Make Your Money Lucky
St. Patrick’s Day is a perfect excuse to hunt for a little extra luck. This year, why not aim for financial luck? At First New York, we believe preparation creates opportunity. Try these three simple, low‑effort saving hacks to turn everyday moments into steady progress toward your goals, no four‑leaf clover needed!
Hack 1: Put Your Savings on Autopilot
Automating transfers removes the “decide later” problem. Set a recurring transfer from checking to savings on payday so saving becomes a default, just like paying a bill. Start small ($25–$50) and increase the amount over time as you become comfortable.
- Why it works: Consistency compounds. You save without thinking, and small amounts grow into meaningful balances.
- How to do it: Set up recurring transfers in My First New York. To set up a recurring transfer:
- On a desktop, click “My Transfers & Payments”.
- On a mobile device, tap “Transfers” on the bottom navigation and select “Make a Transfer”.
- Tip: Give the account a festive name like “Pot o’ Gold” to make your saving progress fun.
Hack 2: Audit Subscriptions and Redirect the Savings
Small, recurring charges add up. Do a quick subscription audit to identify services you no longer use or can downgrade and cancel free trials you forgot about. Take the money you free up and automatically move it into savings.
- Why it works: Cutting or trimming subscriptions is a painless way to create immediate savings without changing daily habits. Redirecting that amount into a dedicated account makes the benefit permanent.
- How to do it: Review your card and bank statements for recurring charges, cancel or downgrade unnecessary services, and set up a recurring transfer for the monthly savings amount in My First New York (see instructions above).
- Tip: Set a calendar reminder every six months to conduct a fresh review of your subscription charges.
Hack 3: Lock in a Better Return with a Share Certificate (CD) Special
If you can park some money for a fixed period, a Share Certificate of Deposit (CD) is a low-risk way to earn a higher, guaranteed return than a standard savings account. First New York offers competitive CD specials with attractive rates for several terms.
- Why it works: CDs deliver steady, predictable growth without market stress.
- How to do it: Review current CD rates online or at your branch, match the term length to your timeline, and consider staggering multiple CDs to balance access and return.
- Tip: Fund a CD with a portion of your automated savings and keep the rest liquid for short-term needs.
A little structure can create your own luck. Automatic transfers remove the guesswork so saving happens without effort, subscription audits free up real cash you can redirect into goals, and CDs let you lock in higher, more predictable returns. Match term lengths to your timeline or stagger multiple CDs to balance access and yield. Combine any or all three hacks to build a simple system that grows your savings with minimal effort.
Ready to make your money work harder? Open a Share Certificate (CD) with First New York today. Visit a branch or our website to explore current CD specials. Our Member Service Representatives will help you pick the right term, set up funding from automated transfers, and get everything started so your savings begin earning a stronger, guaranteed return.