Do you save money or spend it right away?
93241
both! i setup my bills to autodraft right around when i get paid, which includes sending money off to different savings plans. i've set savings goals in various savings plans and stick with it. if any of my accounts fall below a certain line, i spend less and pump it up.
100261
Saving is not about Big Numbers. It isn't even about Little Numbers Across A Long Time. It is about Consistent Numbers Across Any Time.\n\nSaving money certainly involves "not buying stuff." But this view is far too narrow. So long as saving is equated with sacrifice it will be an uphill battle to save. Having day-to-day life that is as stress-free as possible is very important. Continual sacrifice and stress-free living clash harshly for many people. Some people focus on changing lifestyle-related choices, sometimes called the "latte factor," as a method for realizing day-to-day savings. I agree that this is good advice for some people, but as a first step it isn't necessarily the most effective. There are other things that can be done, too.\n\n1. Reduce monthly fees. Stop paying banking fees for services you don't use or don't need. Many banks charge monthly "service fees" or "maintenance fees" for checking accounts. If your bank offers "free checking" or "free checking with Direct Deposit" (and you have Direct Deposit) switch your account, or find a bank that does offer "free checking." Even the smallest leak in any plumbing system will eventually collect enough water to fill a bathtub, so to will even the smallest recurring monthly service fee eventually steal one month's rent.\n\n2. Detemine a reasonable monthly budget. It is important to know "where it all goes." Rent, utilities, cell phone, car payment, insurance, groceries. There is no doubt these numbers exist, but most importantly nearly all of them can be known in advance. Some of them can't be known exactly, but they can be estimated. My advice is to estimate unknown amounts not for the sake of accuracy ("The cell phone bill is usually $40.00 per month."), but for the sake of certainty ("The cell phone bill has never been more than $80.00 in any month."). In the beginning of making and using budgets, they work best when costs are overestimated rather than underestimated. It is far less uncomfortable to have "too much" money left at the end of the month than it is to have "too little" left over and bills still to be paid at the end of the month.\n\n3. Begin saving automatically. If your employer offers Direct Deposit, and you can open a "free checking" account (with or without Direct Deposit), use this financial automation to the maximum. Open a second checking account. Then contact your HR department to request that your paychecks be split across your two checking accounts.\n\n4. Separate paying bills from saving and investing. Use your primary account for all monthly expenses: rent, utilities, food, car payments and pet food. This is your "Cash" account. The second checking account is dedicated for saving and investment purposes. You won't draw funds from this "Investment" account to pay bills. That isn't what saving is about. Saving is about having money available to fund medium-term and long-term goals. Things like retirement, paying college tuition or buying a home. The "Investment" account will drive all of your automatic saving and investment mechanisms. Similar to Direct Deposit, schedule Automatic Withdrawals to transfer funds from your "Investment" account into high-yield savings accounts (4.50% or better) and retirement accounts (Traditional and Roth IRAs).\n\nHere is how to implement the above steps.\n\nLook at the ING Direct website. ING has savings accounts with excellent interest rates, with no minimum required balance. In addition look at the Vanguard website. If you don't have an IRA, 401k or any other kind of retirement account Vanguard has the lowest custodial costs ($10.00 per year) and lowest minimum required balances (usually $3,000.00) of any financial services company today.\n\nAccumulating enough money to open an account with Vanguard may
391104
Budgets have never worked for me, but I find if I put money in a hard-to-reach savings account the first day I get paid, I automatically spend less that way.\n\n...and then you can spend the rest as you like, it just has to get you to the end of the month.  DVD players aren't that expensive nowadays...I don't know much about facials, but as I said, once you have put money aside, the remaining funds just have to get you to your next paycheck...if you make a mistake, the savings account is still there in that hard-to-get-at-but-reachable location.
69558
None.  Use a debit card, save money, invest.
587123
I have been saving money for years, and i think the key to saving money is to question yourself if you really need this or not.  For Example: You see a Plasma TV at the store knowing you have a good working decent sized TV at home. Do you really need this overpriced TV? Or you dont?
416347
i would invest it to get a return on it. and use it later when i need it.
304776
Use your own money, in small increments or save it until you have enough.
746494
With the shopping season here, and stores selling out of merchandise if you see want you want and they have it in stock at a price that fits your budget. I'D SAY BUY NOW
856046
absolutely not, unless i needed it for electricity or food or medical expenses. because:\n\n1) insanely high interest rates\n2) digging a deeper hole\n\nyour best bet is to cut back expenses temporarily that aren't absolutely essential (cell phone if you have a land line, downgrade cable packages or eliminate all together, stop eating out at fast food or restaurants, take public transportation, buy less expensive food, etc.). alternatively, buy less expensive christmas gifts. when your situation improves, then you can adjust accordingly.
553754
Good for you for saving!  Too few people do that these days.\n\nBoth emergency and savings should be in a savings account or a VERY low risk mutual fund, where you can get to them pretty quickly if you need them.  They are designated as such by you, not the bank.\n\nAn emergency fund is just what it says - money you keep around (in an account, of course) for emergencies - unexpected medical bills, unexpected car repairs, etc.  The key here being UNEXPECTED expenses.  \n\nA savings fund is what you use to save for higher cost items that you want to purchase (TV, computer, newer  - never NEW - car, home).\n\nIn addition to these, you should be accruing CASH in seperate envelopes for things you buy fairly often, but not necessarily every week (auto repairs, home repairs, clothing).  That way, when your're ready for some new clothes or it's time for the oil change, you have the cash on-hand.\n\nIt sounds like you have a good handle on your finances.  If you want more tips and advice, check out one of Dave Ramsey's books from the library ("Financial Peace" or "Your Total Money Makeover").
99145
You're a step ahead of most people.  By now, you have a good grasp of what you're spending money on.  Take a good hard look at how you're spending your money.  Some expenses are "fixed" - meaning they don't vary each month.  Some expenses are essential (food, gas, housing, etc), while others are not (morning latte, manicure, movie tickets, etc).  Take a look at where you can cut back on those "wants" rather than "needs" and you'll find that saving money is not that difficult.\n\nNow set some goals for how much you'd like to save.  Start each month by paying yourself, so to speak, and put money in your savings account in order to build a nest-egg.  Some people find that having money automatically withdrawn from their paycheck is the easiest way to "force" them to save.  \n\nYou may want to check out this cool calculator that can help you manage your budget:  http://www.fuzeqna.com/smcu/consumer/kbdetail.asp?kbid=1929\n\nYou might want to use a software program such as Quicken to help manage your finances and goals.  But the system isn't as important as the action.  You're on your way!
87410
no but it usually saves you money
852248
Yep, the instant savings mean that the amount will be taken off imediately.  Dell and computer ppl do that alot.
81660
well first off u need to figure out what are ur priority expenses. when u get paid u need to set aside the money u need to pay whatever bills need to be paid.. then whatever is left is your money.. take 60% of what u have left and that is for u and the other 40% u need to bank it and never touch it... and u do that every pay week.. if u stay steady to it u will have no problem in saving money. secondly, u need to knwo when to say no. if your a type of person who loves to spend money then u ned to tell yourslef No . spend only what u need and buy only what is needed.... if u need anything else i am here for you
259445
umm get a job and save ?
734515
Im just about to turn 22 and I have saved about 40k. I try for about 800$ a month, but often find that goal hard to reach. No debts as it stands right now, but things maybe changing shortly. I wasted alot of my income until about a year and a half ago.I think its important for teenagers to learn about finacial responsibility before they waste the first few years going pay check to pay check, I wish I had
672516
Stop spending, cut your spending.\n\nPlan a budget, and save.