Your Guide to Saving Money

Follow these six straightforward steps to achieve a lifetime of financial goals, from paying off credit cards to retiring to Florida (or the carefree paradise of your choice).

How to Get Started

Does this sound familiar? You, wide awake at 2 a.m.: I’ll never save enough to send the kids to college. At 3:45: Or to pay off the house. At 5:15: And, good grief, what about retirement?! I’ll have to eat cat food! Whether you’ve saved a lot or saved zip, money worries don’t have to keep you up at night—just follow this easy strategy, which tells you what to save for first and second (and why). If you’re a novice, start at the beginning. But if you’ve already put money aside, then you’ve probably knocked off a step or two here, so start reading at the point that applies to you.