While saving $10,000 in a year may sound like an ambitious goal, it’s often feasible through careful planning and disciplined spending — even if you’re not a high earner.
Whether you’re saving for an emergency fund, a down payment on a home, or just building financial security, these practical tips can help you put aside $10,000 in 12 months (and possibly even sooner).
Key Points
• A successful savings plan typically begins with determining the difference between how much money you need and have available to save each month.
• Saving $10,000 in 12 months may require eliminating unnecessary expenses and reducing necessary ones.
• Sometimes it’s possible for savers to boost income through side hustles, selling unused items, or asking for a raise.
• Automating savings through recurring transfers and taking advantage of high-yield savings accounts can help you steadily increase funds.
• Individuals can take advantage of windfalls like tax refunds or bonuses to boost savings.
Is Saving $10,000 a Year Possible?
Saving $10,000 in a year is generally possible if you have steady earnings. How challenging it will be, however, will depend on your income and monthly expenses. To reach this goal, you need to save approximately $833 per month or about $192 per week. While that may still seem like a lot, there are numerous ways to adjust your spending, increase your income, and build savings over time without drastically affecting your lifestyle.
8 Ways to Save $10k in a Year
There are many practical ways to start saving money, but to reach the $10,000 mark, you’ll likely need to adopt several strategies simultaneously. Here are eight effective methods to help you reach your goal.
1. Assess Your Cash Flow
To come up with a plan to save $10,000 in a year, you’ll need to assess how much money is currently flowing in and out of your bank account each month. To do this, you’ll need to gather the last several months of bank statements, then tally up your average monthly income and average monthly spending. Simply subtract the second number from the first.
If you discover that your monthly earnings exceed your monthly spending by at least $833.33, you’re in great shape. Simply transfer that amount to savings each month and you’ll accumulate $10,000 a year.
If you find that there is less — or very little — wiggle room between what’s coming and going out of your account on a monthly basis, you’ll need to make some tweaks in your spending and, if possible, your earnings (in other words, keep reading).
2. Reduce Unnecessary Expenses
One of the quickest ways to boost your savings is by eliminating or reducing unnecessary expenses. These are often small, daily costs that add up over time without you realizing it. Some areas to target:
• Eating out: If you regularly buy lunch or dine out for dinner, consider preparing more meals at home. You can save hundreds of dollars monthly by cutting down on restaurant visits and takeout.
• Subscriptions: Review your monthly subscriptions, such as streaming services, magazines, or gym memberships, and cancel those you rarely or never use.
• Coffee and snacks: A daily coffee shop visit may seem harmless, but it can cost over $100 a month. Consider brewing coffee at home and keeping grab-and-go breakfast items on hand to reduce the temptation to spend.
Any funds you free up can then be redirected towards your $10,000 savings goal.
Recommended: 5 Easy Ways to Save Money
3. Trim Fixed Expenses
While fixed expenses seem like just that — fixed — that’s not always the case. While you may not be able to lower your rent, you may be able to whittle down some of your other recurring monthly bills. Some ideas:
• Shop around for a better deal on your home and auto insurance.
• Look for a cheaper cell phone plan.
• Eliminate your landline.
• Downgrade your television package to a less expensive streaming option.
• Make small tweaks to your home temperature to reduce utility bills.
• Prioritize paying down high-interest credit card debt.
• Consider refinancing your mortgage, auto loan, or student loans if you can qualify for a lower rate.
4. Boost Income
Cutting costs is important, but increasing your income can supercharge your ability to save. By boosting your income, you’ll have more cash flow to funnel into your savings. Here are a few ways to bring in extra cash:
• Start a side hustle: Consider taking on a part-time gig, freelancing, or using a skill like photography, writing, or tutoring to earn extra money.
• Sell items you no longer need. If you have items sitting around your home that you don’t need, you may be able to turn them into cash by posting them online (consider sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace) or hosting a garage sale.
• Ask for a raise: If you’ve been at your job for a while and have demonstrated value, consider negotiating for a raise. Even a small pay bump can add up over the course of a year.
