Do you feel like you're always living paycheck to paycheck and never have enough money left for savings? And with prices continuing to rise on everything from food to gas, it seems like we can never get above water.

Saving money is one of the most important aspects of personal finance. From preparing for retirement to having an emergency fund, having money stashed away for a rainy day can be a lifesaver.

If you are ready to get off the hamster wheel of living paycheck to paycheck and build your savings, here are 5 easy tips you can use to put more money into your account each month.

1. Track Your Spending For One Week

Keeping track of your spending is an essential part of financial responsibility. By tracking your spending for one week, you can better understand where your money goes and what areas you may be overspending.

Once you have tracked your spending for a week, you should determine how you can cut back on different areas. You may be shocked to see how much you are spending on unnecessary items or services.

For example, if you find that you are regularly overspending on food, reduce how much you spend on groceries each month. The same goes for transportation expenses, it might make sense to try using public transportation more often instead.

After making cuts to your budget based on the data from tracking your spending for one week, it is always a good idea to verify that these changes have had the desired effect by reviewing prior months' data as well. This will help ensure that any adjustments made are accurate and effective.

2. Practice Mindful Spending

When it comes to personal finances, mindfulness is key. Mindless spending can be a budget killer, so it's essential to be mindful of your purchases and consider whether you really need what you are buying. 

It's essential to have a set of criteria when making a purchase. If an item is not on your budget or takes away from savings, it's not the best purchase. It's a good idea to ask questions like: Do I need this? Is it worth the cost?

Furthermore, if you are faced with an impulse purchase, take some time to think before you buy. Impulse purchases can be costly and add up quickly. You may find that the purchase isn't worth it after all if you delay the purchase. Try leaving an item in your cart for three days. After the three days, if that good is still something of major value to you then it might be worth the purchase. Otherwise, remove it from your cart and go about your day. 

3. Automate Your Savings

One of the best methods for increasing your monthly savings is to automate them. When you automate your savings, it's much easier to stay on track and ensure you're saving what you need every month. 

Most banks allow customers to set up automatic transfers from their checking accounts into savings accounts. This makes it easy to set a specific amount of money you will transfer each month without manually doing the transfer every time.

You can also automate other aspects of your finances, such as bill payments and investments. Automating these processes helps ensure that nothing gets forgotten or overlooked, which can help keep your finances organized and on track.

4. Live Below Your Means

There are many ways to live below your means and still have a comfortable life. You may think that you need to start living like a penny-pincher to get your finances in order, but this isn't necessarily true.

Living below your means simply means adjusting your lifestyle and spending habits to fit within what you can reasonably afford with your income. It doesn't mean getting rid of everything that makes life enjoyable! 

When it comes to money, it's important to be wise and mindful about how you're spending it. Knowing how to manage your budget, avoiding impulse purchases, and prioritizing savings are all great ways to start living below your means. You'd be shocked at how fast you can get used to living on less money and still maintain a comfortable lifestyle.

5. Track And Cut Expenses With An App

Want to really get a handle on your personal finances? Try using an app to track and cut expenses. There are several apps available that can help you keep tabs on your spending, find ways to save money and get organized.

These apps allow you to input all of your financial information and track where your money is going. They usually offer tips on how to save money each month, as well as ways to make budgeting easier. For example, many can suggest strategies for cutting expenses or setting up automatic payments.

Hiatus is designed to help you manage your money and save for the future. You can track expenses, set budgets, and get tips on saving money. Plus, you can locate and stop unneeded subscriptions with the built-in subscription tracker. Give Hiatus a try and see how it can help you manage your finances!