It’s fun to spend, but many get great satisfaction from saving as they do from spending. Unless you’re a trust-fund baby – you’ll probably need to save for the big things like your education, house, car and retirement. That’s tough to do; particularly when tempted by flashy-shiny objects that entice us every day.

We can change to a savings mindset. It’s all about focus. That focus comes from a series of small successes that build to bigger ones. And once we see the nestegg grow, saving becomes more of an automatic ‘default’ when facing an impulse-buy opportunity. Here are some ideas that may help:

• Automate! This means creating an automatic deduction to the savings or retirement account with each paycheck. 
• Shopping lists: create a list before you step into the grocery store and stick to it! Afterall, those are the things you need, right? 
• Order smaller portions when dining out. Healthy appetizers and a dinner salad can satisfy you and your wallet.
• Quit clicking – online shopping is too easy. And, often we’re ordering things we don’t need. Only log-on when you have a specific purchase.
• Review all ‘automated’ billing for services. Are you still going to that boutique yoga studio that debits your account every month? If not – cancel it!
• Refinance student or auto debt and your mortgage.  Interest rates are dipping. Look into consolidating and to lower borrowing rates.

Some of these things may seem ‘small’ in the scheme of lifelong savings. It’s not always the money you save by dropping your three weekly trips to Starbucks down to one- it’s the habit you’re forming – and then saving on unneeded spending becomes routine.

Questions?