Saving money seems a simple concept; however, the truth is it’s difficult to set money aside, especially when monthly bills start rolling around. Creating a budget and sticking to it is not easy. It gets worse when an emergency happens and all your hard-saved funds immediately get depleted.

It’s important to look for strategies to utilize and make it easy to set aside a few dollars here and there and build that savings up. The easier you make it the more likely it’ll become a long term habit for you.

This week is America Saves Week, a campaign dedicated to creating awareness around the importance of a savings account and the ways to build it as easily as possible.

Here at Astra Bank, we believe we are in a unique position to help you achieve your savings goals. Our mission is to turn dollars into fulfilled dreams. Your dream is as unique as you are, and a strong foundation of a savings account helps that dream flourish.

Here are some ways that Astra Bank can help you along.

Use Card Valet to Control Spending

Do you wish you had more control over your personal or your family’s debit card usage? It’s hard to keep to a budget when you have different cards for different purposes in your possession.

Card Valet is a useful tool to take control of your spending. One of the amazing features of this app is the ability to set spending limits for a specific Astra Bank debit card by:

• Type of merchant allowed
• Location
• Dollar Amount

This means if someone in your family needs to use a card for the day you can make sure it’s being used for the right purpose, eliminating any budget breaking mishaps.

Card Valet also helps protect your account if your debit card is compromised. Set the app to alert you whenever a transaction limit is reached. Get notified whenever the card is denied, letting you know someone may be trying to use it. Finally, you can turn your card on and off, just in case you misplace it.

All of these are ways that Card Valet helps you be more active with your debit card and make sure it’s being used for the right thing at the right time.

Mobile Banking Creating Account Awareness

In today’s fast paced, card-swiping world it’s difficult to keep track of spending habits. Checks are becoming less used as other technologies take over. In fact, according to an article from NPR.org, check usage has declined by more than 50 percent from 2000 to 2012.

Mobile banking through Astra Bank gives you access to your account balances and transaction history anytime and anywhere, keeping you on top of your spending and on budget.

Do you have extra funds you want to put to savings? Do it instantly from your smartphone. Simply make a transfer and be done.

Mobile banking can also alert you through text if your account falls below a certain amount, avoiding any possible troubles caused by a low balance.

Becoming more aware of your account activity through Mobile Banking gives you power to make positive changes to your savings.

Set Up Auto Transfers to Savings

One of the easiest ways to save is to make Astra Bank do it for you! With an automatic transfer from checking to savings, make sure your savings is growing without having to do any work.

Automating the growth of your savings account helps relieve the stress of constantly doing the work yourself. Set it up with any amount you desire. Whether it’s putting aside a little bit, or making large transfers to stick to budget, an automatic transfer makes the process more efficient.

These can either be set up in branch or through our online banking. Contact your local branch or use our Contact Page to get started on setting one up!

Get Rid of Monthly Maintenance Fees

Monthly maintenance fees have been around for a while and continue to frustrate consumers. According to an analysis from MyBankTracker.com, the average monthly fee for a basic checking account at the largest U.S. banks was $9.60 per month. Another analysis from NerdWallet.com shows that the average American pays roughly $13,941 in checking account fees over the course of their lifetime!

The cumulative cost of those fees adds up over time, taking money away from important things you’d rather be purchasing, or taking away your chance to save up for an emergency.

The Simply FREE Checking account from Astra Bank has no monthly maintenance fee and requires no minimum balance that you must maintain. Other fees such as NSF, overdraft, sustained overdraft fees, etc. may apply, so be sure to Contact Us for any additional information and restrictions.

Being FREE does not stop you from enjoying all of the benefits and services you need, though. With free checks, a debit card, and access to online and mobile banking, you have all the essentials. Click here to learn more about our Simply FREE Checking and our other accounts as well.

Small Steps Create Lasting Change

When you don’t have much wiggle room in your budget you have to work with the small stuff first in order to get started. Eliminating those small annoying fees and unwanted charges helps create space for you to build up that savings account and enjoy some piece of mind knowing that if an emergency happened you would be prepared.

Astra Bank wants to help you and we believe that with our tools at your disposal you can take control of your spending, become more aware of your spending habits, make saving easier and more efficient, and get rid of small fees that add up over time. Working together with Astra Bank will help you see your dream fulfilled no matter what it may be.

Learn more about our resources and how they may help you by clicking here.