National Savings Day – October 12, 2022, history, significance
Our relationship with money is so important because it affects almost every decision we make. National Savings Day on October 12 gives you the time to think about your saving (and spending) habits and what you can do to improve if you’re not saving quite enough. Saving doesn’t have to be painful. There are lots of easier ways to save in order to bring your dreams within reach.
History of National Savings Day
Whether it’s saving up for a college education for the kids, a deposit on a house, that cruise you’ve always wanted to take or a brand new car, National Savings Day brings an important reminder to people that it only takes a little bit of effort to be able to save a lot of money!
National Savings Day was founded in 2017 by Capital One to encourage people to be empowered when they create simple practices to build into their savings plans. All it takes is a little bit of a plan and some dedication to make it happen. Even those who can only start small in the beginning will learn to love the way it makes them feel to be able to save up money for a specific goal!
NATIONAL SAVINGS DAY TIMELINE
1990s
Good times on the economic front
Tech, combined with lower unemployment, fueled a surge in the U.S. stock market.
July 2010
Dodd-Frank Act became law
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is a long title for a law designed to give consumers a fair shake against Wall Street heavyweight corporations.
2017
Congress passed historic tax bill
Congress passed a tax bill that slashed income tax rates, doubled the standard deduction, and dispensed with personal exemptions.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL SAVINGS DAY
Overcome your fear and check your credit report
Commit to reviewing your credit report so you can address any inaccuracies you may find. Every year you are entitled to a free credit report from the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Doing so will put you on more solid footing and prepare you for the best relationship of your life.
Sign up for free debt counseling
There are free debt counseling services that can work with you to develop a workable budget, negotiate with creditors on your behalf, and help you prepare to buy that first house. Use National Savings Day as a springboard to a new, debt-free life.
Attend free art and cultural events
You don’t have to spend money every time you want to have a good time. On National Savings Day, challenge yourself to see how many events you can find that don’t charge admission. Theaters and concert venues may allow you to work as an usher — in exchange for seeing the show. Now’s the time to be creative while your saving those bucks.
5 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY
Use envelopes
Old-school tip: Put cash for certain everyday expenses inside an envelope so you’ll know exactly how much money you have left to spend.
Save loose change
Update the piggy bank concept by putting whatever spare change you have into a jar and watch how it grows.
Participate in the employer match program
That is, if you’re lucky enough to work at a company with a 401(k).
Pay your bills with auto-pay
Auto-pay is a great way to handle those monthly bills without the pain of pulling the money directly out of your pocket.
Unsubscribe from shopping emails
Avoid the financial hassles associated with too much shopping by simply unsubscribing from your favorite stores’ emails.
WHY NATIONAL SAVINGS DAY IS IMPORTANT
Saving is a habit
Just like exercise, to get the best out of saving you have to cultivate positive habits. That might mean changing negative behaviors like shopping to excess or making spontaneous purchases in the checkout line. You improve your saving habit the more you save. Committing to saving more money means having the resolve to analyze your spending habits, making the change, and then regularly following through over your lifetime.
Saving stretches your budget
If you get into the habit of regularly making a budget and sticking to it, saving will be your best friend. Having a budget means you are working within your means to help you reach monthly, daily, or weekly goals. When you develop and follow a budget, you also have better control over your life. Having more control has additional benefits of lowering your stress level and increasing your joy.
Saving helps you prepare for emergencies
Stuff happens. We’re living in uncertain times — so it pays to be ready while life is stable. Try to keep between $500 and $1,000 in the bank just in case. Automatically having money deposited into a savings account on payday makes your emergency fund easy to manage whether you’re a high roller or on a tight budget.
