People have different ways of saving money. For some, it’s by denying themselves a treat; for others, it’s by skipping an expensive trip. Either way, we can all benefit from having a little extra cash saved up for rainy days.

But beyond that, there are several vital reasons for saving money. These include but are not limited to having enough money to enjoy retirement or fund your or a child’s education, saving for an emergency fund, or even a down payment on a property, and, not to forget, extravagant expenses like a shiny new car or even a vacation.

Pexels | Setting a savings target adds the motivation needed to save regularly

Regardless of the motive, you can develop a regular saving habit and save more money with these tips:

Have a Savings Goal

As with many other aspects of life, having a target to reach makes saving money easier. By setting a savings target, you’ve put yourself under pressure to deliver and can now find the necessary motivation and commitment to save regularly until meeting your goal.

Besides, having a reason to save is a commitment in itself. Setting a savings target mostly means saving because you want to use the money for something specific. Keeping an eye on this goal would be a great source of motivation to keep saving even more.

Pexels | Paying off debt makes it easier to save money

Get Rid of Debt

Before starting to save money, it makes more sense to pay off debt first. Servicing your debt every month adds more to your expenses which in turn affects how much and how regularly you can save.

The interest on debt is an unnecessary expense you could do without. By getting rid of your debt, you could easily put whatever money would have gone to interest into savings instead.

Reduce Utility Costs

Pexels | Install energy-efficient appliances to reduce utility costs and save more money

You’d be surprised at the amount of money saved by making some smart changes in the home. Reduce energy costs by getting a certified contractor to give the house a complete energy efficiency review. Actions could involve anything from sealing the windows and doors shut to installing new insulation or appliances with a high energy efficiency rating.

You can immediately take action by lowering the thermostat on the water heater by 10°F. This can save up to five percent in energy costs. You can also install a tankless water heater which has been said to save up to 30 percent of costs compared to a standard storage heater. Being mindful of these things can add up to positively affect your financials.