3 Tips to Create a Savings Blueprint

Everyone has financial goals, regardless of age. Whether it's buying a car, a home or saving for a wedding or retirement, setting realistic goals and tracking your progress is crucial for success. Consider these three tips as you create your financial blueprint on how to achieve your goals.

Setting Your Goals

Start by identifying your short-term and long-term financial goals. Consider the cost of each goal. For example, if you're planning a vacation, determine if you want to splurge on a luxury hotel or opt for a more affordable option. Research your options to get a realistic expectation of cost. Once you have your target amount, determine your target date. Are you planning the vacation in six months or a year from now? Then simply do the math to determine how much you need to save. If the vacation costs $2,000 and is in 10 months, you need to save $200 a month.

Staying on Track

Managing multiple accounts from different financial institutions can be challenging. To ensure you save the right amount each month, set up direct deposit from your paycheck to a dedicated "vacation" savings account. This "set it and forget it" strategy keeps you on track and prevents you from spending money elsewhere.

Pacific Service CU’s Financial Wellness tool in our digital banking platform allows you to view your balances from multiple financial institutions in one place. This tool displays a full view of your finances and provides a spending analysis, a financial health check-up and tracks your saving goals.

Check Your Progress

Periodically assess your progress. If you realize you're falling short of goal, consider increasing your direct deposit to speed up your progress. Also, regularly review your budget to identify any unexpected opportunities for additional savings or areas where you can cut back to increase your savings.

At Pacific Service CU, we offer free financial counseling to our members. In partnership with BALANCE, counselors can assist with budgeting, debt repair, money management and more. They can help you get on track toward financial success and provide advice on how to achieve your financial goals.

Make 2024 the year to invest in yourself. Begin your journey towards financial success today!