The most common financial goal for 2025 is saving more money, with 79% of Americans wanting to build a healthy emergency fund and savings this year.
While the idea sounds great, to make it happen you may need to change habits to make it a reality. Here are some daily practices you can adopt to propel you toward your financial savings goals.
People often focus on savings after the bills are paid and the activities are done, but if you wait to see how much is left over, it may not be a lot. To combat this and ensure good savings habits, pay yourself first.
This means that you save first, then focus on paying your expenses and use the remaining funds for activities. Doing it in this order will help you make saving a priority and adjust the money spent on wants.
Work your savings into your budget as a debt to be paid to yourself and set up an automatic transfer from your checking to your savings each pay period to solidify the savings.
Small spending can add up quickly and daily leaks just may be the difference in you meeting your savings goals.
A $5 daily coffee may not seem like a big deal, but adds up to over $1,800 a year. Eating a $10 meal out for lunch on workdays adds up to $2,600 a year. Cutting back or eliminating these types of daily expenses can lead to big savings, overall.
Think about how many subscriptions you’re paying for. Now think about how often you use each one. The average person has over four paid subscriptions totaling nearly $1,000 per year
If you’re not using it, that’s wasted money. Instead of having multiple subscriptions running at one time, plan out what shows you want to watch on what services. Then, use one at a time to watch everything on that platform and pause your subscription to do the same with the next. This way, you’re only paying for what you’re using.
You also may find that you were paying for subscriptions that you didn’t even use and eliminate that cost altogether to add more to your savings account.
You know the saying — a penny saved is a penny earned. Those pennies can add up quickly.
At the end of each day, empty your loose change into a jar or bank. At the end of the month, roll the coins and deposit them into your savings account.
This way, your dimes and quarters will be put to good use and earn you interest instead of just being chump change.
Tend to be the snacky type? Bento boxes are a great alternative to vending machine cravings. Pack sweet, salty and savory items so you can fulfill whatever craving hits throughout the day.
Peanut butter and apple slices, mixed nuts and cheese, cottage cheese and berries are all great to have on hand so you’re not tempted to spend money on snacks when a craving hits.
Added bonus — they’re also healthier than the alternative, so it’s a win-win for your bank account and your health.
Achieving your financial savings goals in 2025 is all about changing habits and making intentional choices with your money. By prioritizing saving first, eliminating small daily spending leaks, cutting back on unused subscriptions, saving your loose change and packing snacks instead of splurging on convenience foods, you can significantly boost your savings.
These simple but effective practices can make a big difference in reaching your financial goals, and with consistency, you’ll be well on your way to building a healthier emergency fund and financial security.
Editor’s note: Rachel Caballero is community development & pr manager for Tempe-based TruWest Credit Union, which has eight locations in metro Phoenix. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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