Your goals are likely to have the biggest impact on how you save money. Be sure to remember long-term goals, it’s important that planning for retirement doesn’t take a back seat to shorter-term needs. Prioritizing goals can give you a clear idea of where to start saving. Start saving for your retirement, right from your first job.

One of the best ways to save money is to set a goal. Start by thinking of what you might want to save for, anything from a down payment for a house to a vacation, then figure out how long it might take you to save for it. Divide your goals into short and long term and save accordingly.

After you make a budget, create a savings category within it. Try to put away 10–15% of your income as savings. If your expenses are so high that you can’t save much, it might be time to cut back. To do so, identify non-essentials that you can spend less on, such as entertainment and dining out.