6 Ways You Can Start Stacking Your Savings Account Now
It seems like the way money is flowing, people are being much wiser with their funds. But saving money is a completely different beast, as it calls for a different type of discipline.
It might be super easy for some to save for a girls' trip or an Hermes bag. But what about tossing money into your savings account for an emergency fund or just to have a cushion?
Life has shown that you don't need it until you do. And unless you're saving, there's a good chance you won't have it. Having a savings account might seem impossible, especially considering student loans, car notes, and other immediate things that take our budget's attention. But there are quite a few ways you can start stacking your savings account now without feeling like your money would be better spent elsewhere.
Set A Goal
Whether you're saving for an emergency fund, a down payment for a home, or any other major life moments, set a goal. That way you not only have something to reach for, but also feel accomplished once you reach your goal. This also takes into account unexpected expenses. Once you do accomplish it, set a higher one and keep stacking. Ultimately, you're never done saving. It's just a matter of how much you have in your account.
Let Your Savings Account Keep the Change
Many banks such as Bank of America offer a Keep the Change feature or something similar that will help boost your savings account without you even missing your money. It simply rounds up the amount you spend to the nearest dollar and automatically puts it in your savings account. For example, if you spend $12.75 on a purchase, .25 will be put in your savings account. The cool thing about this is that you can start competing with yourself. I had a friend who would try to spend as close to the .00 dollar point as possible (i.e. $12.01), so she could have the maximum amount be transferred to her savings account. It's just a little change here and there, but it will definitely add up and make the difference.
Schedule Time To Budget
Setting aside time in your schedule to go over your budget can really feel mundane, especially if you're not a numbers person. But knowing where your money is going can help you stack your savings account even more. Plus, you really won't know how much you can save without doing your budget. And the more often you do it, the less time it will take as you start to get familiar with your spending habits. Once you determine how much you can save each paycheck or each month, set up alerts to transfer the money into your savings.
Automatically Have Money Deposited
Thankfully, most banks require you to have a certain amount in your savings account at all times to avoid being charged a fee. You can take things a step further and have a small amount, like $25, be transferred automatically each month or each pay period. If it's automatic, there's a smaller chance of you actually realizing that it's gone or missing it. Another tip would be to have a percentage of your paycheck be directly deposited into your savings account. That way, each time you get paid, you won't even see a certain amount go into your checking account. This will help you be able to budget without it and create a habit of saving.
Avoid Eating Out
I remember one time I looked at my bank statement and was literally shocked at how much I spent on food. Most of the time it was just a snack here and there or going out for ice cream, but that stuff adds up. Once I started putting more money into groceries and less into eating out, I saved a ton of money. This could be a good move for you if you're looking for ways to start building up your savings account. On those days when you would eat out, put that money into your savings instead, and bring a lunch. If you're going out with a group of people, you could also eat a heavy dinner at home and just get dessert or an appetizer at the restaurant and put what you would have spent in your savings. Just like it added up on my bank statement, it'll add up in your savings account. Side note: Having an entertainment portion in your budget is helpful to avoid spending more money than you want to.
Have A Change Jar
This one definitely determines discipline. But similar to the keep the change suggestion, it works; especially if you tend to carry more cash instead of a debit or credit card. For this tip, you just need to have a jar designated for cash and put all of your change in it at the end of the day. If you really want to get aggressive with savings, add your $1, $5, or even $10 bills that you have in your wallet (or in your car) at the end of the day to see a bigger impact over a shorter amount of time.
Featured image by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash
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Charmaine Patterson is a journalist, lifestyle blogger, and a lover of all things pop culture. While she has much experience in covering top entertainment news stories, she aims to share her everyday life experiences, old and new, with other women who can relate, laugh, and love along with her. Follow Char on Twitter @charjpatterson, Instagram @charpatterson, and keep up with her journey at CharJPatterson.com .
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Why We'll Probably Never Hear Lupita Nyong'o Share Her Relationship With The World
Lupita Nyong'o is sharing a transparent look into her life after a recent breakup.
In a cover story for NET-A-PORTER, the A Quiet Place: Day One star shed light on the significant heartbreak she experienced following the end of her relationship with ex-boyfriend and TV host, Selema Masekela.
As a public figure, Nyong'o, 39, sought to divulge the news of the breakup in hopes of presenting a more authentic perspective on the pain that follows a separation.
"I was living in a lot of pain and heartbreak," she told the publication. "I looked at the environment of my social media and thought I don’t want to be a part of this illusion that everything is always coming up roses. Surely there is a lesson for me to learn in this, and I just want to be real about it."
The Black Panther star went on to explain that her choice to be transparent with her fans about her breakup came from the certainty she felt after ending the relationship. “In my mind, when I shared my relationship status with the world, it was because I felt sure about it,” she said.
While she didn’t know how the news would land with her fans, she found relief in knowing she wasn’t alone in her experience.
“I knew how it could be interpreted; I knew it would have a life of its own,” she reflects. “But then I started to see the comments and people were being so loving and supportive. The ones that moved me the most were other people sharing their pain and their heartbreak.”
Nyong'o and Masekela went Instagram official in December 2022, publicly announcing their relationship in a couple's video. In October 2023, Nyong'o took to her personal Instagram account to share the news of her breakup in her caption, writing, "At this moment, it is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust.”
She continued the vulnerable note, "I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception. I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, 'Whatever, my life is better this way.' But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love."
These days, Nyong'o tells NET-A-PORTER that she is prioritizing profound self-discovery that extends beyond her career. She notes having a deliberate and unhurried approach to understanding herself.
She also alludes to keeping her relationships private moving forward after noting it was "very, very sage" of her not to talk about her private life professionally in the days before her last relationship. "I'm going back to those days by the way," Nyong'o shares of her reinstated boundaries around her personal life.
Earlier this month, Nyong'o made headlines alongside her new boyfriend actor Joshua Jackson. Nyong'o and Jackson went through public splits from their respective SOs in October 2023, with the latter splitting from his long-time partner Jodie Turner-Smith following her divorce filing from the Dawson's Creek alum.
The pair have been spotted together as early as December 2023, but nothing screamed "couple" quite as loudly as their recent getaway to Mexico for Nyong'o's 41st birthday featuring passionate displays of affection.
"Our purpose in life is to love. And so you have to get back in it," she tells the outlet, seemingly alluding to her budding new romance.
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Featured image by Taylor Hill/Getty Images