Today I though I’d show you how we currently have our ING savings accounts set up, or as they’re known around here: our online cash jars.
We use an actual cash jar system for our day to day expenses, grocery etc, but for cash savings, which we dip in and out of throughout the year, we take advantage of ING’s facility to have up to ten named accounts.
Here’s the current set up;
Naming the accounts really helps and (generally) stops us from using the money for anything apart from what it says on the tin: Portugal money is Portugal money, and is not say, to be used for the house….now we just need to fully fund them all! 
Let me know, what helps you to keep on track with your savings goals?
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
You know what’s sad? I only live 3.5 hours from NY city and am there all the time for work, but I’ve been wanting to take my family for like 3 years. We were there for some medical treatment for my son and didn’t even spend any time there because of a scheduling conflict.
You may have just inspired me to spend a weekend there. It’s just SO expensive, so I’m gun shy. Even if I drive down just for the day, you have to fork over $50 for parking. I should just make it a priority. Here you are saving to go across the pond and I can’t even get my butt in gear to do a day trip.
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Laura Reply:
April 19th, 2011 at 7:25 am
FirstGenAmerican: Oh Sandy I would be there all the time, lol! I suppose taking the train would be quite expensive and 7 hours in the car with young children is not always much fun!
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Ya know, I save for our home insurance and property taxes, etc as if they were monthly expenses. Then when the bill comes I have the money to pay for it. But right now the money are just sitting in envelopes. I’ve thought about opening up a seperate savings account just for property taxes because it’s such a huge bill. I think you just gave me the push to entertain that suggestion again.
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Laura Reply:
April 19th, 2011 at 7:23 am
@Melyssa It’s probably best not to keep too much money in the house…I’d be too scared to go out!
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Hey Laura! I love ING’s savings online accounts too. I only have two accounts set up there — our “Debt Ditcher” and “Vacation Savings” funds — but I love how easy they make it to assign unique names to the accounts and separate funds for different purposes.
If you figure out how to magically fund all of those accounts, please tell me your secret!
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Laura Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 7:13 am
@Jenny. Ha! Now if only we could magically fill them up!
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