Get your ducks in a row!
Live on less. We have learned to live in times of lean and fat. Growing up with little we learned that we only need the basic necessities. So now that we have more we still have adopted the same mindset to live on less. Buy items on sale, use coupons, use cash, use cash or AMEX (which to me is cash deferred). And absolutely no loans (except your Mortgage).
Automate your savings accounts (yes plural). We have three separate High-Yield Savings Accounts (HYSA) savings accounts that automatically take a certain set amount from our salary every two weeks. We often forget about these accounts because their online and not easily accessible (that is the key). And when we emerge from our submarine state we suddenly realize wow we stashed away alot of money. This has often gotten me airline tickets to places I really wanted to go or just that special item I have had in my Amazon wishlist queue.
Challenges and Rewards. We set mini challenges for ourselves by not buying coffee and buying our lunch for one month. Or only taking $50 dollars with us for the week (I know –what it can be done). That extra money we reward ourselves with a new dress.
Pennies to Dollars. We have used our connection with Acorns * to invest our leftover change into stocks. And wowsers we save boku money!! Just another way to stash stash stash. I am a horder of money and not things. Yikes! (*Get $5 today when you use my link). Acorns simply links to your designated checking account or bank card and every purchase you make they round up the remainder to the nearest dollar and that is what they invest for you. You can be as conservative or aggressive as you like.
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