Exercise Snacking
In our fast-paced society, it’s easy to overlook the importance of saving small amounts of time or money. Many of us are guilty of waiting until the end of the day to exercise, then skipping the workout we know we need because we’re tired or we want to use the time for something else. Lately, the Internet has seemingly been flooded with articles and videos about exercise snacking, or building short workouts into our daily routines. This can be as simple as taking the stairs rather than the elevator, or doing a few quick push-ups or sit-ups between meetings. Many people believe that something so simple can’t possibly have lasting health benefits, but the science says otherwise. More importantly, though, exercise snacking can be an important first step on your physical fitness journey.
Savings Snacking
Similarly, we often wait until the end of the month to see how much money we have left over, rather than setting aside a portion of our income for savings. This is where savings snacking could come in. By incorporating small, consistent savings habits into our daily routines, we can improve our financial health over time.
One of the great things about savings snacking is that it doesn’t require a lot of effort or sacrifice. It’s not about cutting out all the things you enjoy in life, but rather finding small ways to save money that add up over time. For example, you could start by making your coffee at home instead of buying it from a coffee shop every day. If that change is too drastic, you could start by making your coffee at home once a week. This could save you $3-$5, which may not seem like much, but over the course of a year, could add up to hundreds of dollars.
Another way to incorporate savings snacking into your daily routine is to automate your savings. Most banks and financial institutions offer automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings account. You could set up a transfer to occur every day, every week, or every month. By doing so, you won’t even have to think about saving money – it will happen automatically.
Apps like Oportun and Qapital are great for savings snacking as well. Oportun automatically analyzes your spending and income to find small amounts of money that you can safely save. Qapital allows you to set up customizable savings rules, like rounding up every purchase to the nearest dollar or saving a set amount every time you hit the gym.
By saving small amounts of money consistently, you’ll start to see your savings grow over time. And as your savings grow, you’ll become more motivated to save even more. The key is to start small and be consistent. Saving $5 per day may not seem like much, but it adds up to $1,825 over the course of a year. That’s a nice chunk of change to put towards an emergency fund, a a new Braille display, or a trip to a national convention.
Savings snacking can also help you develop better spending habits. By being more mindful of your spending, you may start to notice areas where you could cut back and save even more money. For example, you may realize that you’re spending too much money on eating out and decide to start cooking at home more often. This not only saves you money but can also lead to healthier eating habits.
Conclusion
Savings snacking is a simple yet effective way to build up your savings over time. By incorporating small, consistent savings habits into your daily routine, you can start to see your savings grow without having to make major sacrifices. With the help of automation tools and savings apps, it’s easier than ever to start saving money today. Remember, every little bit counts, and over time, those small savings will add up to big rewards.
App Links
Click here to learn more about Oportun
Click here to learn more about Capital
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