In our day to day lives, we have many different expenses and bills that need to be paid. If you have credit card debt, student loans, subscriptions, etc., these expenses really can start to add up. We may save money, but it is usually because we need it for a later date to pay a bill.

Give Yourself the Gift of Money for Your Birthday

It's nice, however, to save money for ourselves once in a while. If you are living paycheck to paycheck, you know it is hard to put money aside for yourself. You may want to save money to do something fun, go on a vacation, or even have a day of shopping. What better time to do this fun thing you’ve been dreaming of than on your birthday? Here are 3 different ways to save at least $1000 by your next birthday!

52-Week Challenge

The 52-Week Challenge is exactly what it sounds like: it is one full year of saving. It's actually quite simple. The first week, you'll deposit $1 into your bank account. Then, each week, you increase the savings by one dollar. This would mean that week 2 you deposit $2, week 3 you deposit $3, etc.

By the 52nd week, you will be putting $52 into your savings account. By the final deposit, on the last week of the year, you should have $1378 saved. This is a very easy way to make a large amount of savings while depositing such a small amount of money. It will allow you to have that money for your birthday to do with it what you please!

Automatic Savings

Nowadays, if you can think of something you need, there's most likely an app for it. There are many apps that have an automatic savings feature. This means that when you make a deposit into your bank account, typically your paycheck, a designated amount will automatically go into your savings account. This allows for saving without having to actually go and do it on your own.

You can still access this money if need be by transferring it from your savings back to your checking account. Some of the popular apps with this feature are: Digit, Chime, and Acorn. Many of these apps are free, or have a small download fee of around $2. This small fee is worth it for the amount of savings it will help you accumulate.

The 30-Day Rule

The 30-Day Rule is not as simple as the others. It will require you to build up some serious willpower. It is, however, the most effective and will allow you to save the most money. Basically, if you are looking to make a larger purchase, wait 30 days to do it. If you feel that you still need it after 30 days, then it must be an important purchase.

You will find that many of the things you think you really need, you won't need anymore after 30 days. This will allow for savings because you will prevent excess spending. Although you may find it hard at first, you will get the hang of waiting and it will become second nature to you.

When You Need Cash Fast

If you are in a bind and do not have the time to wait for your money to accumulate, you may want to look into taking out a title loan. You can do a quick google search for a “title loan Tucson” to find some loan options in your area.

Good luck saving!

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.