At first glance, saving money seems pretty generic. It’s not as complex as other financial processes like buying a house, figuring out the most efficient way to pay off debt, or filing income taxes.

But when you dig into it a little more, you realize that how a person saves money says as much about them as any other expression of their personality.

Just as each person has a unique way of completing mundane tasks, such as buttering bread, everyone handles their money a little differently.

I’m not talking about whether you’re a good or poor example of financial responsibility; there are general practices that will define which of those you fall under. I’m talking about your unique preferences for money management: what form of money you prefer, how frequently and how much you save, and what you save for.

How do YOU save your money?

The Money Jar

There will always be people who have an emergency stash of cash under their mattress or in a piggy bank or money jar. Perhaps the jar has a picture of your savings goal taped to it or a quotation that reminds you of future rewards. The security of this money and the ability to compound it are questionable, but it’s still a legitimate way to save. You might gravitate to this physical and literal view of your money.

Perhaps it’s seeing the actual growth of the money as it piles up or the association with some childhood memory, but keeping a savings jar is a practice that many find both comfortable and effective.

Even if this isn’t your main form of savings, it wouldn’t hurt to start a money jar for a small goal. In the jumble of savings and checking accounts, it…

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