Overcome the hurdles of saving and transform your life

Saving money doesn’t seem to be a habit that many of us have naturally. As I wrote in my previous post (saving can transform your life), if you make savings a habit, you will be able to achieve your goals, no matter how small your income is.

Overcoming the hurdles of saving means having fewer worries about money and more money available to enjoy life. That’s why I say savings gave me financial freedom. A few years ago, I had a tendency to spend with no plans for the future.If I had money, I spent it and, if I didn’t have money, I just thought about what I had spent... but it was too late.

But all that changed when I decided to create a plan by setting goals, budgeting for my expenses and deciding to reduce my unnecessary expenses. This helped me save money for what I planned.If you have the same habits as my old spending habits, then I have the opportunity to guide you towards overcoming the obstacles you have when trying to save money.

Let me help you get motivated to take control of your finances and reduce money stress:

1.    Identify weakness

The one thing that I realized was pulling me away from saving were the people I surrounded myself with. When I went out with friends, I ended up spending a lot. Spending time with people who are in the same negative place that you’ve been and are using the same excuses for being there can hold you back. Identifying your weak point and surrounding yourself with others who value savings will help you to get more serious about saving for your future.

2.    Think positive

Your mindset is what will help fix your finances and keep you motivated to change. Rather than worrying that you have too much debt, imagine how much better your life would be with less. Then make a plan. I’ve found this to be a useful motto: "Each month, I will spend less and save enough to pay my debt”.

3.    Start small

Small steps are key. A small plan will keep you more motivated than taking huge steps that you may abandon in a few weeks or months. Create a savings plan, which you will be able to follow through each and every month.

This article is the second in a series of sponsored posts for the Barclays Savings Challenge. You can follow the discussion on Twitter and Facebook and share your own experience by using the hashtag #AfricaSaves.Visit the Barclays website for more information about their savings account.