Saving for a Down Payment on a Home? Get Moving with these Ideas

There used to be a time when buying a home with little or no money down was possible. While this may still be the case in particular situations, most people realize they need at least five percent down to qualify for a mortgage.

Here is the burning question for those who want to buy a home but don’t yet have a large enough down payment: how am I going to save the money I need without wasting too much time?

As frustrating at it may be, with each dollar you save you are getting closer to achieving your goal. This will keep you going, day in and day out, as you do whatever it takes to save the necessary amount of money.

If you are finding it difficult to save, here are three basic ideas that can speed up the process and keep you moving forward:

1. Save as much as you can every month, without question. Once you take a closer look at your current income and expenses, you will know how much money you have in disposable income. Is it possible to put all this money towards your down payment fund? You will have to make sacrifices along the way, such as eating out less, but doing so will allow you to save more money in a shorter period of time.

Tip: set things up with your employer so a predetermined amount of your paycheck goes into the appropriate bank account each month. If you don’t see this money you won’t be tempted to spend it.

2. Big chunks can make all the difference in the world. Did you receive a holiday bonus from your employer? How about a big commission check? What about a tax refund? If you are lucky enough to receive a big chunk of money that you were not expecting, don’t even think about spending it. Take all the cash, down to every last penny, and put it towards your down payment fund. This may not sound like the fun thing to do right now, but when you are closing on your home you will look back and realize that you made the right decision.

3. Find cheaper living arrangements for the time being. No matter if you currently own a home or are renting, there is a good chance your housing payment is your most costly expense.

Imagine this: you are paying $800/month in rent, and need to save $20,000 for a down payment on your new home. Wouldn’t it be great if you could cut this entire $800 out of your budget, allowing you to save it each month? If you have a willing family member (start with your parents), ask if you can move in with them while you save for your dream home. By doing so, you are taking a big step towards accelerating your savings. Sticking with the example above, it would only take 25 months to save the money you require. When you add this $800 to anything else you can save, you could have the funds in an even shorter period of time.

Saving for a down payment for a home can be a challenge, especially if you are currently weighed down with many expenses. Do your best to implement one or more of the ideas above. If you are able to take advantage of all three, you will find yourself buying a home in no time at all.