Sometimes the hardest thing about saving money is just getting started. This step-by-step guide on how to save money can help you develop a simple and realistic plan to save for goals, big or small.

General Savings Tips

1. Build an emergency fund.
2. Establish your budget.
3. Budget with cash and envelopes.
4. Don't just save money, save.
5. Save automatically.
6. Aim for short-term savings goals.
7. Start saving for your retirement as early as possible.
8. Take full advantage of employer matches to your retirement plan.

Imagine what would happen if you found extra money in your monthly budget. Could you finally afford a real vacation? Could you sock something away for emergencies? Perhaps you’d be debt-free at last.

This guide can help you learn how to save money on everyday and monthly expenses. Plus, it includes tips on setting aside funds for the future.

How to start saving money

Saving money begins with your mindset.

Avoid thinking of money-saving techniques as restrictive — although they can often feel that way. At NerdWallet, we think about a budget as a spending plan because saving money doesn’t mean you have to quit spending altogether. It just means you have to prioritize some financial goals over others.

Depending on how much you want to save, here’s how to do it.

1. Get serious about a budget.
2. Daily money-saving tips.
3. Monthly money-saving tips.
4. Long-term money-saving tips.
5. Additional resources.
6. Get serious about a budget.

Ready to get started? We recommend the 50/30/20 budget for smart money management. Devote 50% of your income to necessities, 30% to wants and 20% to savings. If you find one of your allocations exceeds these percentages, make some adjustments to fit the formula.