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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Alli Williams, age 29, started saving for her wedding before she met her husband. </li><li>She got the idea after paying off a car loan with a monthly payment of $415. Instead of spending the money, she redirected it into a <keyword id="25450" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="savings">savings</keyword> account.</li><li>Williams said she felt more motivated to save knowing that she was working toward a specific goal.</li><li>By the time she got engaged, she had around $17,000 saved.</li></ul>Weddings are expensive, and Alli Williams wanted to be prepared for hers. Before she even met the person who would stand across from her at the altar, Williams, who is a <a href="https://www.financiallifocused.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">financial coach</a> in South Carolina, began squirreling away hundreds of dollars a month for the occasion.Based on a survey of thousands of couples, The Knot <a href="https://www.wedinsights.com/report/the-knot-real-weddings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> that the average cost of a wedding in the US, excluding the engagement ring and honeymoon, is $28,000. That isn't pocket change for most people. In fact, 28% of couples in the US <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wedding-cost-go-into-debt-pay-couples-2019-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">take on credit-card debt or loans</a> to help cover the cost of their wedding. About three years after she started saving, Williams got engaged to her husband in August 2018 — and brought a $17,000 wedding fund with her. She says two strategies helped her do it:<h2>1. She redirected a former debt payment to savings</h2>When Williams paid off a car loan in her mid-20s, she decided to redirect her large monthly payment into a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/best-high-yield-savings-accounts-rates-right-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high-yield savings account</a> earmarked for a wedding.Since she was already in the habit of putting that money aside, "I told myself, 'OK, that $415, instead of now spending it, it's going to be my automatic wedding fund,'" Williams said.By keeping her living expenses level after paying off debt, she was able to not only save around $400 a month, but allocate a set portion of every windfall — a tax refund or birthday money, for example — toward her wedding fund, too.<h2>2. She saved for a specific goal</h2>Williams said she was able to maintain her disciplined savings habit because she had a goal in mind."What I always tell my clients is, it's so much easier than just saying 'I'm <keyword id="25451" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="saving-money">saving money</keyword>,'" she said, "because when it's not tied to anything, you're more likely to pull it back out of savings when you're not really attached to it."People were often surprised to learn that Williams was saving for an event that wasn't certain to happen, but she didn't think twice. She knew she'd need money for a big expense someday, even if it wasn't a wedding."There's no downside to saving money," she said. "I could have used it for a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/steps-im-taking-to-save-to-buy-a-house-2020-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">down payment</a> or bought a car if I needed a car or I could have split it between different goals."In the year following their engagement, they saved an additional $1,000 to $1,500 a month, she said. Her parents paid for the invitations, extra food, the post-wedding brunch, her dress, and two hotel rooms. Their honeymoon was paid for mostly in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/best-rewards-credit-cards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">credit-card rewards</a> points. Thanks in large part to Williams' foresight, the couple covered everything else themselves. Related Content Module: More Savings Coverage

A financial coach explains the 2 key decisions that helped her save $17,000 for a wedding

All of us who earn, try to save as much money as we can. Naturally, we also get very upset, we are unable to stop the outflow of money. 
 
This brings me to a conversation I had with my cousin last week. She was beyond frustrated with her failure at budgeting, the more she tries to save the more she fails to hold on to her money! According to her despite some awesome shopping at discounts, she still had a BIG hole in her budget last month. She is trying to be financially suave but can never get there! 
 
A sensible person like her, trying so hard and yet unable to save money, got me thinking and I prodded her for more information. It didn’t take long to figure out that the answer to her disappearing money was in her weekend activities. To be precise her budgets went askew with the beginning of the monsoon sale season! As she narrated her best bargains, I realized she is not the only one being fooled by the end of season sales and big discounts, almost all of us are! 
 
The-not-so-bargain buy 
She went to buy her husband a shirt, and had set a budget of some Rs. 800 for it. However, at the sale in the mall, she ended up getting 3 shirts for him! According to her it was a steal, she only paid for two as the offer was ‘Buy 2 get 1 free’. She was really happy at the bargain she got, good quality shirts, classy design, 3 shirts for only 1800; that is Rs.600 per shirt instead of Rs.800! She saved Rs.200 per shirt, and in total saved Rs.600 saved, right? 
 
Wrong, she intended an outflow of money of 800, needed one shirt but ended up having an outflow of 1800; a thousand rupees more than intended, and 2 unwanted shirts. She wasn’t planning on selling the shirts, so getting the shirts cheaper per piece doesn’t really matter. What matters is that she spent 1000 more than intended and will need to borrow money or use her credit card to finance the gap in her budget. 
 
Stocking for doomsday 
With great offers available on grocery, the efficient, home manager sister of mine, bought 5 kilos of pulses and sugar, and 10 liters of cooking oil. Much to my sister’s chagrin, I joked about feeding a wedding party with all the food! She explained, “The deal was valid only for buying in large quantities, you see, these will last me nearly 2.5 months!” You would say that is fair, but it’s wrong, here’s why: 
○ She has bought food items that would last far beyond a month. Prices of food items don’t fluctuate majorly and hence, there’s no real risk in buying as much as you need. ○ Unless stored properly, food gets spoilt. So there is some amount of wastage, which eats into her <keyword id="25450" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="savings">savings</keyword>. 
○ She ended up spending more than budgeted to accommodate the deals and increased her debt again! 
 
