Why It's Hard for Many People to Save Money (and How You Can Start Small) (2024)

Why It's Hard for Many People to Save Money (and How You Can Start Small) (1)

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David Siegfried, EA, CFP® Why It's Hard for Many People to Save Money (and How You Can Start Small) (2)

David Siegfried, EA, CFP®

Investment Advisor & Tax Practitioner

Published Jun 7, 2024

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I understand that saving money can be challenging for many people, but understanding the obstacles can help us find ways to overcome them. Here’s a look at why saving is tough and how you can start saving, even if it’s just a little bit at a time.

Common Challenges to Saving Money

  • Low Income: It’s tough to save when you’re earning just enough to cover basic needs.
  • High Cost of Living: Rising prices for essentials can leave little room for savings.
  • Debt: Paying off loans and credit cards can consume much of your income.
  • Unexpected Expenses: Surprises like car repairs or medical bills can quickly drain savings.
  • Lack of Financial Education: Without knowing how to manage money well, it’s easy to spend impulsively or not prioritize saving.
  • Peer Pressure and Lifestyle: Social influences and the desire to keep up with friends can lead to spending more on things like clothes, gadgets, and entertainment.

How You Can Start Saving (Even If It’s Small)

Despite these challenges, there are ways to start saving money, no matter how small your contributions might be. Here are some uplifting and practical tips to get you started:

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  1. Create a Budget: Track your income and expenses. Seeing where your money goes can help you find areas to cut back and save.
  2. Save Automatically: Set up automatic transfers to a savings account each month. Even transferring a small amount, like $10 or $20, can add up over time.
  3. Cut Unnecessary Expenses: Identify non-essential spending, like dining out or streaming services, and reduce them. Redirect that money into savings.
  4. Use Discounts and Coupons: Look for deals and use coupons to save money on everyday purchases. The savings can be small but significant over time.
  5. Set Savings Goals: Having specific goals, such as saving for a vacation or a new gadget, can motivate you to save more consistently.
  6. Build an Emergency Fund: Start with a small emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses. This can prevent you from dipping into your savings when surprises come up.
  7. Educate Yourself: Learn about personal finance through books, online courses, or financial advisors. The more you know, the better you can manage your money.
  8. Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize and celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Each step towards saving is a step towards financial freedom.

Starting small is key. Even if you can only save a few dollars a week, it’s a step in the right direction. Over time, these small savings will grow, helping you build a more secure and financially stable future. Remember, every little bit counts, and the journey to financial wellness starts with just one small step.

#PlanningPaysOff

#TalkToYourCertifiedFinancialPlanner

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Why It's Hard for Many People to Save Money (and How You Can Start Small) (2024)

FAQs

Why It's Hard for Many People to Save Money (and How You Can Start Small)? ›

Common Challenges to Saving Money

Why is it difficult for people to increase their savings? ›

Difficulty saving money is often caused by common struggles — high expenses, lack of a structured budget, no emergency fund, lack of clearly defined goals, high credit card debt, or large student loans. To overcome savings obstacles, focus on managing expenses. Positive long-term habits may increase savings success.

What are the challenges of saving money? ›

7 barriers that keep us from saving money (and how to knock them down)
  • Spending too much on housing.
  • No defined budget.
  • The “I'll save when I make more money” mindset.
  • Lack of measurable savings goals.
  • Student loan payments.
  • Your comfort zone.
  • Overusing credit cards.

Why should you start saving even with a small income? ›

Commit to saving money regularly

If specific goals seems out of reach for you, any amount you can put in savings will help provide a cushion against future financial hard times or big purchases. This is important for everyone, but especially if you are supporting yourself financially.

How can I save a small amount of money? ›

10 Best Ways to Save Money
  1. Eliminate Your Debt. If you're trying to save money through budgeting but still carrying a large debt burden, start with your debt. ...
  2. Set Savings Goals. ...
  3. Pay Yourself First. ...
  4. Stop Smoking. ...
  5. Take a Staycation. ...
  6. Spend to Save. ...
  7. Utility Savings. ...
  8. Pack Your Lunch.

