By Amy Miller, AFC®

Strong Starts: How a Solid Financial Foundation Shapes Your Story

Whether you’re saving for your first home, building an emergency fund, or simply trying to stress less about money, the habits you create today will support the chapters that follow.

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Automatic Savings

Every great story begins with a strong foundation, and your financial story is no different. Whether you’re saving for your first home, building an emergency fund, or simply trying to stress less about money, the habits you create today will support the chapters that follow.

As we kick off America Saves Week 2026, we’re focusing on Building a Strong Foundation, because lasting financial confidence starts with the basics: planning, budgeting, saving, and developing habits you can rely on.

Start with a Plan

A strong financial foundation begins with knowing where you are and where you want to go. That means taking time to understand your income, track your spending, and aligning your money decisions with your goals and values.

A spending and savings plan (often called a budget) isn’t about restriction - it’s about clarity. When you tell your money where to go, you’re directing your story rather than reacting to it.

If you’ve never created a spending and savings plan, don’t worry! It’s easier than it sounds! You can start by reviewing your current expenses and identifying one area where you can make a small adjustment. That single decision can make space for your future goals.

Start here and Create a Spending and Savings Plan that works for you and your current financial situation.

Make Saving Your Cornerstone

Saving money (no matter how much or how little) is where your financial story truly takes shape. It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress. Every deposit builds your financial resilience and helps you feel more in control of your future.

Your savings are both a safety net and a springboard. They help you handle life’s surprises while creating opportunities to pursue what matters most, whether that’s education, travel, or simply peace of mind.

Start with one clear goal: maybe it’s saving $500 for emergencies, $50 a month toward a vacation, or contributing a bit more to your retirement account. The key is to begin and stay consistent.

Set It and Strengthen It: Automate Your Savings

One of the easiest ways to strengthen your financial foundation is to automate your savings. When you schedule regular transfers from your checking to your savings account, you remove the temptation to spend first and save later.

Automatic savings make it effortless to build momentum. You can start small - just $10 or $20 each payday - and increase the amount as your confidence (and savings balance) grows.

When you make saving automatic, you’re building a habit that supports your future, no matter what life throws your way.

Today, we encourage you to set up or increase your automatic savings transfer and take the America Saves Pledge to receive ongoing tips, tools, and encouragement to help you stay motivated and consistent with your goals.

Build Habits You Can Rely On

Confidence grows from consistency. Start with one or two small, repeatable actions that keep you engaged with your finances, like checking your accounts weekly, reviewing your goals monthly, or scheduling an annual “money check-in.”

These small actions reinforce your foundation and help you feel more in control of your financial story.

Small Steps, BIG Impact

Your financial story doesn’t need to be perfect…….it just needs to be yours. Every intentional choice you make, every automatic transfer you schedule, every mindful habit you build adds strength to your foundation.

This America Saves Week, start your story by focusing on what matters most: building a strong foundation that supports your dreams.

Because when you take small steps today, you create a big impact on the chapters ahead.

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