The short answer: to save money, set a goal and a date, work out the monthly amount, and move it to savings on payday. How to save money gives a 5-step plan and 25 practical ways to cut costs.
- Safety net: how to build an emergency fund and an emergency fund tracker.
- Big goals: save $10,000 in a year, save for a house and a savings goal tracker.
- Set money aside: sinking funds and the cash envelope system.
- Make it a game: savings challenges.
Our picks for saving money
Spreadsheets
Sinking Funds Tracker
It does the math: how much to set aside each month to hit every goal on time.
$4.99Buy
Starter pickPrintables
100 Envelope Savings Challenge
Classic, half and 52-week challenges to print, plus a spreadsheet that tracks every envelope and tells you how much to save each week.
$3.99Buy
Browse saving money by topic
Guides (8)
- How to save money Start hereHow to save money on any income: a 5-step plan, 25 practical ways to cut costs on food, bills and shopping, and how to keep saving…
- Average Savings by AgeAverage savings by age from the Fed's 2025 survey: median cash and retirement balances for every age group, plus simple targets an…
- Cash envelope systemHow the cash envelope system works: choose categories, set amounts from a zero-based budget, refill each payday and track it on pa…
- How to Save $10,000 in a YearHow to save $10,000 in a year: $833 a month, $385 biweekly or $192 a week, where the money comes from, a 12-month plan and a start…
- How to Save Money on GasHow to save money on gas: drive smoother, combine errands, keep tires inflated, skip premium you don't need and give gas its own l…
- How to build an emergency fundHow to build an emergency fund in 7 steps: how much to save, where to keep it, how long it takes at $50 to $500 a month, and how t…
- Saving money for ChristmasSave money for Christmas: pick a target, divide it by the paychecks left, free up cash from bills and subscriptions and avoid mist…
- Sinking Funds Explained: How to Save for Irregular Expenses Without StressSinking funds are small monthly savings for costs you know are coming, like car repairs, holidays and annual bills. Learn how to s…
Comparisons (1)
- Cash envelope wallet vs app vs printableThree ways to run the cash envelope system compared: a cash envelope wallet, a digital envelope app like Goodbudget, and printable…
Ideas and how-tos (8)
- Emergency fund trackerEmergency fund tracker: set a target, break it into milestones, see how long $5,000 takes at $25 to $200 a week and track deposits…
- High-Yield Savings AccountWhat is a high-yield savings account? How a HYSA works, current FDIC national rates, interest examples, safety, pros and cons, and…
- How much of my paycheck should I saveHow much of my paycheck should I save? Start with 20% if you can, then adjust by goal: emergency fund, retirement and sinking fund…
- How to save for a houseHow to save for a house in 10 steps: set a down payment goal, budget for closing costs, pick the right savings account and track p…
- Savings MotivationSavings motivation that lasts: 12 ways to get motivated to save, budget motivation tips, goals that keep you going and how to rest…
- Savings goal trackerHow a savings goal tracker works: set a target and date, find the monthly amount, log deposits and see progress, with an example u…
- What Is a Savings Account?What is a savings account? How it works, how much interest it earns, checking vs savings, FDIC insurance, withdrawal limits and ho…
- What Is a Savings Bond?What is a savings bond? How I bonds and EE bonds work, 2026 rates, how to buy and cash them, the tax rules and when a savings bond…
How to use this page
Pages here cover how much to save, where to keep it and how to keep going. Saving works best with a plan for the rest of your pay, so see budgeting basics, and for money you will not touch for years, investing and retirement.