Savvy Gets Savvier about Spending

Financial change means different things to different people. For one, it may be sticking to a budget for the first time in eons; for another, it could be meeting savings objectives for a palpable goal. Whatever the reason, users all over the United States are experiencing change thanks to Change. In this series, you’ll get a glimpse of the ways Change has made an impact on the way others think about, and handle, money in their everyday lives.

Meet Savvy Seals from Eaton, OH. As her name suggests, she has had to be savvy about the ways she spends, saves and earns her money. As a self-employed woman, she likely encountered every kind of money stress you can imagine: Insufficient income, unpaid labor, ongoing competition, and footing the bill for typically employer-provided services such as healthcare and retirement savings. That said, being self-employed also affords her perks like greater control over her revenue stream, and the independence to do things such as travel (good luck with your goal of visiting every national park!). If anyone knows the positive impact of being on top of your finances, it’s Savvy — but we’ll let her tell you in her own words.

Which message do you remember the most?

“I got a message telling me how much I had withdrew into a savings account for the previous month, and it was more than I realized!”

Why was it interesting to you?

“It was really encouraging to me because I had saved even more that I realized.”

Do you feel a change in your spending behavior?

“Yes. Being reminded of where I am spending my money has encouraged me to spend it wisely.”

Do you feel more aware of your financial status?

“Yes. It has been very helpful to have frequent reminders of where my money is going.”

What is your toughest financial challenge at the moment?

“Saving money to put in investments.”

If you could save money with us, what would you save for?

“Investing in index funds.”

Naturally, only someone as savvy as Savvy (last pun, promise) would plan to invest in index funds, known for their relatively low risk exposure, low turnover and low expenses. It sounds like she’s doing great saving on her own, but we’d like to suggest that those in Savvy’s situation switch on Auto-Saving — even if just to see how much extra they could be saving, on top of what they’re putting aside, without giving it any more thought. If only all savings accounts filled themselves this effortlessly…

Originally published at gochange.co on March 26, 2017.