5 Best Savings Strategies in 2024 to Achieve Financial Freedom

Saving money is a timeless practice, vital for financial security, especially in uncertain economic times. As experts predict a 64 percent chance of a recession in 2024, the importance of a solid savings plan has become more pronounced. Tim Melia, CFP, MBA, founder of Embolden Financial Planning, advises focusing on short-term cash needs and building a robust emergency fund in anticipation of potential economic downturns and layoffs.

However, in a tight economy, saving becomes increasingly difficult. A 2022 Bankrate survey highlighted that many Americans have had to postpone significant financial milestones due to economic constraints. Alarmingly, about 49 percent of Americans now find themselves with less or no savings compared to the previous year, indicating a growing savings crisis.

Key Money-Saving Statistics:

• Over a third (36 percent) of U.S. adults now face the dilemma of having more credit card debt than emergency savings.
• A worrying 68 percent of people fear they wouldn’t be able to cover even a month’s living expenses in case of an emergency.
• The savings deficit disproportionately affects younger generations, with 85 percent of Generation Zers and 79 percent of millennials expressing concerns over inadequate emergency savings.
• Delayed financial milestones due to economic conditions include home improvements (25 percent), car purchases (21 percent), home buying (15 percent), and further education (10 percent).
• Despite 83 percent of adults setting financial goals for 2023, a majority lack a concrete financial strategy, with goals like building an emergency fund (41 percent) and paying off credit card debt (31 percent) leading the pack.

Bankrate, New York Life

1. Automating Savings: To effectively manage your savings goals, begin with a clear understanding of your financial landscape. Automating your savings can significantly boost your savings rate. By setting up a system where a portion of your income is automatically diverted to a savings account, either through direct deposit splitting or recurring transfers, you effectively reduce the temptation to spend.

2. Creating an Emergency Fund: The cornerstone of financial planning, an emergency fund, should ideally cover three to six months’ worth of living expenses. This fund serves as a financial safety net against unexpected expenses and helps avoid the need to dip into long-term savings or resort to high-interest loans. The size of this fund should be customized based on individual job security and income variability, as advised by Judith Ward from T. Rowe Price.

3. Tackling High-Interest Debt: With 46 percent of credit card holders carrying their balances month-to-month, prioritizing high-interest debt repayment is crucial. The ‘avalanche method’—paying off debts starting from the highest interest rate first—can significantly reduce the total interest paid over time. For those juggling multiple high-interest debts, consolidation into a single debt can simplify and expedite the repayment process. Check out our detailed article on the best 8 ways to pay off credit card debt.

4. Saving for Varied Goals: Once your emergency fund is established, segment your savings into short-, medium-, and long-term goals. Each category requires a tailored approach, but it’s vital to progress towards all without sacrificing one for another.

• Short-Term Goals: These are typically achievable within a couple of years and include objectives like saving for a car down payment, vacation, rental deposits, or home improvements. Ideal saving vehicles for these goals are high-yield savings accounts, money market accounts, and short-term CDs.
• Medium-Range Goals: Often spanning several years, these goals might include saving for a house down payment, education, or starting a business. For these, accounts with some liquidity, like laddering CDs, can be beneficial.
• Long-Term Goals: These are usually realized over many years, like retirement or mortgage repayment. Long-term goals often benefit from investment vehicles that offer higher returns, such as 401(k)s, IRAs, and brokerage accounts for non-retirement goals.

Best Accounts for Short and Mid-Term Savings Goals:

• High-Yield Savings Account: This account type typically offers a higher interest rate compared to standard savings accounts, making it an attractive option for earning more on your savings. The interest accrued can be used to cover future expenses or can be further invested back into your savings, enhancing your financial growth over time.
• Money Market Account: A money market account combines the features of a savings account with some added flexibility. While you can perform a limited number of transactions each month similar to a savings account, it also offers convenient access to funds through a debit card or check-writing abilities. This blend of accessibility and earning potential makes it a versatile choice for managing your savings.
• Certificate of Deposit (CD): A CD is a savings instrument with a fixed term, such as one year, during which your money earns interest at a predetermined rate. It’s designed for longer-term savings, as withdrawing funds before the maturity date typically results in a penalty fee. This account is ideal for those who seek a guaranteed return and can commit to leaving their savings untouched for the full term. Using a CD laddering strategy can be particularly effective for goals such as saving for a house down payment, as it allows for staggered access to funds while still earning a steady interest rate.

Best Accounts for Long-Term Savings Goals:

• 401(k) Retirement Account: A 401(k) is a valuable, employer-sponsored retirement savings plan. Employees allocate a portion of their paycheck to this account, often benefiting from employer matching contributions up to a certain percentage. Contributions to a 401(k) plan are tax-deferred, meaning they reduce your taxable income now, and taxes are paid upon withdrawal in retirement.
• Individual Retirement Account (IRA): IRAs, including Traditional and Roth IRAs, offer an alternative or supplement to employer-sponsored retirement plans. Traditional IRAs provide tax-deferred growth, with taxes paid upon withdrawal, while Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax dollars, offering tax-free growth and withdrawals.
• Brokerage Accounts (e.g., RobinHood, Webull): These investment platforms enable you to invest in a wide range of securities, including stocks, bonds, and ETFs. They are ideal for implementing long-term investment strategies focused on passive income and high dividends, such as those featured in Road To $1 Million Portfolio. These accounts provide the flexibility to diversify your investments and tailor your portfolio to align with specific financial goals and risk tolerance. For those seeking steady income streams, investing in high-dividend yielding stocks or funds can be a wise strategy. This approach focuses on acquiring shares of companies or funds that regularly pay out a portion of their earnings as dividends, providing a passive income source. Utilizing brokerage accounts for this strategy allows for active management and adjustments to maximize dividend income while considering long-term growth.

5. Utilizing Multiple Savings Accounts: Having separate savings accounts for different goals helps in earmarking funds appropriately and provides clarity on progress toward each goal. This strategy also prevents the accidental use of funds allocated for specific purposes.

Additional Tips for Enhancing Savings:

• Leverage mobile banking apps for automated savings and budget tracking.
• Balance high-interest debt repayment with saving efforts.
• Consider engaging savings challenges, like the 52-week savings challenge, to make the process more enjoyable and motivating.

Should I pay off high interest debt only or both high and low interest debt?

Effectively balancing high-interest debt repayment with saving efforts is crucial for financial stability. It’s generally more beneficial to prioritize paying off high-interest loans, such as credit card debts, first. This is because the interest on these debts can quickly spiral out of control, compounding at a high rate and significantly increasing the total amount you owe over time. Rapidly escalating interest can negate the benefits of savings in lower-interest accounts, making it a wise financial move to eliminate these debts as soon as possible.

On the other hand, in a high-interest-rate environment, it might be more advantageous to maintain low-interest debts, especially if the interest rates on these debts are significantly lower than the potential earnings from investments or high-yield savings accounts. For example, if you have a mortgage or a student loan with a relatively low interest rate, it may be more financially prudent to continue with regular payments on these debts while redirecting additional funds to savings or investments that yield higher returns. This approach allows you to make the most of your money by focusing on reducing high-cost debts while leveraging low-cost ones to your advantage.

Conclusion:

Developing and consistently reviewing your savings strategies are key to gaining control over your finances and securing your future. With the right approaches, saving money can be both effective and stress-free.