If “save more money” is on your resolutions list again this year, you’re not alone. The good news is –  you don’t need a total life overhaul.  Implementing just a couple of new habits, can make saving feel like a breeze.

Behavioural finance has a simple rule: we don’t rise to the level of our goals — we fall to the level of our systems. Habits stick when they’re easy to repeat in the same context (same day, same trigger, same action).

Below are 10 habits you can start today, including how to use savings buckets, build an emergency fund, and put your savings on autopilot with our Scheduled payments.

A 5-minute quick start (do this before you read the rest)

1. Pick one habit below to start this week.
2. Choose a savings amount you can stick with (even £10).
3. Set a monthly repeatable trigger: payday is the easiest.
4. Automate it using Scheduled payments.

1. Make your savings goals specific

Vague goals (“save more”) don’t give your brain a finish line. Specific goals do.

• Name it: “Emergency buffer”, “Holiday”, “House deposit”
• Number it: “£1,500 by June”
• Break it down: “£60/week” or “£130/month”

First step write your goal as one sentence and pin it somewhere you’ll see on payday.

2. Use “savings buckets” so every pound has a job

One pot can feel messy: you dip into it for everything, then wonder why you’re not progressing. Try three simple buckets:

• Now: emergency fund (instant access)
• Soon: planned spending in the next 6–18 months (car costs, holidays, home improvements)
• Later: longer-term goals (a future move, big life plans)

If your savings app lets you open multiple accounts/goals, this becomes much easier to stick to. (OakNorth’s app, for example, highlights the ability to open multiple accounts.)

3. “Pay yourself first” (automation beats willpower)

The most powerful habit is the one you don’t have to remember.

Set up an automatic transfer right after you’re paid:

• Start small (seriously)
• Keep it consistent
• Increase later

Use our Scheduled Payments so your saving happens automatically each month, without relying on memory.

4. Build an emergency fund

Emergency funds aren’t for short-term savings goals, they provide a peace of mind.

A widely used rule of thumb is three to six months’ essential outgoings in an instant or easy access savings account.

First step: list your monthly essential expenses(rent/mortgage, bills, food). Multiply the number by 3. That’s your first milestone.

5. Use the 50/30/20 rule as a flexible baseline

The 50/30/20 rule is a simple framework:

• 50% needs
• 30% wants
• 20% saving and/or debt repayment

It’s not a test you pass or fail,  it’s a starting point. If your costs are high right now, try 70/20/10 instead and work upwards over time.

First step: track one month, then adjust by 1–2% (not 20%).

6. Implement a “pause button” for spending (the 24-hour rule)

A lot of overspending is impulse + convenience. Try this:

• Any non-essential purchase over £X gets a 24-hour pause
• Save the item in your basket, but don’t buy it
• Check again the next day

The pause interrupts the habit loop and gives your “future self” a vote.

7.  More money = more savings

Make savings your default destination for any “extra” money you earn:

• Pay rises
• Bonuses
• Refunds
• Side income

A simple rule: save 50% of every pay rise before you get used to it (‘lifestyle creep).

First step: when you get a raise, adjust your automated deposit the same day.

8. Turn your savings into a weekly routine (2 minutes)

Habits stick when they’re tied to a cue. Pick a cue that already exists:

• Sunday evening
• Monday morning
• Payday

Your 2-minute check-in:

• Did the automated deposit happen?
• Are you on track for your next milestone?
• Do you need to move anything between buckets?

9. Don’t ignore the tax side (it can quietly cost you)

Two UK basics to keep in mind:

• Personal Savings Allowance (PSA): up to £1,000 interest (excluding ISAs) tax-free for basic-rate taxpayers, £500 for higher-rate, £0 for additional-rate.
• ISA allowance: up to £20,000 per tax year across ISAs (Cash ISA, Stocks & Shares ISA, etc.).

If you’re likely to exceed your PSA, using a Cash ISA may help keep interest tax-free (eligibility and rules apply).

Please note that tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.

10. Protect progress with “friction” (make bad habits harder)

If you tend to overspend  in specific areas (takeaways, subscriptions, online shopping), make it harder for yourself by adding blockers and “friction”:

• Remove saved card details
• Unsubscribe from retailer newsletters/ promotional articles
• Move “fun money” into a separate pot
• Set a small weekly cash limit

Friction doesn’t rely on willpower, it changes the environment.

A quick trust check: protection and peace of mind

In the UK, eligible deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per person, per bank, building society or credit union (increased on 1st December 2025).

FAQs

What are Scheduled Payments?

Scheduled Payments are a way to automate regular saving. OakNorth has Scheduled Payments to help you set up monthly recurring top-ups from your nominated account to an OakNorth saving account.

How much should my emergency fund be?

A common rule of thumb is three to six months of essential outgoings in an instant access savings account.

Does the 50/30/20 rule work in the UK?

It can be a helpful starting point. The idea is to balance needs, wants and saving/debt repayment, then adjust based on your real costs.

Do I pay tax on savings interest?

Many people can earn some savings interest without paying tax thanks to the Personal Savings Allowance and other allowances, but it depends on your personal circumstances including income and interest earned.

What’s the ISA allowance?

The annual ISA allowance is £20,000 per tax year across your ISAs.

How do I make saving stick?

Start small, tie it to a cue (like payday), and automate it so it happens even when motivation dips. You can set up monthly recurring top-ups from your nominated account to an OakNorth saving account using schedule payments.