Saving money isn’t always easy. For some guys, it feels like a natural skill—like they were born knowing how to budget, track their expenses, and stack up savings. But for the rest of us? Yeah, not so much.
If you’re the kind of guy who struggles to save, you’re definitely not alone. Maybe you start strong with saving, but then life happens, and suddenly, that "savings" account looks more like a "spent-it-all" account.
So how do you go from being someone who just can’t seem to save to a guy who has some financial cushion without feeling like you’re giving up all the fun?
The good news is you can build better saving habits, even if saving has never been your strong suit. It’s not about making huge sacrifices or living like a monk—it’s about making small, practical changes that fit into your life and mindset.
1. Find Your “Why” Before You Start Saving
Here’s a harsh truth: If you’re saving just because some article (like this one) told you to, it’s probably not going to stick. Why? Because saving for the sake of saving doesn’t really light a fire under most people. You need a reason—something that gets you excited.
Think about it: What’s important to you? Maybe you want to quit your soul-sucking job one day, take that dream trip to Europe, or just feel less stressed about money. Whatever it is, you need a clear, personal reason to save, because that’s what’s going to keep you motivated when Netflix is tempting you to blow $100 on takeout this month.
Take 5 minutes to write down one or two specific goals that saving will help you achieve. Keep them where you can see them—on your phone’s lock screen or as a note on your fridge. That way, when you’re tempted to splurge, you can remind yourself what you’re working towards.
2. Automate Your Savings (Out of Sight, Out of Mind)
Here’s a simple hack that works for guys who aren’t natural savers: automate your savings. If you wait until the end of the month to see what’s “leftover” for savings, you’re setting yourself up for failure. More often than not, there’s nothing left, right?
Instead, treat your savings like any other bill and set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to your savings account each month. The best part? You won’t even notice the money leaving, and over time, you’ll build a solid cushion without having to lift a finger.
Set up an automatic transfer for the day after you get paid. It doesn’t have to be a huge amount—start with $25 or $50. The key is consistency. Even small amounts add up over time.
3. Find a Money Accountability Buddy
We all know that one guy who seems to have his financial life together, right? Why not tap into that? Finding someone to be your “money accountability buddy” can make a huge difference when it comes to sticking to your savings goals.
This could be a close friend, your brother, or even your spouse—someone who’s not afraid to call you out when you’re slipping up. Having someone to talk money with makes it less of a solo mission and more of a shared challenge.
Check-in with your buddy once a month. Share your wins, your fails, and brainstorm ideas to get back on track if needed. Plus, a little friendly competition never hurt anyone—who can save more by the end of the month?
4. Keep Your Savings Separate from Your Checking Account
One of the biggest reasons guys who struggle to save end up blowing through their money is because their savings and checking accounts are too close for comfort. If all your cash is in one account, it’s easy to dip into it without even realizing it.
Solution? Open a separate savings account. Preferably one that isn’t directly linked to your checking account, so you can’t easily transfer money back and forth. Out of sight, out of mind works wonders when it comes to saving. If your savings are stashed in a different account (or even a different bank), you’re less likely to touch it unless it’s for a real emergency or the goal you’ve set.
Set up a high-yield savings account. Many online banks offer better interest rates than traditional banks, and they make it just hard enough to access your savings that you won’t be tempted to dip into it.
5. Invest in Things That Save You Money Long-Term
Sometimes the best way to save money is by spending money strategically. Think about the expenses that drain your budget—could a one-time investment reduce those costs over time?
For instance, if you’re spending $10 on lunch every day at work, buying a quality meal prep kit and making your lunches at home could save you hundreds of dollars each month.
The same principle applies to other areas of life: invest in durable clothes that last longer, buy in bulk for frequently used items, or upgrade to energy-efficient appliances that lower your utility bills. These smart investments can pay for themselves many times over, making saving easier in the long run.
Before making a purchase, ask yourself: “Will this save me money in the future, or is it just something I want right now?” Being mindful about spending can help you build better habits without feeling deprived.
6. Start Small (And Build From There)
If you’re not a natural saver, the idea of suddenly setting aside a big chunk of your income can feel impossible. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to start big. In fact, starting small can be the smartest thing you do. It’s all about building momentum.
Start by saving just $10 a week. That might not sound like much, but after a month, that’s $40, and after a year, you’ve saved $520—without feeling much of a pinch. Once you’ve built the habit, you can gradually increase the amount you save.
Set a small savings goal to get started, like $100, by the end of the month. Hit that goal, and you’ll feel the satisfaction of progress. Then, keep building.
7. Reward Yourself for Milestones
Saving money doesn’t have to feel like punishment. In fact, rewarding yourself along the way is one of the best ways to stay motivated. Set small milestones—maybe every time you save $500, you treat yourself to something small but meaningful, like a dinner out or a new pair of shoes you’ve had your eye on.
The key is to balance responsible saving with enjoying your life. If you make saving feel too strict, you’ll rebel against it. But when you tie it to rewards, it becomes something positive rather than something you dread.
Create a savings reward system. For every milestone you hit, plan a small treat that doesn’t completely blow your progress but keeps you motivated.
8. Use Technology to Your Advantage
There are tons of apps and tools out there designed to help you save without much effort. From round-up apps that automatically save your spare change to budgeting apps that track your spending, there’s no shortage of tech that can make saving easier.
Here are a few apps that could help you:
- Acorns: Rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the spare change.
- Qapital: Lets you set savings goals and automate deposits based on rules you create.
- YNAB (You Need a Budget): A powerful budgeting tool that helps you track every dollar and save more intentionally.
Using technology means you don’t have to rely on willpower alone. You can automate your savings and let the app do the heavy lifting.
Download one of the apps above (or another one that fits your needs) and start automating your savings. You’ll be surprised how much you can save when you don’t have to think about it every day.
9. Don’t Wait for the Perfect Time to Start
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is waiting for the “perfect” time to start saving. There’s always going to be some reason why now isn’t ideal—bills, vacations, an unexpected expense. But the truth is, there’s never a perfect time. The longer you wait, the more you’re missing out on the benefits of saving.
The trick is to start now, no matter where you are financially. Even if you can only save a small amount each month, start there. The most important thing is building the habit. Once you’ve got that down, you can always increase the amount as your financial situation improves.
Commit to starting your savings journey today. Even if it’s just $5, it’s the action of starting that matters most.
10. Cut Yourself Some Slack (But Stay Consistent)
Here’s the deal—saving money is hard, especially when you’re not naturally good at it. You’re going to mess up sometimes. You’ll have months where you don’t save as much as you planned or where you dip into your savings for something unexpected. That’s okay.
The important thing is to not give up. Just because you slip up doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel. Cut yourself some slack, learn from the mistake, and get back on track. Consistency beats perfection every time.
If you have a bad month, don’t beat yourself up. Adjust, re-evaluate, and keep going. Saving is a marathon, not a sprint.
Build a Saving Habit That Works for You
If you’re not a natural saver, it can feel like the odds are stacked against you, but that’s not true. Saving is a skill, and like any skill, it can be learned. The key is to make it easy, automatic, and consistent. Start small, use technology to help you out, and make saving a habit that fits seamlessly into your life.
You don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t need to make huge sacrifices to see results. Just focus on making gradual progress, and over time, those small savings will add up to something significant. And when the time comes that you need a financial cushion, you’ll be glad you took the time to build one.
