Good Savings Habits

Interactive Video

[A couple sitting at the kitchen table discussing a piece of paper the woman is holding.]

Narrator: Do you ever feel like you have some bad spending habits?

[Multiple choice question.]

Option 1: yes

Option 2: no

Narrator: Do you ever feel like you’re spending too much on things you don’t really need?

[Multiple choice question.]

Option 1: yes

Option 2: no

Narrator: Have you ever made some unwise financial decisions in the past and not built up any savings?

[Multiple choice question.]

Option 1: yes

Option 2: no

Narrator: If you answered yes to any of those questions, you’re not alone. We've all made money mistakes, but it’s possible to change, even though it can feel tough at first.

[Four people raising their hands in agreement.]

Narrator: Breaking bad money habits can be challenging because our daily routines shape our behavior. Did you know that over 40% of your daily actions are driven by habits? Habits have a lot of power to bring about positive change. Once a habit is set, it becomes like second nature and effortless to repeat. Making changes may not be easy, but if you dedicate time and effort to altering your behaviors, it's totally worth it.

[A person holding a smartphone with several apps on the screen and a woman in her car receiving her coffee at a drive through window.]

[A pie chart is shown showing 40%]

[A man climbing a set of 4 steps. The words “time” and “effort” appear on two of the steps.]

Narrator: We all have many things we want to buy, but our income has limits. If you buy everything you want, you might not have any money left for things you actually need. That's why it's important to treat saving as a need and make it a top priority.

[A young man looking at an online clothing store on his computer.]

[A woman receiving many packages at her home.]

[Liquid pouring into a measuring cup labeled ”savings” with a line marked needs near the bottom and a line marked wants near the top.]

Narrator: Good spending and savings habits go hand in hand. So the trick is to shift the balance from the habit of spending to the habit of saving. 

[A man with the word "savings" in his right hand and the word "spending" in his left hand. The word saving grows and the word spending shrinks.]

Narrator: Start looking for ways to lower your spending. See if any of these ideas might work for you: 

[Card Carousel]

Card 1

[A woman sitting on her couch with her laptop, shopping online.]

Narrator: First, before you buy something, ask yourself, do I really need it? 

Card 2

[People in a park watching an outdoor movie.]

Narrator: Look for ways to have fun without spending a lot. Free activities can cut down on entertainment costs!

Card 3

[A woman delivering pizza to a man at his home.]

Narrator: Consider reducing some recurring spending on non-essential things (like a daily gourmet coffee or streaming service ) or doing some things less often (like going to the movies or ordering food delivery). 

Card 4

[A man grocery shopping in the produce section, holding an orange hand basket.]

Narrator: When you’re shopping, hunt for the sale items and use coupons or promo codes when you can. 

Card 5

[A man using a paint roller to paint the walls in an unfinished room.]

Narrator: Are you creative? Try DIY projects instead of buying everything.

Card 6

[A man sitting on his couch working on a laptop.]

Narrator: Creating a budget is a game changer. If you make one and update it monthly, it can help keep your spending  on track.

Card 7

[A woman sitting at her desk in front of an open laptop. She is typing on a calculator.]

Narrator: Set up a separate savings account.  You can even directly deposit a set amount from your paycheck automatically into that account to make it easier to save money.

[A couple sitting at the kitchen table discussing a piece of paper the woman is holding.An animation shows the couple’s bank account increasing from $951 to $2,750.]

[A woman standing with her arms crossed wearing a superhero cape.]

Narrator: Small changes like these can add up big time! Once you’ve trimmed your spending, save that money. Saving money is like a secret superpower that helps you level up in life. It's like training your brain to do something awesome on autopilot.