Not being smart about smart phones 
She wanted to buy this latest new smartphone and typical of her, she didn’t have enough money for it. So, instead of borrowing the entire money she bought it on EMIs. You might say, there is nothing wrong with EMIs, they’re small, simple payments.This is where you and my sister are wrong again! 
 
How does this make sense? So, after a year she will have: 
○ Paid for a phone more than its price, as she paid interest 
○ An asset whose value has gone down steeply 
○ Lost out on investing and return thereon because of her interest payments 
○ Carried more debt 
 
If you’ve ever faced a situation like my sister, the answer to your frustration is not that you all aren’t trying or are not conscious of your finances. The problem is that your financial paradigms are wrong, you’re looking at money the wrong way and hence getting deeper into trouble! 
 
<a href="https://cdn.gobankingrates.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/why_banks_wont_increase_savings_account_rates.jpg">Image source</a>

Unable to save money? Here’s why

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Booking <keyword id="11898131" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="amtrak" source="Orion">Amtrak</keyword> tickets can get expensive, but there are some tricks to <keyword id="12265148" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="saving-money" source="Orion">saving money</keyword> when booking.</li><li>Martin Soto, a <keyword id="11896628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="travel" source="Orion">travel</keyword> blogger and frequent Amtrak user, said you should always buy tickets online.</li></ul>Traveling can get expensive fast, and often, transportation is one of the most costly expenses. When it comes to Amtrak, ticket prices can cost anywhere from around $20 to $1,000, depending on the train line, the distance, and the class you choose. Insider spoke with Martin Soto, a blogger who runs <a href="https://travelexplorator.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Travel Explorator</a> and frequently takes Amtrak trains, to find out <a href="https://www.insider.com/common-mistakes-amtrak-riders-make-2021-9">how passengers can save money</a> when booking their next journey.Here are five easy ways to get the best deals with Amtrak.<h2>Buy your tickets on Amtrak's website</h2>There are several ways to purchase an <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-that-surprised-me-overnight-amtrak-train-2021-7">Amtrak</a> ticket: You can do it online or via Amtrak's app, you can buy tickets at the station, or you can order them over the phone. But Soto says there's only one way to go."You will find better deals if you buy your ticket online instead of at the train station," Soto said.<h2>Try to buy your tickets as early as possible</h2><a href="https://www.insider.com/packing-long-haul-train-ride-2021-8">Amtrak</a> releases its train schedules 11 months in advance, giving you ample time to plan a trip. Soto said to get the best deals, you should avoid purchasing last-minute. "You'll tend to find the cheapest fares if you book ahead of time rather than waiting for a deal to pop up," Soto said. "Amtrak increases ticket prices as the demand rises, so if you can buy before others start to buy up the tickets, you'll find a better deal. "<div type="image" title="a man purchasing amtrak tickets at a kiosk" height="2000" width="2666" msid="87672267" hostid="261"></div><h2>You should check out Amtrak's designated deals page</h2><a href="https://www.amtrak.com/deals">Amtrak's deals page</a> is the go-to place to save money on tickets. The company updates the page regularly with limited-time offers."While you might have trouble finding a deal if you plan on taking a train to a small city close to you, you might find a really good deal on well-known trains like the Pacific Surfliner," Soto said.For example, you can save 50% on a midweek trip on the Pacific Surfliner right now until March 2022.<h2>Don't forget to check to see if you qualify for extra discounts </h2>Amtrak has deals for certain passengers, like students, veterans, military families, and even children. In fact, you can save up to 50% on children's Amtrak tickets. <div type="image" title="An Amtrak train conductor" height="2000" width="2666" msid="87672268" hostid="261"></div>Plus, people who work for the government or are part of the Rail Passengers Association also qualify for extra discounts. "Even if you don't think you meet the criteria based on your background or job, it's worth checking," Soto said.The discounts are listed on <a href="https://www.amtrak.com/everyday-discounts">Amtrak's "everyday deals" page</a>.<h2>Consider signing up for Amtrak's Guest Rewards</h2><a href="https://www.amtrak.com/guestrewards/home">Amtrak's Guest Rewards</a> works like a credit card in that every time you buy an Amtrak ticket, you earn points, which can then be redeemed for future Amtrak purchases, hotel bookings, and car rentals. "Even for those who don't use Amtrak a lot, by simply booking hotels through their portal or signing up for a car rental, you earn free points," Soto said. "You don't need to be an Amtrak enthusiast to benefit from them."

How to save money when booking Amtrak tickets, according to a travel expert

Money saved is money earned. Make this your mantra in 2015 and begin your journey on the road to riches. Work fetches money and that is what keeps us going. But how about money fetching more money? 
 That’s exactly what your goal should be. And the first step for that is learning to save. It does not mean you cut down on occasional weekend dinners or not give in to the retail therapy once in a while. <keyword id="6370266" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="saving">Saving</keyword> need not be boring. You just need to think a little and make it a part of your lifestyle. Make saving a habit by being intelligent, creative and join the cool ‘rich’ club. 
 
