Americans are saving more money — and for some, the change in habit comes down to how they feel about the economy.
More than 4 out of 10 Americans, or 44%, say they’ve engaged in so-called vibe-based budgeting, according to a new survey by Intuit Credit Karma. In other words, they have adjusted their financial habits based on their feelings about the economy, regardless of whether their financial situation has changed.
Younger generations are more likely to say they’ve tried vibe-based budgeting, with 56% of Gen Z and 57% of millennials surveyed.
Intuit Credit Karma polled 1,058 adults online from June 13 to 17.
Some of those surveyed point to rising prices and worries about a looming recession as contributing to their vibes. Shaped by headlines, market swings and social media chatter, 61% of people surveyed reported feeling more anxious about the economy than they did a year ago.
Their feelings may also be fueling a surge in saving money, as “revenge spending” — the tendency to splurge after the pandemic — shifts to “revenge saving.”
“If you’re concerned about the future, if you have some uncertainty, consumers may be looking to create that emergency fund or create that savings, because uncertainty means you want to be able to put your hands on cash if you need it quickly,” said Charlie Wise, senior vice president of global research and consulting at TransUnion.
Saving more money is a perennial resolution, but emotions shouldn’t drive that habit, financial experts say. Instead, be intentional. Follow these steps to turbocharge your savings:
Take your ‘money temperature’
Start by taking a look at how you’re spending and saving, and how comfortable you are with the balance of those habits. To get a good read on your situation, you should know how much money you have coming in and what’s going out. Gather your pay stubs and your bills to dig into the details.
“There are people that are way off track that are spending everything. And there are people that are the best savers in the world, and they’re sometimes the most miserable,” said certified financial planner Matthew Blocki, founder of Equilibrium Wealth Advisors in Pittsburgh.
By taking “a ‘money temperature’ — if you utilize it correctly as a tool — you can reach the balance between living a good life today, securing the future and not having decision fatigue and not having regrets when you look back,” he said.
Use ‘reverse budgeting’ to focus on savings
Vithun Khamsong | Moment | Getty Images
Review your expenses, but don’t account for every dime yet. Instead, experts say, ask yourself: What needs to be done to achieve your short-term goals, as well as long-term financial security?
Earmark money for your savings goals first, then figure out how much you can afford to spend on necessary expenses and, last, how much you may have left over for “fun money.” By getting into the habit of paying yourself first — what’s known as “reverse budgeting” — you build a budget based on your savings goals rather than your spending and expenses.
Create separate accounts for different goals
Choose the appropriate account for each savings goal.
Aim for an emergency fund that can cover at least three to six months of household expenses, financial advisors say. A high-yield savings account can be a smart place for those funds. For your retirement savings, fund your employer-sponsored 401(k) plan and/or an individual retirement account. Open a 529 college savings account to save for education expenses.
Blocki advises clients to maintain two checking accounts: one for fixed expenses and long-term savings, and the other to cover variable costs.
“From that fixed account, we set up autopay for the mortgage and the car payments. We set up auto pulls into the 529 plans for the kids’ college, and the auto pulls into their investment accounts for longer-term goals,” he said. “Then it’s just, it’s on autopilot.”
Periodically increase your savings rate
Starting to save and invest as early as you can — even if you don’t have much to put aside — helps you harness the power of compounding. That means you’re earning a return on your contributions as well as on interest or gains you’ve already earned.
Planning for a recurring increase in your savings rate can be helpful. Fidelity recommends raising your savings rate in 401(k) and workplace retirement accounts each year, even if by just 1 percentage point.
Do that with college and investment accounts as well, financial advisors say. Small increases can make a boost in savings more attainable and help you feel the pinch far less, so you stay on track.
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