Here are some tips to conquer saving for a down payment:
Find out where your money goes. You canʼt start saving if you donʼt know where youʼre spending. For a month or two, track each expenditure, no matter how small. Get an objective picture of where youʼre spending the cash.
Get specific about how much you need to save. Even if youʼre not 100% sure what your down payment needs to be yet, itʼs good to start doing a little math to figure out how much you need to save. Pick a dollar amount and a timeline to hit that dollar amount. For example, a $25,000 down payment in two years comes to $1,041/month. Sound unrealistic? Either scale down your home desires to something smaller or scale up your timeline. If you can wait three years, that monthly savings goal drops to $694/month.
Determine the big moves you can make. If youʼre in a three bedroom apartment and can stomach the idea of scaling down to a one bedroom, how much would you save in rent? What about going from two cars down to one? If you can make it work, these sacrifices will have a huge impact on your savings goals.
Setup a separate savings account. Donʼt let your dream home money mingle with your regular checking or savings account. Establish a high-yield savings account with a credit union or money market account to protect and build your stash. Itʼs important to have a separate account with a “hands off” attitude.
Mind the risky investment schemes. Once you have a little momentum, you might be tempted to take some of that cash and invest it in order to make it grow faster. Be very prudent about this, as investing in stocks, startups, or high-yield funds can easily decimate your savings. Be conservative.
Of course, itʼs important to know how much home you want to buy when youʼre saving up for your down payment. We’re happy to give you an idea what homes are selling for in your area. Feel free to get in touch any time if you have questions! And when you’re ready to move, don’t forget these 9 Must-Have Apps to Simplify Your Move.
