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5 Small Changes That Can Dramatically Improve Your Finances
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5 Small Changes That Can Dramatically Improve Your Finances

Improving your finances takes a lot of time and dedication. But that doesn’t mean it has to be difficult. Small steps can have a big impact on your financial situation and set you up for success.

Here are five simple changes you can make right now.

1. Switch to a high-yield savings account

Traditional savings accounts have their place, but if you’re looking to maximize your savings, they’re not necessarily the best tool. A high-yield savings account (HYSA), on the other hand, can offer much more lucrative interest rates than traditional savings accounts. For example, while the average national savings account offers a rate of 0.45%, the best HYSAs currently offer rates of 4% and above.

Interested in opening a HYSA to earn more money? Check out our list of the best HYSAs on the market.

2. Automate your savings

When you’re busy dealing with more pressing financial issues like paying off debt, savings accounts can easily fall by the wayside. This is especially true if you don’t have an automated savings transfer set up. But it might only take a minute or two through your bank’s website.

Even if you can only afford to save $100 or less per month, setting up an automatic transfer means you need to plan around that contribution. And over time, it can add up to more than you expected, especially when unexpected expenses arise.

3. Open a Roth IRA

Saving for retirement is another area that many people deprioritize. After all, if you have a 401(k), you likely have automatic contributions set up by your employer, making it easy to forget about other accounts that could help you save for retirement.

Click here for our picks for Roth IRAsand discover an easy way to pay your taxes in retirement. Roth IRAs allow you to withdraw funds tax-free during this period.

Additionally, the contribution limits for an IRA are separate from those of a 401(k), allowing you to increase your overall savings. And you might be able to automate contributions here too.

4. Pay off your credit card every week

Whether you’ve already struggled with credit card debt, are relatively new to the world of credit cards, or are a credit card expert, paying your credit card bills every week can be a valuable practice to start with.

This way, you can pay off your balance before your creditor charges interest, saving you money. This can also help ensure you’re only charging for items you know you can afford, especially if you’re prone to impulsive spending.

5. Get a budgeting app

Budgets are one of those financial tools that look great on paper, but are cumbersome in reality. This is why the best budgeting appswhich take effort out of the equation, are great options.

They can help you recognize trends in your spending habits without having to go through your credit card statements. And because you get a top-down view of your accounts, you can more easily plan for the future, whether that’s getting out of debt or saving for a home.

These five steps may seem small at the time, but over time they can lead to big changes in your overall finances. You don’t have to tackle them all at once. But considering they only take a few minutes to make, they’re worth it if you’re willing to take the time.