MKProtege

How I did it: I got myself to stick to a budget (see my other completed goals) at the same time that I did this, so that helped.  I guess, for me, the biggest hurdle was just getting in the habit of saving money.  So, the best thing I did was open a money market with no minimum balance or required monthly transactions (no pressure, no penalty for not getting it faster) and just start getting in the habit of saving.  I'd pu… Read how I did it…

How I did it: I think the best tool I had available to me was Mint.com.  It's this free, online software that gives you the option of tracking all of your purchases, so you can see where your money is going.  You can also create an itemized monthly budget for yourself, where you can see if you've gone over-budget, if you're spending at a rate that will send you over-budget, or if you're right on track.  You can set up email ale… Read how I did it…

How I did it: I started by opening a free money market with no minimum amount that would give me a higher interest rate than a regular savings account. (I recommend virtualbank.com.)  I made sure to put a little money in that account as often as I could.  Even $20/mo. was better than nothing, because it got me in of the habit of saving, and that's the most important part.  As I saved, I started having enough money to cover emergencies, s… Read how I did it…