Secrets to Saving money for your goal

Want to buy something? Is it something you've always wanted? Do you want to go on vacation for once? Pay off debt? Burn up your credit cards but.. where is the money going to come from when you're broke?

Here are some tips for you out there wanting to get your finances in check and start buying things on your goal list.

Alright, I'm in college, I work a part-time job, have a car, credit card, and have other side bills to pay. Are you already feeling stressed out? Trust me, so am I. My problem was always how am I going to maintain my expenses plus build a savings to live off of in case of emergencies, or I really want to hangout with my friends in San Fran for a week in the summer, how am I going to pay for that. I'm broke hahaha. So it was on a busy night of doing homework, looking at my meager paycheck when I had enough. I said, out loud, in my bedroom, "I had enough and heck, I deserve a vacation!" I went online and researched ways to stocking up more cash on a tight, tight income. To my surprise I found some tips I want to share to you out there scrumming up to go out for the weekend, buy that car of yours, pay off some debt, cut up those credit cards baby.

“We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.”

- Dave Ramsey

1. Create a budget

Yeah, yeah. I know. I know you've been told those three words "create a budget" a thousand times. So have I. My dad would always remind me to have a small stash saved away for a rainy day. Which I totally believe in now that I'm older and numerous times my car has broken down or I received an unwanted bill or c'mon, I'm in college. College books aren't cheap. What if I told you the same principle works for buying your dream house, or that Corvette or going to Hawaii for the whole entire SUMMER! Creating a budget does.

Now the question is How do I make a budget? I live paycheck to paycheck and I don't have extra money lying around my house like I'm Oprah or something. #hustle

True, true. You don't, but you do, I'm sure of it, waste money on things you don't need from time to time. Think I'm playing with you. Listen, have you gone to #Starbucks lately. (I nod my head like I can hear you) So you have. How many times do you go to this said Starbucks a month? A week? A day? Lets say you go to Starbucks three times every week. You order a caramel Frap. My favorite, by the way. Get it tall. Well, that's a $5 drink you're sipping on. In a week, that's $15. A month $60. A year $720! You've given Starbucks $720 of you're own cash. $720, that's the equivalence of going on a cruise or a local plane trip somewhere, plus hotel cost. The insane thing is that we're only talking about Starbucks. What about eating out or clothes shopping unnecessarily and so on.

That's why having a budget is so important. It's those little expenses that add up over time. It's better to nip unnecessary splurges now and invest in yourself.

Start by looking at your paycheck on payday. I know you look at you paycheck and stare at all those zeros like I do (ha). Now, instead of paying bills first, car note, phone, you name it, set aside a small percentage for your savings or goal. I started, just this year, stashing away %10 of my paycheck towards my dream. If %10 is too much, start with an amount that won't kill you. Pay your bills next. Don't hold off on those. Look at how much money is left over, if there is any. If there is budget for little things like maybe one cup of Starbucks for the week. You are already to treat yourself, remember this. You don't want to punish yourself. Live, but just a little.

Next, if there are things you really need, put that on the budget.

Once the budget has been made, allow yourself a small stow for wiggle room. I give myself $30 at the end of everything to go out, eat, hang, shopping, you name it. Yes, I have more money at the end of my budget, but I've made the decision to reserve more money back into my savings. The trick is to live on that amount and once you force your leash, and live with what you've been given, you won't be too app to spend, because technically, don't have it.

Give budgeting a try. You might have more leftover than you think.

2. Develop a savings plan

I'm in college, and I'm going to keep saying that until I graduate because being in college means my money is going in too many different directions, other than my wallet. But being in college means I need to be prepared for the following semester of bills and expenses. Let's say my goal, which it is, is to set aside $5,000 by May. That might feel impossible. $5000 looks impossible, if you don't have it.

It's not impossible, by the way.

To reach my goal, I need to be my own accountant and figure out how much I make every month, what my monthly expenses are, and if I actually make enough to meet my goal, or do I need to find a more profitable strategy to get there.

For you, my friend, sit down with a calculator. How much money do you make every month? What bills must be paid? Where is your money going? And you can look up your financial statements online with whatever bank carrier you're on. I have Bank of America and there's an app for all my needs.

After all that's been set out, when do you want to meet this goal? Yes, I need for you to be exact about your needs. Putting your dreams and goals on a calendar makes them more real and now you have to be accountable for something. If you're spending too much of that extra money on eating out, grocery shop all your food needs and pack a lunch instead. Starbucks isn't everything. You know you can buy a container and a coffee maker for a fraction of the cost. And you don't have to go shopping for clothes every weekend, unless you do indeed work in the fashion industry, then Gods speed to you. If the problem, at the end of the day, you don't make enough money to maintain your life, like me (minimum wage jobs hardly cover the bills) what can you do to get more dough in your pocket?

I'm a writer. Lucky, I know. I write and sell my books on Amazon to add some change to my pocket. My books aren't ridiculously long, their short stories. I design book covers, for free on Canva, it's an app, convert my word book document through Fiverr for $5 and reap the benefits. I'm not saying you have to be a writer, but I'm sure you have a cool skill that can get you some cash, or give you a new business venture.

Give it a try. Really, you have nothing to lose but a good idea and a chance at building wealth quicker. Calendar your dream and follow through.

3. Spend less than you earn

Let me spell this clear and simple... if you don't have it, then you don't spend it.

If having a debt card is too much pressure, like it is for me, I carry cash. Exactly my budget so I know if I go over I will embarrass my behind in front of a cashier. Plain and simple. Get firm if you need to. Carry cash, and leave the debit card at home. Don't tempt yourself until you've purchased your dream or paid off that thing that's been in your way.

Once you train your mind not to spend more than you don't have, you will start seeing the difference. I've had weeks where I didn't spend my little allowance and in the following week my allowance stacked up. Money does stack up, by the way.

If having a debt card is too much pressure, like it is for me, I carry cash. Exactly my budget so I know if I go over I will embarss my behind in front of a cashier. Plain and simple. Get firm if you need to. Carry cash, and leave the debit card at home. Don't tempt yourself.

Stick with these steps, in no time you'll see a difference in your wallet.