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Some Americans may think saving $1,000 in just a matter of months is out of reach, but personal finance expert Jade Warshaw says they may be making it harder than it needs to be.
The co-host of “The Ramsey Show” told FOX Business that many Americans can stash away $1,000 in as little as 30 days — but only if they’re willing to make temporary sacrifices and take what she calls a “scorched earth” approach to their finances.
“It’s more realistic than people think,” Warshaw said.
“Most people are able to do it in 30 days,” she added, referring to Ramsey Solutions’ first “Baby Step,” which calls for saving $1,000 before moving on to paying off debt, building a larger emergency fund and investing for retirement.
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Just 47% of Americans say they have enough cash or accessible funds to cover a $1,000 emergency expense, according to a Bankrate survey.
The strategy starts with building a budget, according to Warshaw.
“If you don’t have a budget, it’s not going to work,” she said.
From there, Warshaw then recommends attacking the problem from both sides by both spending less and bringing in more.
That could mean taking on overtime work, driving for a rideshare company, tutoring or selling unused belongings while simultaneously trimming recurring expenses like subscriptions, restaurant meals and transportation costs.
Warshaw said food is one of the easiest places for Americans to find quick savings.
Restaurant meals, takeout and delivery can quietly eat up hundreds of dollars a month. Bringing lunch from home, for example, can help cut the cost dramatically.
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“For the average person, they could spend anywhere between $12 to $15 going out for lunch, but making that same lunch at home, you could save half and only spend $5 or $6,” Warshaw said.
With the holiday shopping season approaching, Warshaw said Americans don’t necessarily have to cancel Christmas or abandon family traditions to hit a savings goal.
Instead, consumers should decide whether it’s more realistic to temporarily cut spending or increase their income.
“If a family says, ‘I’d like to save $1,000 in the month of December,’ well, it’s going to be tough because you’ve got Christmas going on,” she said.
Rather than skipping holiday traditions, she suggested finding ways to earn extra cash through temporary side gigs rather than trying to eliminate every holiday expense.
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Warshaw also noted that some Americans receive large tax refunds because too much money is withheld from their paychecks. Adjusting a W-4 could put more money in workers’ pockets during the year rather than leaving them waiting for a refund.
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For Americans trying to get out of debt, Warshaw also said it may make sense to temporarily pause retirement contributions while building the initial $1,000 emergency fund and paying off high-interest consumer debt.
“The first thing that you want to do is get $1,000 saved,” she said. “The next thing that you want to do is pay off your consumer debt.”
