Don’t Make These Mistakes With Your Savings!
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Saving money is the number one money tip that everyone advocates and for good reasons too. It is the most basic money management step that keeps you prepared for the most unexpected scenarios. Whether it’s your car breaking down, or you needing to make an emergency trip, having savings gives you the peace of mind to tackle most unforeseen circumstances you find yourself in.
However, saving is just one part of the equation. Instead of seeing it as just a lump sum of money you already have in your savings account, there are many ways to make the best out of your savings and keep it from losing the potential value it can give you.
To make sure that you stretch your savings a little more and give you more value, here are five mistakes you need to avoid when it comes to your savings.
Mistake #1. Not knowing how much to save monthly
If you are saving for your emergency fund, the general rule of thumb is to save up at least three months of your monthly income, or six months monthly expenses.
For example, if your monthly income is RM3,000, you may look at saving about RM9,000 as your emergency fund. You can then start by putting 10% of your monthly income into your savings account.
| Monthly income | RM3,000 |
| Target emergency fund | RM3,000 x 3 = RM9,000 |
| Monthly savings (10%) | RM300 |
| Duration of savings | 2 years 6 months |
The bigger your savings is, the more benefits you can avail from the bank (more on this below)!
Mistake #2. Not putting your savings in a better interest-bearing account
Compounding interest makes the world go round – well, almost. Without interest, our savings risk depleting its value over time. With the inflation rate in Malaysia at 2.1% in 2016, the money you saved will lose its value at 2.1% every year (assuming the average annual inflation rate at 2.1%).
So, how can you safeguard your hard-earned money from the ghastly inflation? By putting your contingency savings in an account that offer liquidity and high interest rate.
Take advantage of this feature from savings or current accounts offered by the banks to boost your savings. For example; Maybank2u.Premier Account, which can be opened via Maybank2u or Maybank2u app, offers attractive interest rates without any restrictions on liquidity.
| Savings Band | Effective Interest rate |
|---|---|
| Up to RM5,000 | 0.30% per annum |
| Up to RM10,000 | 0.40% per annum |
| Up to RM25,000 | 0.55% per annum |
| Up to RM50,000 | 0.70% per annum |
| Up to RM100,000 | 1.00% per annum |
| Up to RM200,000 | 1.36% per annum |
| Up to RM500,000 | 1.46% per annum |
| Above RM500,000 | 1.61% per annum |
In a multi-tiered interest account like this, you don’t only protect your savings from being eroded by inflation, you are also keeping yourself motivated to increase that balance in your account!
Mistake #3: Not using auto-billing
You may think paying your bills isn’t part of saving, but making smart payments can save you money in many ways. Making payments have become increasingly easy with online banking, and you can even choose the option of making recurring transactions.
All these features help you to keep track of your payments so you won’t fall further into debt. Late payments don’t just incur higher interest cost, it also affects your credit health, which will impact your credit application in the future.
Most of these auto-billing transactions can be done completely free of charge. However, some banks or service providers do charge a fee between RM0.35 and RM1.06. Take note of these and consider if the extra fee will help you save in other ways.
For example, the cost of paying your bills manually could possibly be higher:
Based on this, it’s obvious that you would be saving more by paying the RM1.06 from the comfort of your home or office so look into opting for auto-billing if it saves you more time and hassle.
Mistake #4: Not consolidating your funds in one account
Did you know that certain savings and current accounts have a yearly service charge? Some are service charges for using the ATM while others charge you every six months or half a year if your account is below a certain balance.
Some accounts waive this fee if you have an average balance of RM1,000 within six (6) months). So save yourself RM21.20 every year by consolidating your savings into one account.
Not only can you save on service fees, having a bigger balance in one account also opens up other forms of benefits, such as a better interest rate (Refer to point #2 above).
To encourage people to save more, Maybank’s Savings Carnival also rewards depositors who have incremental monthly ADB with a chance to get additional 3% p.a. interest/profit!
Here’s a tip – if you grow your balance in Maybank2u.Premier Account, you can get up to 12X entries in Maybank’s Savings Carnival Campaign!
| Monthly Average Daily Balance (ADB) Growth | Maybank2u.Premier Account | Islamic Accounts | Conventional Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| RM6,000 & above | 12X Entries | 9X Entries | 6X Entries |
| RM600 to less than RM6,000 | 6X Entries | 3X Entries | 1X Entry |
The more entries you have for the carnival, the higher chance you’ll be one of the 20,000 winners and get up to 4.25% p.a.* in interest!
*Applies to Golden Savers Savings Account only
Mistake #5: Procrastinating
A lot of these changes require some amount of effort on your side. From making comparisons to which is the best account for you, to setting up auto-bill and opening a new account, all of which will require you to make changes that may make you uncomfortable. As everyone is usually busy with life and work, it’s easy to put fixing your finances as a lower priority.
However, with technology, a lot of money management effort can be reduced by going online. You can now sign up for a Maybank2u.Premier account!
Don’t miss out on making the best out of your savings, and growing your funds to keep you well prepared for the future.
Boost your chances of growing your funds
Although most Maybank deposit products stand a chance to win the additional 3% p.a. interest/profit via the Savings Carnival Campaign, the Maybank2u.Premier gives you the highest chance of winning!
All you need to do is apply for a Maybank2u.Premier account, and you’ll also be entitled for a 5% of interest on interest for accounts with monthly average daily balance of RM5,000 and above. Here’s an example:
| Interest Received | RM150 |
| Interest on Interest Rate | 5% |
| Interest on Interest Received | RM7.50 |
| Total Interest | RM157.59 |
So you get additional money on top of your current interest, giving you more savings and benefits in the long run. The best part is that the application process for the Maybank2u.Premier account is simple and can be done online, keeping it convenient and fuss free.
