We can teach our kids to save—and maybe start a new habit for ourselves—during Credit Union Youth Month.
The Science of Saving
Saving your money isn’t always easy, especially when you don’t have a lot to spare. After paying all your usual expenses, there may be very little “fun” money at the end of the month. When we do find ourselves with some extra cash, like a tax refund, many of us rush out to buy those shoes or that electronic gadget we’ve had our eye on for months instead of putting it into our savings. It’s tough to save!
Why do we do that? Why do we spend the money we planned on using for our future?
We can blame it on our brains. Behavioral science has shown that humans are hard-wired to act on impulse and that it takes conscious thought to delay gratification. It’s also much easier to focus on the present than our future.
Focus on your future self to spark savings urge
To help you save for your future, behavioral science suggests visualizing yourself as you might look when you’re older. For instance, if you want to save for retirement, imagine yourself at age 67, living comfortably, maybe travelling the country, or having the time and the means to do something you’ve always wanted to do.
According to a study done in 2014, this technique works. The researchers took photos of 50 college students and digitally altered each person’s photo to make them look 70 years old. The participants were instructed to study the photos. Then they were told to imagine receiving $1,000 and were asked how they’d like to use the money: buy something now for a special person or for an extravagant night out, or put that money into a retirement fund. After seeing a photo of themselves at 70 years old, the majority allocated more of the money to their retirement fund than to the other options.
Replace bad habits with good ones
Another way to help you save for your future is by making it a habit. Start with small goals. For instance, commit to putting a certain amount, say $10, into a savings account every week. If you have direct deposit, you might want to consider setting up an automatic transfer of $10 into your savings account every time your paycheck is deposited. Over time, you can gradually increase the amount by a dollar or two.
Teach your kids to save
Okay, so we’re not perfect. But we can help our kids to do better, and start them off with some healthy financial habits. To help your children get into the savings routine, start by having them cut out pictures of something they’d like to have someday and post the images where they’ll see them often. Then help them open a savings account if they haven’t already.
At Mid Oregon, your child can open account with as little as $5—and we’ll waive the membership fee for kids 17 and under. Encourage your child to make regular small deposits each week or month. Tell them their money will earn interest while it’s in their account. If they keep this routine going, they’ll quickly see their savings grow. You can even use our savings calculator to help them see how fast their savings will grow!
This April, we’re celebrating Credit Union Youth Month. When you open a Mid Oregon savings account for your child or grandchild, they’ll receive a free Moonjar® moneybox to help them manage their money. The Moonjar moneybox is a three-piece savings bank that encourages children to plan how they Spend, Share and Save. The Moonjars are available while supplies last, so stop by soon and help your kiddo learn the science of saving!
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