Building A Strong Foundation

Welcome to America Saves Week! This week is all about encouraging individuals to do a financial check-in that allows them to get a clear view of their finances, set savings goals, and create a plan to achieve them. On Day One, we’re focusing on building a strong foundation. Every financial story starts somewhere. Maybe yours began with a paycheck, a big goal, or a simple dream for something better. No matter where you are in your story, a strong financial foundation helps you build confidence—and stability—for whatever comes next. One of the easiest ways to build your foundation is by saving automatically. Set it and forget it! Even $5 or $10 a week adds up faster than you think.

Download Financial Check-in Checklist

Strong Starts: How a Solid Financial Foundation Shapes Your Story

Every great story begins with a strong foundation, and your financial story is no different. Whether you’re saving for your first home, building an emergency fund, or simply trying to stress less about money, the habits you create today will support the chapters that follow.

As we kick off America Saves Week 2026, we’re focusing on Building a Strong Foundation, because lasting financial confidence starts with the basics: planning, budgeting, saving, and developing habits you can rely on.

Start with a Plan

A strong financial foundation begins with knowing where you are and where you want to go. That means taking time to understand your income, track your spending, and aligning your money decisions with your goals and values.

Getting a Clear View of Your Finances

Too often, we make financial decisions without knowing the full picture of our income and expenses. This can lead to overspending, missed opportunities to save, and stress when unexpected expenses arise

When it comes to saving for what matters most, clarity is key. Whether your goal is to build an emergency fund, pay down debt, or save for a major milestone, having a clear view of your finances is the first step to success. That’s why America Saves created the Spending and Saving Plan Tool, a simple and effective way to understand where your money is going and how you can redirect it toward what truly matters to you.

54 Ways to Save Money

You’ve just taken the America Saves Pledge, or perhaps you simply need some inspiration for ways to save your money -- either way, we’re glad you’re here. Buckle up! It’s about to get REAL around here as we share 54 ideas to save some dinero. Let’s dive in by first establishing some general savings ideas to get you #ThinkingLikeASaver

General Savings Tips

1. An emergency fund is a must. Chances are you’ve already been told that you need an emergency fund somewhere in the ballpark of three to six months of your income. Yikes! Overwhelming, right? At America Saves, our motto is ‘Start Small. Think Big.’ In keeping with that, we recommend starting with an emergency fund savings goal of just $500.

Saving Automatically

Saving through automatic deposits or transfers is the most effective way to save and helps make it easy by allowing you to choose what and when you’ll save.

You’ve decided it’s time to start taking positive steps toward saving and working to turn some of your dreams into reality! Putting money aside is not always an easy task when there are bills to pay. The good news is that saving can be possible and made easy with regular contributions – no matter the amount you may have to set aside.

Regularly contributing to a savings account is the best way to work toward your future goals...….and the best way to make regular contributions is through saving automatically.

It’s our favorite way to save!

6 Steps To Establishing A Spending & Savings Plan

Using the Spending and Saving Tool from America Saves is a great way to get a clear picture of your household’s finances. Simple, yet highly effective and enlightening are some of the comments we’ve heard from savers who have already used this tool.

To create a plan to reach personal financial goals that will reflect your values and allow you to live in a comfortable manner, you want to understand what you’re currently spending your money on, what you can realistically afford to spend, and how these align with your priorities.