Prime Time Money

“Income that is not consumed by immediately buying goods and services is saved.” 

Do you have any personal savings?  As you can see by the above chart, the rate of personal savings is way down here in the US.  We just aren’t saving our money.  You’d think with the recent downturn in the economy and the drop in housing values that people would begin saving more.  You just don’t see it in the numbers.

So, if you currently don’t have any savings…or, maybe you have some savings, but you’ve stopped and find it hard to get back on track, then it’s time to kick start your savings habit.  Here are some great ways to do just that:

1. Economic Stimulus Rebate Check

This one should be fresh on everyone’s mind.  Hopefully you haven’t already spent it??  I know saving this money is probably the opposite of what the President would have you do, but this rebate would be a great start your savings.  If you haven’t already spent it, plan on using this money to begin or re-establish your savings.  Don’t know what you’ll get?  See the 2008 Economic Stimulus Package explained.

2. Bonus and/or Raise

This is the time of year when a lot of people are getting either bonuses or raises at work.  Commit today to put that money in savings (bonus) or increase savings percentages (raise) to your 401K or other automatic savings plan.  An old boss of mine once shared with me that if he could have continued to live off of the salary he made early in his career and simply saved every raise and bonus he had received, he would have become a very, very wealthy man.  Granted, life does get more expensive with kids and other things, but you get the point: live within your means and avoid spending more when you make more.

3. Dine-In (at Home) Only

If you are the type that dines out a lot (4-5 times) during a week (which more of us are these days), then you could quickly come up with more money to save by simply grocery shopping and eating at home more.  Make a commitment to eat at home for one full week and see how much money you suddenly have for savings.  Do this two weeks out of the month and you’ll have no more excuses for not saving.  Also, when you do dine out…spend less.

4. Tax Refund

It’s tax time.  Expecting or already received your 2007 tax refund?  Why not skip the big purchase this year and use that money to get started saving?  If you have a refund, the Government has essentially been holding your money for you in a quasi-forced savings account.  Why not just take it from them and put it into a savings account of your own?

5. EBay-It

If you’re like me, you’ve got way too many DVDs, CDs, Books, and other stuff you’re not using just laying around the house.  Why not list some of those items on EBay, or the free (local) service Craig’s List?  You could also use a store like Half-Priced Books to return the items OR just have an old-school garage sale.  Commit to start a savings account based on what you make from these sales.

6. Start with Free Money

Saving money is easy when you get it for free.  There are lots of incentives out here to start saving more…bank bonuses for example.  I happen to use ING DIRECT’s Orange Savings Account for my short-term savings.  They will give you $25 to get started with one of their savings accounts.  You can visit my ING DIRECT Savings Account $25 Bonus page for more details.  Not into ING DIRECT, check out my friend Hu$tler Money Blog for more bank bonuses.

7. Make it Automatic

Lastly, I’d share that one of the best ways I’ve found to consistently save money is to do it automatically.  By automating your savings you take the pressure off of yourself to be disciplined enough to do it alone.  No habits needed.  Whether it’s through your company’s 401K or direct deposit into a savings account, setting it up automatically can be a powerful way to increase your savings ability.  Good luck getting started.

I know I missed a few.  Do you have any other ways to kick-start the saving habit?  How did you do it?