#1 Review that home <keyword id="6360217" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Loan">loan</keyword> 
Take time out to review the interest that is paid on your home loan. There is so much competition for this product in the market and you must take advantage of this. Make sure your bank is giving you the best deal. If not, compare and negotiate! 
 
#2 Too many <keyword id="60953" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cards">cards</keyword> kill the budget Empty those <keyword id="6354680" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit">credit</keyword> cards from your wallet and pick two which you want to continue with. The deciding factors should be reward points and low interest rate. Since, most of the time, one credit card carries only one of these benefits at a time, it is a good strategy to retain two cards. Having limited cards also helps keep a tab on spending habits. Spending is done more consciously and unnecessary expenses are automatically cut down. 
 
#3 Savingup tips for car loans 
Negotiate for better rates using your CIBIL credit score. Lenders often offer lower rates for borrowers with better CIBIL scores. Also, make sure you don’t finance the car add-ons. For the accessories or add-ons check with local dealers for better rates. That way it turns out to be a cheaper option, rather than paying interest on it up to the entire loan repayment. 
 
#4 Get organized and play CID 
Arrange for all bills, statements, etc. to reach you before a pre-decided date every month. On a weekend evening, analyze and check for mysterious charges. This habit will also help you recognize your spending patterns. These can then be corrected or can be planned for in advance thus helping you in the save money mission. 
 
#5 Plan ATM trips 
Impose a restriction on your ATM visits. This simple act helps in numerous ways. Expenses are planned in advance since cash needs to be withdrawn accordingly. There is no room left for temptation to withdraw cash whenever an ATM is in the vicinity. Many banks have started charging customers for ATM usage when the number of transactions cross the permitted transactions number. By planning withdrawals in advance one can easily avoid bearing such charges. 
 
#6 Savings while getting insured 
No one understands your needs like you do. Do your homework and work out your own insurance amount. Agents have a tendency to talk you into more. Also, before buying any new insurance check if you are already adequately covered under an existing insurance scheme. If not, go in only for the additional amount. It is also a smart thing to shop around a bit after you have worked out the requirements. Go for an insurance plan that suits you the best. And while at it, remember that insurance works best when it is not coupled as a saving plan. 
 
#7 Track your expenses 
Have a personal tracker to keep a check on your daily expenses. Either maintain a small diary if you are old school, like geeks do or download a mobile application which will help you with this. Analyzing expenses on a regular basis can prove to be a very effective way to save on expenses which are not accounted for or are unnecessary. 
 
#8 Choose banks wisely 
Take stock of all the bank accounts and lockers which you own. It’s time to de-clutter and get organized. Shut down accounts which have not been used for regular transactions since six months or more. Also, check on the lockers currently in use. It is not uncommon to change lockers along with a change in address. However, the old lockers remain in your name. Closing old accounts and lockers can free up the deposit money which can be reinvested as per your own. 
 
#9 Save up during sale season 
Retail therapy indulgence reaches new levels during the sale season. While discounts on products leave you with some free money after the purchase, why not make this free money work for you. Next time you avail a discount, deposit the discounted amount into your savings account and incorporate it in the investment plan. 
 
#10 Don’t leave your investments unattended 
While one does feel a sense of relief after planning, choosing and implementing an investment scheme, it is important to note that these investments need to be reviewed regularly. A decision made two years ago may not be fetching the same returns today. Analyze and decide your next investment move accordingly. 
 
Saving is not a onetime plan but a way of life. This is one habit which will fetch positive returns right from the moment you start. May you save up heaps this year only to multiply your wealth for the years to come. 
 
Image: Thinkstock 
About the author: Rajiv Raj is the director and co-founder of<a href="http://www.creditvidya.com/">www.creditvidya.com</a>.

