Savings: Your Key to Success

You have wants. You have needs. And you have two ways of paying for them – pull out the credit card or use the money you have set aside. Which would you prefer?

It’s a safe bet that most people would choose to have a stash of cash from which they could pay for everything from impulse purchases to long-term financial goals. But how do you save when there are bills to pay and the paycheck only goes so far?

Do It Now
Even without a specific goal, saving immediately will make you feel good. Have debt? Put a little aside anyway. Acquiring a savings habit as soon as possible is critical. By setting a little aside each month while aggressively paying down your obligations, you will graduate into being debt free with a happy little nest egg in place. And in the event of an emergency you won’t have to touch the credit cards and feel like you’re driving in reverse.

Set a Goal
All achievable goals share the same five factors:

• Specific – describe your goal to the smallest details
• Measurable – how much do you need to save?
• Actionable – break it down into reasonable action steps
• Realistic – could you really achieve this goal in the given time?
• Time-bound – what is the timeframe for the goal?

Put it somewhere. How much you have, your timeframe, and personal risk tolerance will determine the best home for your money. Here are few accounts San Francisco Federal Credit Union offers that you may consider:

• Savings account – A great starter account. There are no monthly maintanence fees and the tiered savings account pays you higher dividends based on the level of deposits you have in the account. (Start earning dividends at $100)
• Money market yield account – This savings account pays slightly better interest but may require a higher minimum balance of $2,500.
• Certificates of deposit (CDs) – We offer three (3) month to sixty (60) months investment commitment, CDs offer higher and fixed interest rates, but with a greater initial deposit and penalty for early withdrawal.

For mid to long-term goals, you may opt for investment rather than savings vehicles. After you’ve saved enough in one of the above accounts, you can transfer your money to mutual funds, bonds, or individual stocks if you wish. Speak to one of our financial advisors today.

Impossible? Not at all. With careful planning, savings is the key to successfully managing your money and getting everything you want.