Why is it so hard for people to save money? ›

Saving money is hard. One of the most common reasons is that you might not have a good enough reason to save. Maybe you're overly focused on the present, or maybe you simply don't know what you want in the future. Either way, you need to get a vision for what you want to achieve with your money.

Why do people struggle with savings? ›

Debt, especially from high-interest credit cards, significantly hinders the ability to save. Lack of budgeting contributes to poor financial management and savings shortfalls. Social pressures and lifestyle inflation can lead to increased spending, further impeding savings efforts.

How can I make saving money easier? ›

8 simple ways to save money
  1. Record your expenses. The first step to start saving money is figuring out how much you spend. ...
  2. Include saving in your budget. ...
  3. Find ways to cut spending. ...
  4. Determine your financial priorities. ...
  5. Pick the right tools. ...
  6. Make saving automatic. ...
  7. Watch your savings grow.

How many people struggle with saving money? ›

APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice. A new survey found that 65% of middle-class Americans are struggling financially -- and expect to keep struggling for life. 46% of Americans don't have $500 of emergency savings, and 28% have no savings.

What is the 5 savings challenge? ›

The fiver challenge - save £7,000

This challenge works the same as the 52 week challenge, but you go up in multiples of £5 rather than £1. So week one = £5, week two = £10, all the way up to week 52 at £260. Alternatively, if you're not in the position to save these larger amounts, you could save £5 every week instead.

Why should you start saving now even if it is only a small amount instead of waiting until later when you have more money? ›

Even if you're only contributing a few hundred dollars a month for now, the difference in earnings could end up being thousands — or hundreds of thousands — of dollars later in life.

How to encourage people to save money? ›

Here are easy ways how we, as parents, can help our children kick-start their lifetime savings habit.
  1. Teach wants versus needs — visually. Before handing junior any money, help them grasp the difference between needs and wants with the help of sorting cards. ...
  2. Help them understand the value of saving. ...
  3. Make budgeting easy.

How to aggressively save money? ›

Make a budget.
  1. Set a savings goal. ...
  2. Set up direct deposits to go into savings. ...
  3. Buy generic. ...
  4. Stay out of “that store.” ...
  5. Cancel some subscriptions and memberships. ...
  6. Join gas rewards programs. ...
  7. Meal plan. ...
  8. Use cash-back apps and coupons.
Jun 13, 2024

How can I save money if I barely make anything? ›

11 Foolproof Ways to Save Money On a Low Income
  1. Create a Budget. ...
  2. Open a Savings Account or Savings Pod. ...
  3. Drop Unneeded Monthly Memberships. ...
  4. Take a Hard Look at Your 'Unavoidable' Expenses. ...
  5. Save Money on Food. ...
  6. Save Money on Utilities. ...
  7. Commit to Buying Nothing New. ...
  8. Change Where You Keep Your Money.
Jan 4, 2023

Why is it so hard to make more money? ›

Human Psychology Makes it Hard to Make Money

They are rooted in psychological and behavioral deficiencies, such as lack of work ethic, lack of faith, lack of discipline, over-spending, excessive risk-taking in investments, greed, pride, and an insatiable desire to impress others.

What would most likely cause a person to increase their savings? ›

Answer and Explanation: Interest rate: The interest rate is the major factor that affects the level of savings. When the interest rate increases, the rate of return from their savings also increases. It will encourage people to save more money for the future.

How can you increase your savings? ›

8 simple ways to save money
  1. Record your expenses. The first step to start saving money is figuring out how much you spend. ...
  2. Include saving in your budget. ...
  3. Find ways to cut spending. ...
  4. Determine your financial priorities. ...
  5. Pick the right tools. ...
  6. Make saving automatic. ...
  7. Watch your savings grow.

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