Saving Smartly! 10 Quick Tips To Get You Started

<ul><li><keyword id="790242" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="whatsapp" source="Orion">WhatsApp</keyword> is reportedly working on an update to disappearing messages.</li><li>This will prevent the app from saving media from disappearing messages.</li><li>Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming update from WhatsApp.</li></ul>WhatsApp had started testing disappearing messages in 2020 and the complete rollout began last year. The feature was aimed at offering users more control over messages and text shared is retained by the other users. One of the flaws of this feature was that WhatsApp was auto-saving the media on the device, rendering the disappearing messages feature useless. According to a <a href="https://wabetainfo.com/whatsapp-is-introducing-some-changes-to-media-visibility/">report</a> by WaBetaInfo, WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new update that will rectify this. The new feature was spotted in the Android 2.22.4.14 and should be available to all users soon. WhatsApp will now stop auto-saving media from the chats and groups in which disappearing messages have been turned on. This will make the chats more secure and will make the disappearing messages feature more useful. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Here’s how you can still save photos and videos" comment="subhead" text="Here’s how you can still save photos and videos">Here’s how you can still save photos and videos</cmsannotation> However, users will still be able to manually save photos and videos from chats and groups where disappearing messages have been turned on. So, this feature is still not completely foolproof. Then again, you can always take a screenshot if you wish to retain media, something which cannot be done on apps like <keyword id="6358096" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="snapchat" source="Orion">Snapchat</keyword> as they inform the sender that you have taken a screenshot. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Other upcoming features" comment="subhead" text="Other upcoming features">Other upcoming features</cmsannotation> A recent <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-might-soon-limit-forwarding-messages-in-groups-to-curb-the-spread-of-misinformation/articleshow/90634763.cms">report</a> has revealed that WhatsApp is also working on a feature that will limit the number of times you can send a forwarded message to group chats to one. This is aimed at reducing spam and preventing the spread of misinformation. The Facebook-owned messaging app is also working on bringing reactions to the app. This will allow you to reply to messages with reactions, similar to the reaction button on Facebook. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/heres-how-to-use-one-whatsapp-account-on-two-phones/articleshow/90636271.cms">Here’s how to use one WhatsApp account on two phones</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-10-smartphone-expected-to-be-launched-with-a-mediatek-dimensity-9000-chipset/articleshow/90720258.cms">OnePlus 10 expected to be launched with a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/meta-is-working-on-virtual-coins-for-its-apps-that-employees-have-nicknamed-zuck-bucks-a-report-says/articleshow/90709984.cms">Meta is working on virtual coins for its apps that employees have nicknamed 'Zuck Bucks', a report says</a>

WhatsApp will stop saving media from disappearing messages — here’s how you can still save photos and videos on your phone

New Delhi [India], July 19 (ANI): Households are choosing the <keyword id="20033427" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="capital-markets" source="keywords">capital markets</keyword> over the <keyword id="19934118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="banks" source="keywords">banks</keyword> to park or invest their <keyword id="25450" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="savings" source="Orion">savings</keyword>, highlighted <keyword id="64190" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI-Governor" source="Orion">RBI Governor</keyword> <keyword id="3083263" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shaktikant-Das" source="Orion">Shaktikant Das</keyword> during his address at FE Modern BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) Summit 2024 on Friday. Governor Das highlighted that traditionally, banks were the primary choice for households to invest their money. However, there has been a noticeable change in consumer behaviour, with a growing preference for capital markets and other <keyword id="5869841" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-intermediaries" source="Orion">financial intermediaries</keyword>. He noted, "Households and consumers who traditionally leaned on banks for parking or investing their savings are increasingly turning to the capital markets and other financial intermediaries." This trend indicates a broader diversification of <keyword id="22469312" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="household-investments" source="Orion">household investments</keyword> into <keyword id="19929240" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-funds" source="keywords">mutual funds</keyword> and other savings tools, moving away from traditional investment tools. The Governor stated, "While bank deposits continue to remain dominant as a percentage of the financial assets owned by the households, their share has been declining, with households increasingly allocating their savings to Mutual Funds, Insurance Funds, and Pension Funds." Governor Das also pointed out that this shift in investment patterns has significant implications for the banking sector. Banks now need to explore alternative methods to bridge the gap between credit and deposits. He added, "On their part, banks have sought to fill the credit-deposit gap by increasing their reliance on other sources like short-term borrowings and certificates of deposit, etc. This increases their sensitivity to interest rate movements and poses challenges to liquidity management." The Governor further elaborated on the implications of the shift from CASA (Current Account Saving Account) deposits, stressing that banks must remain vigilant and adaptive. He stated that banks need to continuously focus on improving and refining their credit underwriting standards and the pricing of risks to maintain stability and profitability. Reflecting on recent global banking events, Governor Das drew attention to the banking crises in the US and Switzerland in 2023, which highlighted the risks and vulnerabilities inherent in certain business models. He emphasized the importance of learning from these crises to enhance the resilience of the banking sector. "The banking crisis in the US and Switzerland in 2023 has again brought into focus the risks to banking stability from certain business models and their inherent vulnerability," he added.

Household savings are choosing mutual funds over banks to invest savings: RBI Governor

