How to make saving money fun

We all know that we’re supposed to save money for emergencies and for the future in general, and to make big purchases without credit cards. So sometimes saving money doesn’t usually feel fun or glamorous. It’s time to flip that thinking. Here are five ways to make saving money fun, empowering, and, yes, even a little glamorous.

You’ve probably heard the stock advice to “pay yourself first,” that is, have money automatically tucked into a savings account before you ever see it. That’s good advice, but not tracking your progress might make it hard to enjoy the process of saving. Sure, there’s always a fun notebook and pen. But free budgeting apps can make saving money fun. (Search “free budgeting app” to see some of them at work.) 

These apps can help you set up an automatic savings plan or even round up your purchases and put the difference into savings. Or, you can use them to move money into a savings account automatically, or manually. Your choice. Even if you don't have much to save right now—maybe it’s just $30 a week—that's great.

A lot of general savings advice suggests you save for a trip or some other big purchase. But the truth is, you can save whenever you feel like it. Try picking an arbitrary dollar goal. For example, if your birthday is on the 28th day of the month, set aside that amount each month. If your favorite number is 14, transfer $14 every time you see that figure—say, 1:14 in the afternoon. You may find that moving money into savings feels a lot more rewarding than spending it on a latte.

Some of the value of saving money is security and being able to have resiliency when unexpected things happen. You don’t plan to drop your phone in a sink full of water, for example. But having savings can almost feel like a get-out-of-trouble card. The more you put aside, the more security you might feel. That’s very satisfying. Even a small amount of money can have this effect—especially when you’re moving from $0 to just building your savings. Think of saving as a way to truly be able to save money and reduce your day-to-day financial stress.

Are you a reasonably organized person with a bit of shelf space? Do you find yourself eating the same cereal (or other non-perishables) again and again? If so, consider buying in bulk, or stocking up when those items are on sale. (Plus, if you always have breakfast on hand, you’ll be better able to resist the urge to eat that meal out.) Keep an eye on items you need (olive oil, and it lasts for two years) and items that keep you from spending elsewhere (coffee, we’re looking at you). One hint about whether you’re getting a good deal or not: Many grocery stores and big-box chains list the per serving/ounce/pound price, so you can compare if a deal is really a deal. If you’re really organized, keep a note to yourself on your phone of items you have to have and regular pricing at your neighborhood grocery store. (Yes, you can make saving fun and set up a cool challenge for yourself as a motivator, too.) The goal here is to set up your future self with things you know you’re going to need. 

A version of this article originally appeared on HerMoney.