Let’s face it: life seems to be a competition between a string of urgent financial needs and inadequate funds.

When there never seems to be enough cash, savings naturally take a back seat. This resigned state might seem fine on the surface but is quite precarious. Lack of saving means you do not have a safety net for emergency expenses.

Sure, you can get an instant loan with no refusal from time to time, but you should still work towards having a significant savings kitty.

Here are four tips to help you save some cash each month.

1. Crunch the Numbers

At the heart of savings lies a budget. Your budget creates a roadmap that shows you what money is there, where it goes and any surplus. It also highlights areas where you can cut costs.

Create a budget with all your expenses versus total income. The difference is your surplus income. From this, find a suitable amount you can comfortably save.

If you are spending more than you earn, you need to look at your lifestyle critically and make significant changes to get back on track.

2. Open a Savings Account

Having all your money in your current account makes it accessible for day-to-day use. This does not support your savings plan.

Instead, open a separate savings account where you can deposit as often as you please, but with withdrawal restrictions.  What this means is that this cash is not to be used for running expenses or luxuries.

The goal is to have at least three months of your living expenses saved up.

3. Have a check-Off System

Once you have determined your surplus income and amount you can save comfortably every month, consider instituting a check off system

With this, you instruct your bank to send a specific amount of your salary to your savings account immediately after your salary comes in. This is useful as it ensures that the amount is not available for your use. Often, people have every intention of saving but find themselves overspending and therefore not saving.

If this amount is separated immediately, you are compelled to stick to your budget.

4. Identify Ways to Free Up More Cash

It helps to think through your spending and identify possible areas you can make budget cuts.

Simple changes like eating at home instead of dining out can help you save tens or hundreds of dollars every month. This is not more spending money; add it to your savings kitty.

Keep at It

It takes time to adopt a new habit fully. Once you get on a savings plan, keep at it, no matter how difficult it gets.

With time and with a growing bank balance, saving will become second nature.