How do you save money?

What is your trick to putting away money every month without noticing it's gone? I'm asking for tricks to putting money away. Of course it's not for spending. Like when you get a raise, do you put that extra money away?

Public Comments

1. by not spending any of it!!
2. by not spending it.
3. I wish I could...
4. Set something up with your employer. A 401k is a good way to go. If the money never gets to you youll never notice its gone.
5. how about don't spend it
6. i would like to know too
7. With every paycheck, before spending it, I put away 10% into my Roth IRA so that I can't touch it until I retire. OR you can take a look at this blog: http://obe231.blogspot.com about budgeting
8. Have some of it direct deposited to a savings account- you never see it so you don't miss it.
9. When I put money away its not "gone" it buids up, if you need it in the future you can always get it back
10. everytime i get money i at least keep 20 bucks
11. open a saving acc and cut the ATM in pieces. And forget that that account exist.
12. I have my ING account automatically take out a certain amount from each paycheck.
13. Automatic savings deductions. You can have X amount of dollars automatically transferred from checking into savings or brokerage (can be easily done online or you can go to your bank to set it up). You can also go to treasurydirect.com and have a set amount taken out each month to buy a savings bond. There are a lot of options out there! Also contribute to your workplace's retirement (401k/403b/457a or whatever you qualify for). The money will be taken out pretax and decreases the amount you will pay to Uncle Sam. Just remember not to tap into it until you retire!
14. direct deposit
15. do not buy anything!
16. I stash fives so I always have something-its just a matter of finding it
17. Take less than our pay check out each month.
18. Never mind that, how do get the damn stuff?
19. Well, if you cannot increase your salary the only direction is to decrease your spending. If you are able to have your employer(s) auto-draft your paycheck before you see it, that helps. Out of sight-Out of mind-In your pocket.
20. Not spending it and put it in a bank. That's what i'm doing.
21. I have a 401 deduction from my paycheck, and I have my bank make a deposit to my savings account every week fom my checking account. Never notice it missing, but it really adds up fast.
22. Spend weekends on this forum instead of a bar.
23. have it taken out of your paycheck every time you get paid even if its $20 a month. then you wont even notice.
24. I put it away every check. I budget monthly.. I know what I need, I know what I want, and I save 10% of my take home to "pay myself". Ther are much less things I want then I need. make more than you spend = spending less. miss it? you always know where it's at, and it's fun to watch it grow, but in a savings acct it's less "liquid" and the spending urge is more than likely going to pass before I have to take any out.
25. My trick is not to spend change money. Whenever I receive all of those pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, they go straight in the bank at the end of the week. You will be amazed at how much money you can save by doing this.
26. I set up an ING savings account with auto transfer...I have the money transferred on the day I am paid...that way I never saw it and I do not miss it.
27. dont spend it
28. put all your change in to a jar every day.ones a year roll them up and put them in the bank. i sometimes even to it with bills.just put away anything, big or small and it will add up over time.
29. I heard that just like youre other bills you pay yourself FIRST!!!!! Make YOURSELF a bill that needs to paid and you will. Say you owe yourself 50.00 a week or whatever.. pay yourself first and after awhile you'll have money growing. Just remember it's not REALLY YOURS YET>>> IT"S JUST A BILL... (To yourself) Trick yourself.
30. see if your employer has an automatic savings plan. Mine had both pre-tax (401k type) and post-tax (so you can get it out any time). I contributed to both. I went from working half time to a full time job that paid more per hour, and set it up so a chunk of the "extra" money went into savings. I saved $35K in 5 years.
31. When I got a raise, I continued to live off the money I made before. After a while, that option became hard (due to living costs and lifestyle changes), so I have it set that a certain percent of my check is put automatically into my savings account so that I can't get a hold of it due to the fact it's already gone. If you cash your checks, immediately put a certain amount into the bank. Nothing unreasonable, but even $20 bucks a check will add up. Obviously, try to limit spending and buying things, but that's just a small step to helping. Good luck to you.
32. I make monthly donations so thats my saving to be received in life hereafter. Secondly, i give all my pay to my wife and she always has money when i need it.
33. Pay yourself first. Save early and often. Automate it.