Saving’s no fun, but it has to be done. Here’s how to make it simpler.

Some of us can find it harder to save than others. Just like there are morning people and evening people, there are saving people and spending people in the world.

That said, anyone who has ever successfully built up a substantial nest egg – for a mortgage or otherwise – will tell you that the key to getting a large lump sum together is regular, structured saving.

So how do you start saving if you’re generally living on a fiver in the week before payday?

Forming a solid savings habit and getting into a good habit is easier said than done, we know – so we went to some of Ireland’s financial brains for advice. Here’s what they told us…

Buy that nice thing, but budget it in

You have a life to live, and it’s unrealistic to think you’ll be able to cut out every single extra or splurge while trying to get that house deposit together. But what you can do is pick your treat purchases, and budget them in.

“One thing I’ve noticed, is that we all underestimate our total monthly or annual expenses,”

says Fonz Scanlan, a certified financial planner with Money Smart.

We splurge on a big item and justify it by calling it an exception. The problem is that we don’t include these ‘exceptions’ in our budgeting, so they mount up. Budget for splurges and cut them out if they’re damaging your savings plans.

Skipping the concert? Put the money you’ve saved aside

There’s a difference between not spending money on something and physically putting that money away for saving, says Paddy Delaney, creator of the Irish financial planning blog and podcast Informed Decisions.

If you’ve just refrained from buying that new item of clothing or those concert tickets, immediately transfer the equivalent value from your current account into your savings account. You’d be surprised how quickly this can have an impact.

YOU are the first bill you pay every month

Savings accounts don’t come knocking on your door or putting bills in your letterbox, so they’re easy to ignore. Make your savings an essential expenditure, and you’ll start to think differently, says Fonz.

I tell my clients to think of savings contributions as they think of utility bills – a necessity of modern living.

Even if they’re finding it tough – or impossible – Fonz urges his clients to “keep trying because it’s so important to their future wellbeing to have a savings reserve”.

Another key element? Pay yourself first. Savings come out top of the pile, every time. It’s not an optional extra after everything else gets done, so stop mentally framing it that way.

Do it – set up a standing order, even for a tenner a week

“Anything you can do to put money out of arms’ reach will increase your chances of building up your savings and them remaining untouched,” says Paddy.

Fonz agrees, and advises automating the process so you don’t even need to think about it, whether you’re saving €10 or €1000 a month. The best way to save is to set up a standing order to a deposit account.

This creates a savings habit and will make you much less likely to reduce or stop monthly contributions. 

Don’t even bother with fads like ‘no-spend days’

Everyone loves a quick fix, whether it’s a pre-holiday juice cleanse or a pledge to save €1000 in a month.

Many savers advocate for ‘no spend days’, where you choose a day or two each week to spend nothing, but this may not result in long-term change, warns Paddy.

“Some people can and do benefit from this type of approach while others find it too restrictive and end up spending more than they would have if they were spending normally.” 

So what’s his solution?The traditional method of spending less than you earn – and saving the difference – requires hard work over a period of time, but it’s an approach that works for most of us.

It’s hard but true what they say: the simplest solution is often the best.

Get a partner in savings

The whole process will be easier if you know that someone is in the same boat that you are. That might be your partner, a friend or even a work colleague who is in savings mode too.

Buddy up. You’ll have someone to talk to when you’re having moments of weakness browsing the shops.

And above all, don’t lose motivation, says Paddy:

You may indeed want your new home right this second, but if you take time to create a realistic plan for yourself, you will be well on the road to getting there.

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