Figuring out how to save money, whether it is for that new kitchen appliance, a home or car repair, or starting your emergency fund, does not have to be hard. But how and where do you start? The simple answer is start small and keep it simple. Using a simple free Printable Savings Sheets like the Savings Scorecards is that simple solution.
Seven Tips to Help you Achieve Your Savings Goals
Saving money does not have to be a difficult process. But if you follow these simple tips you will find yourself with your desired savings a year from now.
Keep it simple and uncomplicated.
I believe that one of the main reasons that we fail when trying to budget or save money is that we over complicate it. I am a true follower of the KISS method (Keep It Simple Sara? ). That means that I take a very direct approach to the way I budget and the way I set aside money. No fluff, no muss. Just take a small amount of money and set it aside into an account at another bank or credit union.
Break it into small steps.
As with any big goal, you need to break it into smaller, easier to accomplish goals. In the case of saving a large sum of money, break it down into smaller amounts over a period of time. Each piece needs to help you build upon the goal you are trying to achieve. In this case setting aside money each week will allow you to meet your large dollar goal.
Make it a HABIT.
Now that you have the goals in bite size amounts, you need to keep at it. No matter how hard it gets, you have to keep at it. After a few weeks or months it will become second nature, a habit, which is ingrained in your daily life. A habit is harder to break. It becomes a part of your routine and muscle memory.
Automate it.
Worried you will not be able to make it a habit? Then this tip is for you, automate it. Set the amount you wish to save to come out each week. You will not miss the small amounts but you will end up with big savings!
Do not give up, even if you get off track.
This is more motivation than a tip. You CAN do this you CAN save this money. Even if you slip or forget or need the money for an emergency, do not give up. Put your blinders on and keep on keeping on. With these simple sheets I was able to save $10,000 in one year!
Enlist your friends and families help and support.
When you are trying to do something new, it is much easier to achieve it with support. That means enlisting your family and friends to save WITH YOU. Make it a game. Figure out how to save money together. After all 2 heads are better than 1, 3 are better than 2…you get the picture.
Be creative.
This is the fun one. Figuring out how to cut those funds from your current budget. Not sure where to start? Check out my post on 100 PLUS ways to save money and live frugally. It gives actionable ideas for ways to save money.
Why use these simple free printable savings sheets to save?
Now, it is time to talk about the simple tool to help you achieve your desired savings. Savings Sheet Scorecards. They are a simple printable, but that makes them pretty powerful, in my opinion. If you are just starting out on your savings journey, then take it slow and pick only one sheet to use. If this is not your first rodeo, then you might try to do more than one sheet! That was how I save $10,000.
Step 1: Decide what your savings goal for the year will be. If you are just starting out, try a goal of $1,000. There are also sheets for $1,500, $2,500, and $5,000
Step 2: Print the sheet (or sheets) which correlates with the savings goal you choose.
Step 3: Each week pick a square and set aside that amount. I find the best practice is to set up automatic transfers for the amounts. But to do that you need to know that you have those funds in your account. So, if you are just starting out it may make sense to break the weekly amount into a smaller daily amount. Especially, if you are trying for the $5,000 annual savings.
Step 4: Set aside the money and color in your square!! This is the best part ?
Bonus Tip: If you are a super saver, then you can use each of these sheets and save $10,000 in a year! How did I do that? I designated each savings scorecard for a day of the week, Monday through Thursday. Then I placed all the funds into a money market account to collect interest on my savings for a small added bonus.
Savings Scorecards
Not sure what to save for? Check out these ideas at each dollar amount.
$1,000 Savings Scorecard – Printable Savings Sheet
- Your first emergency fund
- Start an IRA
- Start a 529
- Use it for the start of your savings for a down payment for a home or car
- Pay for Christmas, Birthdays and Special Occasions
- Start a Micro Investment Account
- Make extra payments on your student loans
- Make extra payments on your mortgage
- Pay down credit card debt
- Start a side hustle
- Make an extra payment on your car loan
- Start a Vacation Fund
$1,500 Savings Scorecard – Printable Savings Sheet
- All the items in the $1,000 Savings Sheets
- bump up your emergency savings account and start saving for long term bill coverage
- New kitchen appliance, washer or dryer
- Take a Vacation
- Write a will
- Get a trust set up
$2,500 Savings Scorecard – Printable Savings Sheet
- All the items in the $1,000 and $1,500 Savings Sheets
- Complete a home improvement or repair
- Improve a useful skill
- Take a class (or classes)
- Hire a personal trainer or nutritionist – invest in your health
$5,000 Savings Scorecard – Printable Savings Sheet
- All the items in the $1,000, $1,500, and $2,500 Savings Sheets
- Pay off Credit Card Debt
- Use it for a special trip for the family
- Invest it
- Start a Business
- Use it for a down payment on a car
- Use it for the first part of a down payment to a home
Free Printable Savings Sheets
Now that you are ready to begin saving, here are the 4 free printable savings sheets. Give it a try.
$1,000 Savings Scorecard – FREE Printable
$1,500 Savings Scorecard – FREE Printable
$2,500 Savings Scorecard – FREE Printable
$5,000 Savings Scorecard – FREE Printable
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