline National Bank, we have just the right tools to get you started, including a variety of savings accounts and automation services. We want you to achieve your savings goals and are here to help make it happen. You’ll always get our best on the journey to becoming your best.

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