The Importance of Saving for an Emergency

Most Ohioans are actively saving for emergency expenses but many still are struggling financially and can’t pay for an unexpected expense.

The 2020 Prosperity Now Scorecard found 68.4 percent of Ohio households have savings accounts, the Ohio Credit Union League reports.

“That’s a great majority – and about on par with national trends,” said Mike Losneck, CEO of Eaton Family Credit Union. “But just having a savings account doesn’t necessarily guarantee individuals are adequately setting aside enough money for an emergency.”

Prosperity Now found 71 percent of US households have a savings account.

The Credit Union League reports Americans who lack emergency savings – or enough money to get through a major financial shock – increased from 36.8 percent in 2018 to 40 percent in 2019. Ohio fared slightly better where 59.2 percent of households kept emergency savings in the past year.

According to two recent studies, some Americans, including Ohioans, are not on track toward building a healthy savings account for the future.

A study from Bankrate.com found 21 percent of Americans have no set savings plan meaning they don’t regularly put money from each paycheck into savings and nearly a quarter of respondents to an America Saves pledge chose “emergency savings” as their first wealth-building goal.

“There’s no time like the present to start putting money aside for your financial future,” Losneck said. “Credit unions are here to improve our Members’ lives and can be a great partner to help you save for the future.”

The Ohio Credit Union League offered these tips for building solid saving habits:

1. If you’re a beginner, start small. Even if you start by saving a small amount, focus on the fact that you’re saving something. Celebrate the $5 you stash away each week. It will add up to $260 by the end of the year. As long as you continue to build, you’ll establish the habit of saving and build a strong foundation for the future.
2. Set up automatic transfers. Schedule monthly or even weekly transfers from your checking account to your savings account. Better yet, divide your paycheck between your accounts so that the allotted amount goes straight to savings. You’ll save without thinking, plus it’s harder to miss what was never there in the first place!
3. Evaluate your purchases. Keep your goals in mind when making a purchase. Does that new pair of shoes line up with the dream vacation you’ve been saving for? The home renovation? Keeping tabs on each purchase you will help put your saving goals into perspective and pump the brakes on impulse spending.
4. Budget for your savings. Keep track of your expenses by figuring out how much you think you’ll spend each month versus how much you actually spend. The difference should go into your savings account. Or, you can work backward: start with your salary and take out your expenses. Direct whatever is left to your savings account.
5. Try an anti-budget. If the word “budget” sounds a lot like the word “diet” to you, try another method for saving smart. Pull your savings off the top of each paycheck, then spend the rest. You will only need to know how much you can afford to save each month (a good rule of thumb is 10% of your income), then you can automatically transfer that amount to savings and live off what’s left.
6. Set realistic goals. If your new saving habits are too strict, you’re less likely to stick with them. Don’t undo all your hard work! Create small rewards for yourself along the way like a nice dinner when your savings account hits a certain amount. Saving money does not have to be a miserable experience.
7. Participate in your company’s 401k retirement savings fund, if offered. Savings grow faster because it’s not taxed until it’s used later. Often, the company contributes to the fund as well. Keep in mind these are long-term savings and could be more costly if used in the short-term.