<ul><li>A new report by <keyword id="6358584" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="HSBC">HSBC</keyword> shows that only 33% of <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> regularly save for their retirement.</li><li>As per the <keyword id="6866294" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="life-cycle-theory">life-cycle theory</keyword>, India’s saving rate should be much higher since most of its demographic dividend consists of working individuals. </li><li>While low financial literacy may be the primary factor for a low <keyword id="25450" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="savings">savings</keyword> rate, there are larger shifts in India’s saving patterns that help explain why individuals aren’t saving as much as they should be.</li></ul>Lack of financial literacy has widened the gap between financial preparedness and financial risks in India. According to a report by HSBC titled <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Money/pwu91JKABBWNGOZDcul9lI/Only-33-Indians-save-regularly-for-retirement-HSBC-report.html">‘Future of Retirement: Bridging the Gap</a>’, only 33% of Indians save regularly for their retirement. And, the problem isn’t specific to India either. Even globally, only one-third of the working demographic has a financial plan in place for their future. The report cites low knowledge of how much is money is needed for retirement as the key reason behind why individuals prioritise their current expenditures over hedging for post-retirement expenses. While financial literacy definitely has a part to play, there are other underlying reasons and trends that have resulted in the current paradigm. India’s changing saving patterns The fundamental <a href="http://www.eiiff.com/savings/india/changing-pattern.html">trend</a> of savings in India has shifted from financial securities to savings in physical properties. Looking at historical data, this shift could be attributed to falling interest rates and rates of return. That being said, the increase in individual responsibility and life expectancy have led to a <a href="http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/37201/5/chapter3.pdf">drastic change</a> in the saving requirements for Indians over the past couple of years. One major factor of influence has been the transfer of risk from the government to employers and individuals. State-supported pensions have been cut from most sectors, making individuals responsible for their own financial security after retirement. In that shift, a lot of people are now unaware of their own financial risk and lack the knowledge of how to protect themselves against it. And, while there are a number of financial products and services in the market, the options have become so specialised and diverse that consumers are often uncertain about where to invest. The variety of instruments also adds to the decision-making process and the perceived risk attached. Innovations and the variety of <keyword id="563073" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-instruments">financial instruments</keyword> is only a boon if consumers understand how they work and what their benefits are. Diversification and specialisation also entail an increase in competition between financial institutions in the market. Where there are more avenues to save, there are also new avenues to borrow. Getting credit is easier and more attractive when conservative financial instruments yield a low rate of return that doesn’t necessarily keep up with the rate of inflation. According to the life-cycle theory, individuals save more during their working years. Initiatives like Project Financial Literacy, ABHAY, and Aflatoon are already underway, helmed by the Reserve Bank of India, public-sector banks, and NGOs respectively to improve financial literacy. But, considering that India’s median age is 27, the savings rate for retirement still needs to be higher than where it currently stands.

Here’s why only one-third of Indians are saving for their retirement

Tax saving is something that all of us typically think about only in the last quarter of a financial year. As we enter January, we get an email from our company’s HR department to submit our tax-saving details for the year. This email makes us realise that we haven’t made any tax-saving investment yet. We rush to invest to save taxes and end up making hurried investment decisions. Sure, even this way, we do end up saving tax. But that shouldn’t be the sole purpose of tax-saving <keyword id="6362476" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="investments">investments</keyword>. When planned and executed properly, tax-saving investments can help you build wealth over the long-term as well. By their nature, tax-saving investments are long-term and can be used for goals like child’s education or marriage and your own retirement. Under Section 80C, a taxpayer can invest up to Rs 1.5 lakh in a year to save tax. This is a decent amount to build a corpus of wealth as well. But these investments should not be done in the last few months with little time and after little thought. These investments should be planned and started in the beginning of the financial year itself. Here is how you can plan your tax-saving investments for FY2017-18 to make maximum gains. Figure out the tax-saving expenses that you can claim Under Section 80C, there are a number of expenses that qualify as tax-saving deductions. This includes the life insurance premium you pay, school tuition fees for two children, repayment of your home loan, etc. These are expenses that you make anyway and they should be used to save taxes. Figure out how much will be the amount of these expenses. This will help you understand how much of the Rs 1.5 lakh 80C limit you need to invest. Build a portfolio of tax-saving investments Once you know how much you will need to invest to fulfil the 80C limit, you should think about where you want to invest that money. There are a number of investment options available, like ELSS funds, PPF, NPS, SukanyaSamriddhi, fixed deposits, NSC, etc. Choose the kind of investment that you are comfortable with, which matches your risk profile and start investing in them right away. It is easier to invest a small amount every month through the year than a big amount in one go at the end of the year. Make good use of ELSS funds ELSS funds are equity <keyword id="6357979" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="mutual-funds">mutual funds</keyword> that come with a lock-in period of 3 years. They are considered to be the best tax-saving investment because of the flexibility they come with and the ability to earn inflation-beating returns. Everyone should invest some amount of their 80C limit in these funds. The equity-related risks get mitigated over the long-term and the returns earned by these funds also become tax-free after a year. Ideally, the younger you are, the more you should invest in ELSS funds. Link investments to goals It is always good to have investment goals. With a target in mind, it would become easier for you to choose a tax-saving investment. For example, for a goal like retirement, you can rely on your investments in EPF or PFF. But for a goal that is just 5-7 years away, you can put money in tax-saving fixed deposits or ELSS funds. This way, investments with different lock-in periods can be used to achieve different short-term and long-term goals. Don’t invest and forget This is a mistake that many investors do, especially with ELSS funds. It is of no use to check a fund’s performance every single day, but you should at least once in 6 months or a year. You can stop your SIPs in an underperforming ELSS fund any time you want and start SIPs in another ELSS fund to avail the same tax benefit. This flexible nature of ELSS funds should be used to earn optimum returns. Think beyond 80C Tax-saving doesn’t end with Section 80C investments and expenses. There are other ways to save taxes that should also be utilized by taxpayers. Medical insurance is tax-deductible under Section 80G. An additional ₹50,000 can be invested in NPS under Section 80CCD. Taxes can also be saved by making certain donations under Section 80G. You should find out about these tax-saving deductions and avail as much benefit as you can. These are some things that the common taxpayer can do to get the most out of saving taxes this year. But the most important thing is to not procrastinate. Plan your investments and start early. (The article is authored by Archit Gupta, Founder &amp; CEO, ClearTax.com)

Here’s how you can plan your investments to gain maximum savings

The feeling of working for the first time and getting your first paycheck is something nobody ever forgets. Even before you get your <keyword id="2363500" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="First-salary">first salary</keyword>, you start making a list of things you want to buy for yourself and your family members. 
 
