[Sponsored] Money Matters: 5 Tips to Kickstart to Your Savings

This article is part of Chase’s 2018 #SavingIt movement, where we are encouraging people to save money to help them reach their goals. Saving money is often attached to key moments in life, like buying a home, starting a family, or planning a wedding. Or maybe it’s a smaller goal, like taking a girls trip or starting an emergency fund. We call these “dreams” and “goals” for a reason. They require hard work, drive, and yes, they cost money. And that, in turn, means saving. “Saving” might sound simple. From my own experience, it’s not. When I was growing up in Texas, paying the bills each month was a struggle, never mind putting aside extra money to do something with my girlfriends. Having had that experience, saving became a critical part of my financial journey. I worked hard for it. When I got my first job out of college, I made sure to contribute the maximum amount to my 401k so that I started saving for the future. But saving doesn’t always mean investing or retirement. Just having extra cash can go a long way to help get rid of financial stress. And as women, we have a lot of it, from raising families, paying off student debt or supporting elderly parents. Unfortunately, though, nearly 40 percent of families are hit with extraordinary payments, like a medical bill, according to the JPMorgan Chase Institute, and it takes them over a year to recover financially. The good thing is, it’s never too late to start saving. And, saving can start small, whether it’s ten dollars a week or ten dollars a month. To get serious about your financial health, consider a few of these easy steps. Pick a goal. Whether it’s saving for the girls trip (or what you’ll wear), studies show that people are more likely to save when they have a specific goal in mind, especially when the goal feels achievable. And as contributor Lynnette Khalfani-Cox explains, it helps to get those goals down on paper. A study out of Dominican University found that participants who wrote down their goals were far more likely to achieve them. Set it and forget it. Nix the temptation to spend by automatically moving some of your paycheck into a savings account. Most workplace-sponsored retirement plans, like 401(k)s, offer an automatic savings option. You can even automatically increase the amount on a regular basis. Build an emergency fund. It’s so important to have an account just for short-term needs so that you’re covered for unexpected expenses, like a medical bill or home repair. Try to save enough to cover at least three months’ worth of basic expenses. Hold yourself accountable. People are far more likely to stick to savings plans when they announce them. No, not something to announce on social media, but tell a trusted girlfriend about your plans so that you have someone to cheer you on. Treat yourself. Here’s the golden rule. It’s okay to have a “cheat day” or a splurge, like buying those shoes you’ve been longing for, as long as you have room in your budget. After all, saving for the future is important—but you should still get to enjoy your money today, too. As women, we need to talk to and support each other when it comes to about savings and finance. I hope you’ll join me in #SavingIt this year and celebrate your savings win, big and small. Remember, it’s not about what you make, but what you keep.