January is a good month to look at our bank accounts with fresh eyes.

It’s also a great time to take control of our finances by starting a savings plan that feels doable.

Being good with money is not a personality type. It is a set of habits based on a simple plan that makes saving easier than spending.

Goals

Many people struggle to save because the goal is unclear.

‘Save more’ sounds sensible but it doesn’t help on a random Tuesday when you’re tired and tempted to get a takeaway.

A savings goal gives your money a job.

Pick one thing that would genuinely improve your year, whether that’s an emergency fund, clearing expensive debt, a deposit or a holiday.

Then make it specific.

‘Save £1,200 by December’ is more useful than ‘save more’ because you can translate it into a routine and save £100 a month.

Priorities

If you only save what’s left over, life will usually spend it for you.

Change all that by saving first.

Set an automatic transfer (for even a small sum) for the day after payday and treat it like a bill.

Consistency matters more than the amount because consistency is what turns saving into a habit rather than a decision you must keep making.

If your bank offers pots or sub-accounts, use them; one for emergencies, one for holidays, one for Christmas.

When money is separated, you’re less likely to spend it by accident.

And when you get a pay rise or finish paying off a loan, divert a portion of this newly found cash into savings before lifestyle inflation quietly absorbs it.

Habits

Saving is about routines you can stick to when you are busy.

  • Do a weekly check-in: ten minutes to scan balances, upcoming bills and where your spending went. This will fend off nasty surprises.
  • Use the 24-hour rule: for non-essentials, wait a day. Many impulse buys fade with time.
  • Have a default plan for extra money: refunds and cashback disappear quickly if you don’t decide what they’re for. Try a simple rule, such as saving 50%.

Separation

If your savings are just one tap away, they can become spare spending money.

Consider keeping your emergency fund separate from your day-to-day account, so accessing it feels deliberate.

Small changes help too. Remove saved card details from shopping sites, unsubscribe from marketing emails and turn off app notifications that push ‘limited time’ deals.

Sustainability

If saving feels like punishment, you won’t keep doing it.

Start by cutting ‘silent spending’ such as unused subscriptions and recurring charges you forgot about.

Then look at bigger categories, including food, transport and household bills, where small tweaks can create real breathing space.

Finally, celebrate your milestones. Break goals into stages (first £250, then £500, then £1,000) so progress feels real.

If you slip up, restart quickly.

Top tip

Why not start your savings journey today by setting up an automatic transfer for the day after payday?

ENDS