5. Switch to a High-Yield Account
As you divert more money to savings, you’ll want to send it to an account that helps your money grow. As of September 2024, the national average savings account yield was 0.46% annual percentage yield (APY), according to the FDIC. Fortunately, high-yield savings accounts (particularly those offered by online banks) tend to offer far higher APYs, so it’s worth shopping around. While interest alone won’t get you to $10,000, it can give your savings a nice boost over the year.
6. Automate Saving
Having a portion of your paycheck automatically go into savings (a tactic known as “paying yourself first”) is one of the simplest and most effective ways to build savings consistently. One way to do this is by setting up a recurring transfer from your checking account to your savings account for a set amount on the same day each month (ideally right after you get paid). If you get paid via direct deposit, another option is to ask your employer to make a split deposit — with some of each paycheck going directly into savings, and the rest into checking.
Either method ensures that you’re regularly contributing to your savings without having to think about it, making it easier to stay on track.
7. Try a No-Spend Challenge
Once you get going, you might want to challenge yourself to save even more with a no-spend challenge. To do this, you simply commit to not spend money on anything other than essential needs (e.g., groceries, bills) for a set period — typically a week or a month. This can bump up your savings in a short period of time. It can also serve as a spending reset — you may discover you can live on a lot less than you previously thought.
8. Take Advantage of Windfalls
If you receive a lump sum of cash — such as tax refund, work bonus, or cash gift — consider putting all (or some) of it directly into your savings account. By directing windfalls toward savings, you can make substantial progress toward your $10,000 goal.
Benefits of Saving $10,000 a Year
Saving $10,000 in a year comes with numerous benefits. Here are some to keep in mind as you work towards your $10k savings goal.
• Financial security: Having a robust savings cushion protects you from unexpected expenses, such as medical bills or car repairs, reducing the need for credit card debt or loans.
• Peace of mind: Knowing you have a significant amount set aside can reduce stress and anxiety related to money and offer more financial freedom.
• Achieving short-term financial goals: Whether you’re saving for a vacation, new car, or down payment on a home, having $10,000 gives you the flexibility to reach these milestones.
• Opportunities for investment: Once you’ve saved $10,000, you might consider investing a portion of it to grow your wealth further through stocks, real estate, or retirement accounts.
The Takeaway
Saving $10,000 in a year is an ambitious yet, often, attainable goal. Depending on your situation, you may be able to achieve it just by making small, strategic changes to your everyday spending and saving habits. These might include cutting unnecessary expenses, automating your savings, boosting income, earning more interest on your money, and leveraging windfalls.
However you do it, saving $10k in a year can give you a sense of accomplishment and put you in a better position to handle life’s financial challenges and opportunities.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
FAQ
Is saving $10,000 a year good?
Yes, saving $10,000 a year is a solid financial goal. It provides a significant cushion for unexpected expenses and can also help you work towards financial goals, like paying off credit card debt, buying a home, and saving for retirement. Saving $10,000 also offers peace of mind by improving your financial stability and security.
Is $10,000 a lot to save in a year?
For many people, saving $10,000 in a year is a substantial amount. It equates to roughly $833 per month or about $192 per week. For some, that’s a modest target, while for others, it may require budgeting, cutting unnecessary expenses, and potentially increasing income. Regardless of the circumstances, saving this amount can help you meet your short- and long-term financial goals.
How much do you need to earn to be able to save $10K a year?
How much you have to earn to save $10K a year will depend on your expenses. A common rule of thumb is to save at least 10% to 20% of your income. Based on this formula, you’d need to earn $50,000 to $100,000 to comfortably save $10,000. That said, people earning less may still be able to save this amount with disciplined budgeting, cutting unnecessary expenses, and/or finding ways to supplement their regular income.
About the author
Julia Califano
Julia Califano is an award-winning journalist who covers banking, small business, personal loans, student loans, and other money issues for SoFi. She has over 20 years of experience writing about personal finance and lifestyle topics. Read full bio.
Photo credit: iStock/AndreyPopov
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