First paycheck also means a lot to those who take up education loans to study and are finally able to pay them off. 
 
In all this planning, one aspect that most young workers, mostly in their early 20s, miss is saving. 
 
Saving is about habit. Children save in their childhood days by putting money in their piggybanks and by the time they turn into adults, this habit somehow goes away. 
 
But, saving is very important. “The basic rule is that everyone should save. It helps you to be prepared for unforeseen crises and emergencies. It is a habit that has enormous benefits in the long-term and is more than handy when there are more responsibilities on a person’s shoulders,” said Archit Gupta, Founder and CEO of ClearTax.com. 
 
Another question that pops up is how much you should save. “Someone who has just started working can begin with saving 10% of his or her income. This should be a bare minimum. As one gets more experienced and starts to earn more, the saving portion should also keep getting bigger,” said Gupta. 
 
If you are determined to save, these are the 5 habits you should follow: 
 
 
(Images: Reuters/Thinkstock)

How to start saving as soon as you start working

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/master-your-money" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><div type="image" title="Jermaine and Christina" height="2337" width="3024" msid="76428343" hostid="261"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Jermaine Bethune, 37, and Christina Colon, 34, each saved a year's worth of expenses in their emergency funds — over $50,000 in total.</li><li>They did it by opening separate savings accounts for their goals and making their savings automatic.</li><li>At the same time, they continued <keyword id="6370266" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="saving">saving</keyword> for other goals, like retirement and the down payment for a home.</li></ul>Couple Jermaine Bethune and Christina Colon have big plans. They're saving to upgrade from their one-bedroom apartment in Bloomfield, New Jersey to a home in the same area. With a baby on the way, they're also saving to take time away from work, and for their dream wedding, too. But, several years ago, the couple decided that one goal had to be met first: building up a 12-month <keyword id="163208" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="emergency-fund">emergency fund</keyword>.An <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/what-is-an-emergency-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emergency fund</a> is a separate savings account holding several months' worth of expenses to provide cash in an emergency and protect you from taking on high-interest debt. Many experts advise <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/how-much-money-to-save-in-emergency-fund-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three to six-month</a> emergency funds, and that's where Bethune and Colon started, too. But when they each hit their goals in 2015 after a year of saving, they decided to aim for a bigger <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/emergency-fund-more-important-than-ever-during-economic-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">12-month goal</a> — an extra layer of protection inspired by the advice of Ramit Sethi, the author of "<a href="https://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/QkSUa_SUiftwgHvmbLALhm0AAAFyFOnaGQEAAAFKAYNcGvY/https://www.amazon.com/Will-Teach-You-Rich-Second/dp/1523505745/ref=asc_df_1523505745/?creativeASIN=1523505745&amp;linkCode=w61&amp;imprToken=knTqEENS69LA.2-MsSUaZw&amp;slotNum=1&amp;tag=bisafetynet2-20=bisafetynet2-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I Will Teach You to Be Rich.</a>"To meet their new goal, Bethune, a 37-year-old cybersecurity engineer, and Colon, a 34-year-old mental health counselor, would have to save $30,000 and $22,000, respectively."For me, it was just the ability to have less anxiety," Bethune told Business Insider. He continued, "A lot of the motivation for me was that once I gained the knowledge of how to structure this, I wanted to pay it forward to family members and friends who were having struggles with finances."<h2>First, they put a number on their goal.</h2>"The fundamental piece is to figure out what you spend monthly," said Bethune. "If I cut mercilessly all the stuff like Netflix that you don't really need, what would that take?" He and Colon both calculated their own figures based on their expenses, and set the goal, kicking off their savings journey with whatever they had in the bank from previous years since they started their careers in their 20s.Living affordably is a big part of their savings strategy, and has allowed them to save aggressively. The couple lives in a modest one-bedroom apartment, spending about $1,200 in rent each month. Since they own their cars outright, their only other major expense is Colon's student loans, which total about $600 per month. With low expenses, they were able to save for other goals on top of their emergency fund. <h2>Then, they opened new accounts exclusively for their savings.</h2>"From there, we did the same thing we'd do for any kind of goal, which was set up a savings account just for the emergency fund," Bethune said. Both used <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/what-to-do-with-emergency-savings-if-high-yield-savings-rate-dropped" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high-yield savings accounts</a> to help their savings grow over time. For Colon, this meant approaching saving differently than before. "I had always had one savings account," she said. "I had this chunk for student loans saved up, I had this chunk to buy a new car, everything was all in there." But, she quickly found out that lumping everything together wasn't effective. "When you spread it all out, it's still kind of far from your goals," she said. To keep her progress clear, she opened up a new <keyword id="9418476" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="high-yield-savings">high-yield savings</keyword> account <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/where-to-keep-emergency-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">just for emergency savings</a>.To save a 12-month emergency fund — alongside their down payment and wedding-savings goal — Colon had to save about half of her salary, plus pick up side work at a private practice to increase her income. She started by deciding to hold off on buying a car and used that money to jumpstart her new savings account. From there, it took two years to save $22,000.To build his first six months of savings, Bethune used bonuses and salary increases, ultimately spending five years reaching his $30,000 goal. Part of the process of saving more meant getting a promotion this past year. "There's a limit to how much you can save, no matter how hard you work. You also have to focus on continuing to earn more," he said.<h2>They made their savings automatic.</h2>After deciding how much they needed to save and where the money would go, the couple automated their savings by setting up recurring transfers from their checking accounts to their savings accounts. A method championed by "I Will Teach You To Be Rich," sending money automatically to savings and goals, makes for a hands-off approach. "You're accumulating money by default," author Sethi writes. Colon found that this strategy made managing money and saving a big chunk of her salary easier."It's a lot less stressful and time-consuming if you have these automatic deductions," Colon said. "Since creating my automatic deductions, I don't really think about the spending that I do."Before automatic deposits, Bethune found it hard to be consistent with his savings goals. "It would be kind of haphazard and I wouldn't keep up with it," he said. With automatic deposits, it's impossible to forget.<h2>They kept saving for their other goals along the way.</h2>For this couple, saving an emergency fund was a balancing act with their other financial goals.Colon's priority was saving for retirement. "Growing up, my mom was an educator who had a pension, but my dad was not eligible for that,'" she said. "I don't want to be working until I'm 75 years old." She started saving in her <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/how-to-invest-in-a-401k-for-retirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">office's 401(k)</a> and doing what she could to get the most money from her employer's match. Colon and Bethune also had two collective goals: to save for a wedding and to buy a home. "We're only 11 miles outside of New York City, so houses are at least $500,000 to start," Colon said. They made a savings goal of $100,000 for a down payment and divided $30,000 from their existing savings between their joint wedding and <keyword id="9418475" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="down-payment-savings">down payment savings</keyword> account. They only have $32,000 left to save but anticipate using some of their wedding savings to complete their home purchase.Aside from earning more, Colon and Bethune both credit that automation for their savings success. But automating only does so much — this method requires a lot of time and patience. "As I saw our account grow, I was like, 'oh, maybe we could buy a house now,'" Colon said. "But Jermaine was like, 'No, we don't have 20% yet, just wait.' You have to trust the process and be patient," she said. <ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-great-recession-student-debt-affordability-crisis-2020-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How the American millennial is overcoming debt, the dollar, and the economy they were handed</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-pay-back-student-loan-debt-options" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to pay back your student-loan debt, no matter where you start or what type of loans you have</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-exactly-what-to-do-to-avoid-massive-college-debt-2020-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6 alternatives to an expensive undergrad degree, and what exactly to do to avoid massive student debt</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/money-council-advises-millennials-about-managing-student-loan-debt-master-your-money" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Student-loan debt can be overwhelming. BI's Money Council is here to help, with advice on repayment, tax credits, and active planning so you can achieve your goals</a></li></ul>

