8 genius hacks to master the best saving plan without breaking a sweat
Image courtesy of Emilio Takas
There is a common myth that saving money must be a painful and restrictive process. This can take the fun out of living. What’s the point of saying goodbye to fun? Cancel your subscriptions. Skip every coffee run. What if you could build a solid savings plan without feeling like you were denying yourself? What if it could actually be–dare we say–easy?
The truth is, the best saving plans aren’t built on guilt or shame. The best saving plans are built on habits, systems and smart tweaks in the way you live. With a few strategic shifts, saving money can become something that happens in the background of your life, not something you obsess over daily.
Here are eight of the smartest, most low-effort hacks to help you master a savings plan that works and doesn’t leave you burned out or bored.
Automate Everything. Then ignore it.
The best savings plans don’t depend on willpower. Set up automatic transfers into your savings account after your paycheck is the simplest way to increase your balance without thinking about it. Your savings should be treated as a bill you pay, and not someone else. You can ignore your savings once it is automated and continue living life without worrying about every purchase. Rename your Savings Accounts with Actual Goals.
Instead, rename the account “Savings” to something meaningful, like “Future Home,” “Debt-Free Me,” and “Freedom Fund.” This is not money in a bank vault. This small shift in mindset can help you stay focused without relying on extreme discipline. This small mindset shift can help you stay focused without relying on extreme discipline.
Use the 24-Hour Rule Before Big Purchases
Impulse buys are the quiet killers of savings plans. Instead of stopping shopping, give yourself a 24-hour break before making any purchases over a certain amount. No cart abandonment guilt, no shame spiral–just a simple cooling-off period. More often than not, the urge to buy will fade, and the money you would’ve spent can be rerouted to your goal without a second thought.
Make Saving a Game (Yes, Really)
Turning your savings into a challenge or competition can make it actually fun. It’s not necessary to love spreadsheets and finance TikToks. Try a challenge like “no spending weekend” or a goal of saving $100 over a period of a month. Apps that reward you for saving money, give cash back incentives or allow you to round up your purchases and save the difference can be very motivating. Small wins can be surprisingly motivating, especially when they don’t feel like punishment.
Image by micheile henderson
Unsubscribe From the Temptation Loop
One of the most underrated saving hacks is simply removing the temptation to spend. Unsubscribe from promotional emails, turn off sale notifications and unfollow influencers that make you feel your life would be incomplete without their products. You’d be surprised at how much clutter you’ll remove from your mind (and wallet) when you stop being constantly marketed to. Know Your “Fun Floor”, and Build Around It
People don’t save because they cut out all the fun at once. Instead of cutting out all joy, determine your “fun level,” or the amount of money you can spend to feel human. You could decide to spend your money on a weekly take-out meal or a yoga class. You can then build your saving plan around what you really need, rather than destroying your life for the sake of budgeting. Pay Yourself the “Late Charge” Anyway
You remember that moment you barely avoided a $35 overdraft or late fee? Try this instead of feeling relieved: Transfer that amount to your savings account. You were prepared to lose it. Over time, these small deposits add up and you get the double satisfaction of avoiding a fee while growing your safety net. Think of it as “buying freedom,” not just stuff.
Each time you save instead of spending money, you are buying something more valuable than the latest gadget. You are buying freedom. Freedom from debts, freedom from a job that you dislike, and freedom to take on new opportunities. This kind of mentality doesn’t only make saving easier. When you reframe saving as the key to building a life on your terms, it becomes less about restriction and more about empowerment. When you reframe saving as the key to building a life on your terms, it becomes less about restriction and more about empowerment.
Saving Should Be Sustainable
The secret to mastering a savings plan isn’t about being the most frugal person in the room. It’s all about creating systems that work in the background. Avoiding burnout is key, as well as redefining “saving”. These hacks don’t work as shortcuts. One that fits your life works with your habits and doesn’t require you to become a money-obsessed robot in order to get results. One that fits your life works with your habits and doesn’t require turning into a money-obsessed robot to get results.
What’s one small shift you’ve made that’s helped your savings plan stick without adding more stress to your life?
Read More:
Why “No-Spend Months” Might Be Sabotaging Your Budget
Why Budgeting Feels Like Punishment–And How to Make It Feel Empowering
Riley is an Arizona native with over nine years of writing experience. She’s covered everything from personal finance, travel, digital marketing and pop culture. She spends her free time reading, spending time outdoors, and cuddling her two corgis.
