How to Save Money Without Thinking About It

In our culture of instant gratification, the idea of saving for the future might seem antiquated. But at a time when the economic deck seems stacked against you, thanks to a student loan debt crisis and fresh memories of the 2008 Wall Street meltdown, opening a savings account will give you a big advantage in the future.

According to a 2015 survey, just over 70 percent of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings and another 21 percent don't have a savings account at all. If you stash your cash under the mattress or in a no-interest checking account, you're actually losing money thanks to inflation. Here's why thinking about saving today will accelerate your financial health tomorrow.