A New Jersey couple who saved over $50,000 in case of emergencies says automatic transfers are the key

No one can hope for a steady income throughout life. The earning potential significantly comes down during old age and hence you can never overlook the importance of saving money for retirement. With proper planning, this is never a difficulty. What you must know on saving for retirement <ul><li>To <keyword id="7839787" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="save-for-retirement">save for retirement</keyword>, it is never too early or too late. </li><li>When you are starting to save money for the future, try to save as much as you can.</li><li>If you are already nearing the retirement age, you must increase the percentage of your saving. </li><li>Nevertheless, the earlier you start saving for retirement, the better for you.</li><li>Even if you have started late there are ways to increase your retirement savings. </li></ul>Tips on saving for retirement Never wait for it. Start saving for retirement today. Saving, investing, and reinvesting can move you forward successfully. If you can invest a good amount of money when you are young, it is going to benefit you immensely during your old age. Contribute to EPF If you are a salaried employee and if your employer contributes to EPF, nothing like that. You are already travelling safely. However, ensure that you do not withdraw or take loans from the EPF accumulations. If you take loans from EPF or close it down before you retire, the whole purpose of EPF is falsified. Also, contribute to EPF as much as you can. Senior Citizens' Saving Scheme (SCSS) This scheme is the most popular choice for retirees. Available only to senior citizens or those that retire early, you can avail of the SCSS from a bank or post office. Those retiring early avail of this scheme within a month of receiving their funds on retirement. Post Office Monthly Income Scheme POMIS is a five-year investment. The maximum cap of this investment is Rs 9 lakhs in case of joint ownership and Rs 4.5 lakhs in case of single ownership. For every quarter, the interest rate is set. It is roughly about 7.8% at present. The interest is payable monthly. The interest amount can also be credited to the same account. Fixed deposits FD or bank fixed deposits are yet another popular choice among retirees for saving money. FDs are easy to operate. They are safe and provide fixed returns in a risk-free way. Though the interest rates are falling with the years passing by, senior citizens get to earn an extra percentage of interest. In terms of tenure, fixed deposits also offer flexibility. Mutual funds Following retirement, the non-earning period might extend to two decades or more. Hence a portion of the investment needs to be backed by equity. Retirement income will be subject to inflation. Equities assure returns that are inflation-adjusted and are a better choice in several regards. Tax-free bonds Tax-free bonds are issued to government-backed institutions. These are listed securities and hence can be sold on stock exchanges. Since tax-free bonds mature only after 10, 15 or 20 years, you must make sure you will not need the invested funds in between.

