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14 Long-term planningMeanwhile, if you are happy to lock awayyour money for a fixed amount of time of fiveto 10 years or more, it’s worth looking intoother investment options such as Bondsand other savings plans, into which you caninvest a lump sum or monthly amounts thatwill hopefully accrue some growth over theyears (although this cannot be guaranteed).Create an emergency fundAnother thing to consider, aswell as your own personalsavings goals, is settingaside enough money incase of unexpectedsituations. What wouldhappen if somethingwent wrong and youcouldn’t work formonths, for example,or you receive a largebill that you need topay straight away?Consider puttingsome money away insomething like an ISA,which you can have accessto in case of an emergency.Aim to be debt freeGetting rid of your debt is obviously the bestway to free up money – and the sooner youpay off debt, the less interest you will pay, sothis money can be saved instead.One way to achieve this is to stop usingcredit cards. It’s so easy tooverspend with them as youdon’t know exactly howmuch money you’vegot – at least with cashyou can see whenyou’re running low. Ifyou do need to usecredit cards, usethem responsibly.Maybe put themaside in a safe placeso they’re not in youreveryday wallet, and tryyour hardest to pay thefull balance off each month.Track and trimOf course, everyday costs can add upto astonishing amounts, so in orderto be a successful saver it’s vital that youtake control of your outgoings. One of theSaving over timeForesters offers a range of savings options to suit your needs, dependingon how much you want to save and how long you want to save for:ISAPay in lump sums or make regulartop ups by Direct DebitRegular and partial withdrawals canbe made (subject to minimum amounts)The possibility of investment growth byway of bonuses, although the additionof bonuses is not guaranteedYou may not get back what you payin, dependent on the investment termand the conditions at withdrawalTax Exempt Savings PlanSave £25 a monthYou decide how long you wishto save for, between 10 and 25 yearsReceive a cash lump sum free of taxwhen the plan matures, guaranteed tobe at least what you have paid in, aslong as you maintain your contributionsfor the full term of the planInvestment BondMake a lump sum investment ofbetween £1,000 and £150,000Make partial or regular withdrawals(subject to minimum amounts)Open an Investment Bond in yourname or in joint namesYou may not get back what you payin, dependent on the investment termand the conditions at surrenderGuaranteed Savings PlanSave between £50 to £100 a monthYou decide how long you want tosave for, between 10 and 25 yearsGuarantees to pay out more than youhave paid in at the end of the term, aslong as you maintain your contributionsfor the full term of the planPlease note that any money paid into Foresters Friendly Society products is invested in the Society’s OrderInsurance with profits fund. Should you apply for any of our products, it’s important that you carefully read all thedocumentation provided to ensure you fully understand how the policy(ies) work(s). Terms and conditions apply.Top Tip“I put my credit card ina Tupperware, fill it withwater and then put it in thefreezer. Then, every time I amtempted to buy something on it,I have to defrost it. Often by thetime the ice has meltedI’ve realised I don’t reallyneed to buy it at all.”Julia, Nottinghameasiest ways to start doing this is to adoptthe track and trim approach.First of all, write down everything youspend your money on for a whole month tosix weeks. Be as detailed as possible, andplace each payment in a category, suchas rent/mortgage, insurance,car expenses, utilities,food, clothes, everydayessentials andentertainment.Get into the habitof recording it at theend of the day, orat the end of everyweek, rather thanright at the end ofthe month so youdon’t miss anythingand it’s quick and easyto note down.Once you’ve done this,take a good, hard look ateverything you’ve spent. Some of thecosts may surprise you and you’ll probablysee some obvious cuts that you can make– a £3 cappuccino four times a week, forinstance, or £40 a week on petrol for drivesinto town when you could have got the bus.You may also have to make some moredifficult decisions, though, depending onhow much you want to save. Think aboutyour priorities, and make cuts that you canlive with. Working out just how much cuttingback on these things would save you in ayear can often be a good motivation.Be true to yourselfThe other essential thing on the path tosuccessful saving is to be realistic. If cuttingdown in order to reach your monthly savingsobjectives means going without breakfastfor four days a week or walking around bycandlelight, for example, it’s time to take aserious look at your goals and the time frameyou’ve set for achieving them!Finally, don’t get discouraged and give up.Believe in your goals and exercise self controlwhen it comes to cutting back. Good thingscome to those who wait – and just imaginehow fulfilling it will be when you finally getwhat you’ve set out to achieve.To f ind out moreCall us on 08000 214 523 or visitwww.forestersfriendlysociety.co.ukImage: Getty