2. Autofund your retirement
According to American Benefits Council, over 100 million Americans participate in a 401(k) plan,Disclosure 1 a retirement investment plan that can be automatically funded every paycheck. The big win here is that you do not pay income tax on your steady contribution, which keeps more money in your pocket while allowing you to invest in your future.
If you are lucky enough to have an employer that offers a 401(k), be sure to take advantage and confirm you are automatically contributing as much as you can every paycheck—especially if your employer matches your contribution. You’ll be surprised how much it can add up over time.
3. Track your expenses
Budgeting—and sticking to your budget—can be a difficult skill to master, but tracking your expenses can help. And if you’ve read this far, we hope you’ve learned something: You can do this on autopilot.
There are a lot of free apps you can use to keep an eye on your budget—PocketGuard, for example, is one. Budgeting apps like this can help aggregate and categorize all of your spending and show you where you’re spending too much each month.
If apps aren’t your thing, try using only one debit or credit card for a whole month. At the end of the month, review your bank statement and see where you’re spending, how much you’re spending, and if you can eliminate any unnecessary expenses.
If there are certain categories where you consistently overspend, try using an app or account tool to be notified when you are nearing a limit or over budget.
4. Pay bills automatically
Say goodbye to (most of) the stress of paying bills with a few clicks. Set up automatic monthly bill pay, and pick a payment date that works for you, like right after payday. This is most helpful for recurring bills that always charge the same amount, like rent, mortgage, or a student loan. By setting this on autopilot, you can pay your major bills sooner in the month, ensuring you don’t overspend before key bills are paid.
5. Check in with your finances
Digital tools can make your financial life easier, but when it comes to your money, you can’t simply “set it and forget it.” Take some time every month, quarter, and year to review your spending, savings, and budget. Put a recurring meeting on your calendar as a reminder. See where you can cut costs or invest more, and confirm the bill amounts that you autopay have not changed.
Make a change. One good habit at a time.
If you’re ready to put all this into practice, don’t get overwhelmed. Make a goal (and an auto-reminder) to set up one financial automation per week over the next five weeks.
Automating your simpler financial habits like this can reduce the stress of managing your money, and you’ll hopefully feel more in control.
Over time, you might just start to see a slow, steady progression toward your goals, all quietly happening in the background.
