Saving: More Bark for Your Buck
Just for fun, let’s play a game called “Would You Rather.” Would you rather be given $5 every day for the next 40 years or receive a lump sum of nearly one million dollars 40 years from now? Of course you picked the lump sum, right?
These numbers aren’t random. If you save and invest $5 a day for the next 40 years at a 10 percent return rate, you’ll have $948,611! Bow-WOW! That’s a nice chunk of change. This scenario sounds like a no-brainer, yet many students put off saving for their future so they can have more money to spend today.
Saving money isn’t as hard as it seems; it just takes commitment. Below are some tips to help you save money and be well on your way to millionaire status by the time you retire.
Pay yourself first. One of the most important rules of saving money is making it a priority. Each pay period, write a check to your savings account or have money automatically transferred from your paycheck.
Adjust your withholdings. Make sure your W-4 form is filled out to your best advantage. File a new W-4 anytime there’s a major change in your life, like a marriage, birth of a child or purchase of a home, all of which can affect the amount of tax you’ll eventually owe. Make sure the money you just spared from the IRS isn’t spent; put that extra money into savings!
Cut corners. If you save $20 per week by bringing your lunch to school or work, put that $20 into savings; the same goes for clipping grocery coupons. Like movies? Catch the matinee at discounted prices or rent DVDs and deposit the difference in your savings account.
Reduce monthly fees. Monthly fees can add up to hundreds of dollars per year. Eliminate services that you pay for but don’t use, such as call-waiting, premium cable channels, gym memberships or magazine subscriptions.
Put away windfall money. When you earn a raise, get a refund or receive a cash gift, invest the money or put
it in your savings account. You know you can get by without it now, so put the money
to work for you. It will be worth even more later.
Keep making payments. If you’re currently making loan payments, when you’ve paid the balance in full, use that money to make regular contributions to your savings account or investments. Since you’re used to being without the extra money, you won’t miss it!
Build an emergency fund. Stash enough money to cover small emergencies; if you only work part-time, aim for about $1,000. Have a full-time job? Try to stash away three months of living expenses. An emergency fund will provide a cushion for any unexpected situations, so you won’t have to rely on credit cards or payday loans.
Keep your eyes on the prize. Whether your goal is paying next semester’s tuition, taking a vacation, buying a car, or making a down payment on a house, remind yourself regularly why you’re saving. Post reminders and pictures that represent your goals on the refrigerator for inspiration and congratulate yourself as your bank or investment balance grows.
Additional Resources
This information presented in cooperation with Oklahoma Money Matters, the financial education outreach initiative of the Oklahoma College Assistance Program. For more information about OKMM, visit www.oklahomamoneymatters.org or call 1-800-970-OKMM.