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Saving habits

Three digital habits to help you save

Savings tips inspired by the good old days of cash, adapted to suit a digital and cashless world.

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Start small to build new habits

We’re creatures of habit, us humans. These habits can be good or bad, and for a lot of us, hard to change. 

That said, being open to new ways of doing things could lead to better outcomes. This includes our approach to money and how we save. Even small, regular savings habits can make a big difference over time. Especially if you’re up for swapping some traditional ways to save for these digital methods. 

Tip 1. The $5 savings hack

A trick of cash aficionados is to save every $5 note they get. It’s a small enough amount for you not to notice at the time, but all those fivers can add up. 

You can take inspiration in a more digital world by:

  • Rounding up your online spending and popping the change in your savings account
  • Matching every purchase below $5 with a deposit into your savings account. 

If you do find yourself with an actual $5 note, you can deposit it into your ANZ account at any ANZ Smart ATM.

ATMs and Smart ATMs

Tip 2. Spending allowance

It’s easier to stick to a spending goal when your budget is the cash in your pocket. Once you run out of physical dollars, that’s your shopping done. So, if you feel prone to over-spending, or tend to lose track of your goals when paying with your card, consider a weekly date with a spreadsheet to help you rein things in. 

Another trick is to add notifications in your banking app, e.g. ANZ goMoney—. You’ll get an alert when your balance goes below a certain level, so you can be sure you’re not eating into your planned savings.

Tip 3. Keep track

One of the benefits of cashless digital banking is you can check your balances and access statements anywhere, anytime. It makes it a lot easier to see what’s going in and what’s coming out, which can help keep your savings on course. 

If you have your KiwiSaver savings or an investment fund with us, you can check how it’s tracking in our digital banking tools too. 

Jump on board the digital train (if you haven’t already). Your savings will thank you for adopting good online money habits. 

Steps to financial wellbeing

Our financial wellbeing programme can help. Try one step or two, or work through the programme's six steps in any order.

Set a savings goal

Start with microsavings – putting aside a bit of money each payday – and build up to a goal.

Set a savings goal

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Important information

This material is for information purposes only. Please talk to us if you need financial advice about your situation and goals or about our products and services. See our financial advice provider disclosure (PDF 39.9KB).

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