How to save Money for Retirement

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12251474" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boomers" source="Orion">Boomers</keyword> don't have enough saved for <keyword id="11909870" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="retirement" source="Orion">retirement</keyword>, per new Census data. </li><li>Women are worse off with fewer <keyword id="12137393" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="savings" source="Orion">savings</keyword> than men, more of whom have six figures saved.</li></ul>The golden years aren't shining all that bright for some boomers, many of whom don't have enough money saved for retirement.It's an even bigger problem for women, who don't have the savings that men do, according to a <a href="https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/01/women-more-likely-than-men-to-have-no-retirement-savings.html?utm_campaign=20220113msacos1ccstors&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery">report</a> that the US Census Bureau released last week. About 50% of women ages 55 to 66 have no personal <keyword id="12243970" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="retirement-savings" source="Orion">retirement savings</keyword>, compared to 47% of men, the researchers found. The report also said that marriage has a big impact on how much one can save. In their assessment, the researchers found that about 35% of people who were married at least once have no retirement savings, compared to 60% of people who were never married. Both men and women who have been married experience long-term savings benefits.The report shows that roughly half of all retirement-age Americans have no savings. Women have less: The savings gap is negligible between men and women with $10,000 saved, and much bigger between men and women who have $100,000 saved, with men doing better as the amount of savings increases. Coupled with the generation's debt load and a dwindling Social Security program, boomers' puny funds may signal a retirement that's not all it's cracked up to be. For women, it's partly a result of the long-term effects of the <keyword id="12229460" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wage-gap" source="Orion">wage gap</keyword> — throughout their careers, they've earned less to sock away. <h2>Boomer finances aren't looking rosy</h2>Dismal retirement savings are an even bigger issue in the context of boomers' debt load. The typical boomer household is heading into retirement owing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lendingtree.com%2Fdebt-consolidation%2Fdebt-by-generation-study%2F">$28,672</a>.Considering that the actual savings balance of most retirees is<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/baby-boomer-retirees-positive-about-retirement-savings-2020-10"> lower than it should be</a>, they won't have much to dip into to pay off that debt. The median 55- to 64-year-old's 401(k) account balance is $61,738,<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/average-401k-balance"> according to Vanguard data</a>. For those 65 and up, it's $58,035. That's not to mention the sizable chunk of boomers that the Census found have no retirement savings at all.It's leaving boomers woefully unprepared to afford healthcare, which also happens to cost more for women. Most recent data available from<a href="https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/press-release/healthcare-price-check-040219.pdf"> Fidelity</a> estimates that the average 65-year-old woman retiring in 2019 will spend $150,000 on healthcare alone in retirement, and the average man will spend $135,000. Both scenarios are more than double the median retirement balances. It seems they won't have Social Security to rely on either. The program is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/social-security-run-out-of-funds-2034-pandemic-2021-9">set to run out of funds</a> for full payments a year earlier than anticipated, in 2034, according to a <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TRSUM/index.html">2021 report from the US Treasury Department</a> that blamed the pandemic and related recession for the shift.<h2>Retirement savings reflect the wage gap</h2>The disparity in salaries between men and women might explain the disparity between their savings later in life. On average, women made 84% of what men did in 2020, according to the <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/05/25/gender-pay-gap-facts/">Pew Research Center</a>. Women between 25 and 34 years of age earned 93 cents to every dollar made by men in the same age group. Those disparities are worse for people of color, women of color in particular getting paid less than their male peers. Black men, for instance, are paid just $0.71 for every dollar paid to white men, the Economic <keyword id="11896048" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="policy" source="Orion">Policy</keyword> Institute<a href="https://www.epi.org/publication/black-workers-covid/"> reported</a> in 2020. Black women especially suffer—<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/black-equal-pay-day-gender-pay-gap-2021-8"> according to</a> the National Women's Law Center, it takes the typical Black woman 19 months to make a white man's annual earnings in the US. The EPI found that Black women are paid $0.63 for every dollar paid to white men. That <keyword id="11931260" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pay-gap" source="Orion">pay gap</keyword> adds up over time: the NWLC estimates that a Black woman can lose $964,400 over a 40-year career. That's $964,400 she hasn't spent, invested, or saved. Closing the wage gap could be the key to closing the retirement savings gap in the future.

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