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It’s not always easy to save for retirement. After all, 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck per LendingClub, which means little extra is available for building a nest egg. But any extra you can set aside will pay off in retirement — and could possibly change your life before you retire.
Even more surprising, an extra $1,000 a month in savings may be right in front of you. Here are five ways you can save more money:
The first step in saving an extra $1,000 a month is to examine your spending and then make a budget. By itemizing all your expenses, you can get a better idea of where you can comfortably cut back. Setting up a sustainable budget can keep you on track and help reduce unnecessary or impulse purchases.
With Monarch Money, you can track all your accounts in one place. This way, you can view a snapshot of your spending and finances — helping you stick to your budget.
You can set up notifications for recurring bills and subscription renewals, ensuring you never miss a payment. What’s more, you can link your investment and real estate portfolios on Monarch Money as well, which can help you track your net worth easily.
Monarch Money also lets you set up custom financial goals — such as buying a house or saving for retirement — and then tracks your progress towards them.
Sign up now and get a seven-day free trial and 50% off your subscription for the first year.
Food is the third-largest expense for U.S. households, after housing and transportation, according to consumer expenditure data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s also an area where you may be able to find some big savings.
The average amount American households spend on “food away from home” is more than $3,500 a year. Most of us know the cost of that morning coffee we grab on the way to work adds up, but it’s also likely a small luxury we’d like to keep. One way to save is to grab the coffee, but skip the pastry you’re grabbing with it ― and try to pack a lunch for work.