“Soft saving” is popular among Gen Z kids. Here’s why:
Oppose work culture even if you’re not from Gen Z.
It’s been said that you should treat your spending like a healthy meal. You can try substantial restrictions, like the math-heavy FIRE movement’s method, to retire early. On the other hand, you might spend too much on revenge, which is terrible for your finances in the same way that bingeing is bad for your health. The idea of “soft saving” is in the middle, which is a good balance between these two extremes. Everything should be in measure. Or at least that’s the plan.
Let me show you what I know about Gen Z: Generally, a “soft life” is a way of life that values low stress and taking care of yourself. Like “quiet quitting,” “soft saving” is a trendy way of saying the age-old search for a good life in the capitalist world. Younger groups worked their whole lives, but Gen Z wants to live their entire lives. “Soft saving” is a cute way to talk about saving money in a way that won’t take a lot of attention or lead to a spending spree that destroys your life.
Personal banking trends come and go, but some things about soft saving stay the same. Here’s more on what “soft saving” means and how to decide if it’s right for you.
How do you save softly?
Soft saving aims to help you save money without having to make significant changes to your lifestyle or give up small comforts. However, what does it look like?
Making small changes to how you spend your money over time can help you save small amounts. This is called “soft saving.” The “soft” part comes from how things were done: slowly and adaptable instead of dramatically cutting the budget.
The best thing about this trend is how it can change how you deal with money: The “soft saving” way of thinking knows that significant changes in living are often not sustainable, like a crash diet. So instead of cutting out all entertainment, eating out, shopping for things you don’t need, etc., you look for small, long-term ways to cut back.
Advice on how to begin saving slowly right away
If you want to start saving money without giving up what you enjoy, here are some easy “soft saving” ideas. Stop spending for a while. Ask yourself if you really need something or want it right now before buying it.
If it makes sense, downgrade. Check your bank records to see if everything you’re spending money on is essential to you and not just a subscription service you forgot about a long time ago. If you can, switch to a cheaper plan for long-term costs like cell phone rates.
Limit buying things on a whim. If you want to avoid buying something on the spur of the moment, wait 24 hours before doing so. Before I buy something, I always write it down on paper. This is my favourite hack.
Using only cash. To feel the effects of buying, pay for extra things with cash instead of credit cards.
It would be best if you had “no-spend” days. Select one or two days a week not to buy anything.
Soft saving works best when you stick to it over time. For example, long-term moderation is better than yo-yo eating. You might be shocked at how many costs you can eliminate, whether you meant to or were overwhelmed and didn’t mean to.
Soft saving gives you options.
It’s important to remember that the soft saving trend is good for one thing: it provides freedom. You’ll burn out quickly if you punish yourself for every little treat. Being perfect isn’t the point; it is consistently saving money over spending it when it makes sense. Create habits that you can stick to every day, and make time to enjoy life.
