100 Ways to Save

Banking has changed a lot in the past century, but the need to save money – whether for a rainy day, retirement, college or a great vacation – remains the same.

Become financially sustainable. Check out 100 ways you can save more and spend less.

Savings Tips 1-25

1. 1. Set a goal to save and stick to it.
2. 2. Setup frequent auto transfers from your transaction or checking account to a savings or money market account. Give your auto transfers a motivating name to remind you why you’re saving, such as “Trip to Hawaii.”
3. 3. Get a 100 basis point bump for 100 days on an IRA Savings*, which you can start with as little as $100. Click here for details.
4. 4. Retirement. It happens sooner than you think. Click here to find out how much you should be saving.
5. 5. Don’t buy on impulse. Give yourself at least a day to decide whether you need or want something.
6. 6. Loose change adds up. Collect it, count it and deposit it in your savings account.
7. 7. Your 401k is yours. So take it with you.
8. 8. Teach your kids a lesson in savings. Read “Rock, Brock and the Savings Shock” by Sheila Baird for an entertaining lesson on the benefits of saving versus spending.
9. 9. Are you adequately insured to protect what you’ve earned?
10. 10. Set a realistic budget – and stick to it. Track your spending to see where you can make adjustments.
11. 11. Pay down credit card debt, with priority on higher interest rate balances.
12. 12. Don’t get hit with overdraft fees. Setup account alerts to warn you when your balances get low.
13. 13. Read “Raising Financially Fit Kids” by Joline Godfrey to understand what motivates your kids to save based on their age.
14. 14. Take advantage of low interest balance transfer offers on credit card debt.
15. 15. Pay bills online to save postage and track your spending.
16. 16. Get 1.35% APY on an 18-month IRA CD*. Click here for details. 
17. 17. Avoid NSF fees by adding overdraft protection to your transaction account.
18. 18. Save enough to make sure your emergency fund can sustain you and your family for up to 8 months.
19. 19. Your credit score is your borrowing power. Make sure you know yours.
20. 20. Max your employer's retirement fund match—it's free money!
21. 21. Cut expenses where you can. By switching to CFL (compact fluorescent lights) you save energy with a bulb that lasts far longer than incandescent.

22. 22. Save ahead for special occasions, such as the holidays or a family vacation, instead of borrowing money or racking up credit card debt.
23. 23. 2010 is the Year of the Roth. We can help you decide if a conversion is right for you.
24. 24. Get your kids on the path to saving with a Kids SaveFirst account from First Independent, where kids earn rewards when they save. Visit any First Independent branch for details.
25. 25. Money markets with a rate bump for new money. Check out what’s on special.

25 more tips on saving are coming soon. Check back as we offer 100 tips to save money as part of our 100-year celebration.

In the meantime, learn and have fun while you test your fiscal fitness by playing 21 Days To Fiscal Fitness.