How to develop good saving habit

Lorna Wounded Head is the Family Resource Management Field Specialist at SDSU.

Lorna Wounded Head is the Family Resource Management Field Specialist at SDSU.

Lorna Saboe-Wounded Head, Family Resource Management Field Specialist, SDSU Extension

You may feel that saving money is hard to do. Having savings set aside for unplanned expenses can help to reduce financial stress. This type of stress can get in the way of focusing on your academics. With the right financial tools and strategies, you can learn ways to start saving today. 

Savings are important, so we have a way to pay for those unexpected expenses such as medical bills, car repairs, supplies needed for classes, or to fix a broken computer or cell phone. An emergency savings account is needed, so you will not have to go into debt to pay for those unexpected expenses. A good rule of thumb is to have three months’ living expenses in your emergency fund. This amount may be difficult for college students to calculate. So, try to have a balance of $300-$400 in an emergency savings account. 

Start the account by building up to a few hundred dollars and continually add to it regularly. Some ways to find money to save are to reconsider costly habits, buy items on sale, put extra earnings or gifts of money in savings and sign up for an automatic deposit. To learn more saving tips go to https://americasaves.org/resource-center/insights/saving-for-the-unexpected-isn-t-just-for-emergencies/ . America Saves Week is an annual event designed to inform consumers on strategies to save and implement saving behaviors.