You’ve heard the old adage, “pay yourself first.”  Well, that really is a good idea when you want to save money.  Once you start putting away a small amount each paycheck, you won’t even miss that money, and it will really add up.  Most financial institutions have special savings accounts that restrict access and charge you a fee to dip into it.  Some people need that extra barrier so they don’t touch their savings.  Or, there are accounts that allow you to transfer money into an account every time you use your debit card.  You simply add the amount to each of your transactions.  It too really adds up over time.

Most employers offer 401(k) programs, which allow you to save for retirement.  The money you contribute to a 401(k) can be deducted from your pay before income taxes are taken out.  And many employers match up to a certain amount.  Your contributions come directly out of your paycheck, so you don’t really “see” the money, it becomes easy to just “live” without it.

Establish a goal and make saving a priority, and remember, a little goes a long way!