Saving money is one thing. Keeping track of it? That’s where most people stumble.
You earn, set a goal, put away some cash… then life happens. You lose track, spend more than planned, and feel like you’re starting over every month. Sound familiar?
But the truth is: you don’t need to be a budgeting expert to track your savings effectively. You just need a system that works for you — whether it’s a printable, an app, or a spreadsheet.
In this post, let’s explore simple, practical ways to keep track of your savings — even if you’ve never done it before.
Why Should You Track Your Savings?
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s get clear on the “why.”
Keeping track of your savings:
- Keeps you motivated
- Makes big financial goals feel attainable
- Helps you avoid unnecessary spending
- Gives you peace of mind during emergencies
Tracking = Awareness = Progress.
10 Easy Ways to Keep Track of Savings
Best Apps to Help You Track and Grow Your Savings
Apps like:
- You Need a Budget (YNAB)
- RocketMoney
- GoodBudget
- Monarch money
- Rocket money
- Pocket guard
- Chime
Help you automatically track savings and categorize expenses.
Some even round up your purchases and deposit the difference into your savings!
1. YNAB (You Need A Budget)
- Use: Budgeting and goal tracking based on real income
- Why recommend: Uses the envelope method, ideal for intentional saving
- Platform: iOS, Android, Web
- Website: ynab.com
2. Goodbudget
- Use: Envelope-style budgeting app
- Why recommend: Great for tracking both spending and savings manually
- Platform: iOS, Android
- Free plan available
- Website: goodbudget.com
3. Monarch Money
- Use: All-in-one money and savings tracking with clean UI
- Why recommend: Lets you plan, set goals, track net worth & automate reports
- Platform: iOS, Android, Web
- Website: monarchmoney.com
4. Rocket Money (formerly Truebill)
- Use: Track bills, subscriptions, and savings
- Why recommend: Detects recurring expenses and negotiates bills
- Platform: iOS, Android
- Website: rocketmoney.com
5. PocketGuard
- Use: Controls spending and saves what’s left
- Why recommend: Easy “What’s left” savings estimate feature
- Platform: iOS, Android
- Website: pocketguard.com
6. Chime (for US)
- Use: Online banking with auto-saving tools
- Why recommend: Rounds up purchases and transfers to savings
- Platform: iOS, Android
- Website: chime.com
7. Spendee
- Use: Beautiful visuals for tracking expenses and savings
- Why recommend: Multi-currency & shared wallet support
- Platform: iOS, Android.
- Website: spendee.com
| App Name | Key Features | Price | Limitations | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YNAB | Envelope-style budgeting. goal tracking. real-time sync, reports | $14.99/mo or $99/yr (Free 34-day trial) | Paid only, requires habit-building | iOS, Android, Web |
| Goodbudget | Manual envelope budgeting, sync across devices, basic reports | Free (basic) / $8/mo (Plus) | Manual entry, no bank sync in free plan | iOS, Android |
| Monarch Money | Net worth tracking, goal progress, shared finances, clean UI | $14.99/mo or $99/yr | Premium only, fewer free features | iOS, Android, Web |
| Rocket Money | Auto-categorizes bills, cancels unwanted subscriptions, savings tools | Free / Premium from $3–$12/mo | Limited features in free plan | iOS, Android |
| PocketGuard | Spending limits, savings goals, bank sync, recurring expense tracking | Free / $7.99/mo (Plus) | Ads in free plan, limited categories | iOS, Android |
| Spendee | Visual budgets, shared wallets, multi-currency support | Free / $14.99/yr (Premium) | Bank sync only in paid version | iOS, Android |
| Chime | Automatic savings (round-ups), early pay access, no-fee banking | Free (bank account required) | US-only, not a traditional budget app | iOS, Android |
2. Use a Savings Tracker (Printable or Digital)
A savings tracker is a visual tool where you record how much you’ve saved toward a goal. It can be:
- A printable coloring chart
- A Google Sheet with automatic calculations
- A Notion template
👉 Free Download: Grab our starter savings tracker printable here.
3. Create a Dedicated Spreadsheet
Set up a simple Excel or Google Sheet to track:
- Date
- Amount saved
- Total accumulated
- Goal progress %
You can even set up formulas to track multiple goals (like emergency fund, vacation, or home deposit).
👉 Free Download: Grab our starter savings tracker printable here.
4. Open Separate Savings Accounts
Keep your savings separate from your checking account. Better yet, open multiple labeled accounts:
- “Vacation Fund”
- “Emergency Fund”
- “Car Repair Fund”
Many banks allow you to nickname accounts for easy tracking.
5. Set Weekly or Monthly Check-ins
Here consistency matters more than perfection.
Set a weekly reminder to:
- Update your tracker
- Celebrate small wins
- Adjust your savings goal if needed
It takes just 5–10 minutes but creates long-term success.
6. Use a Journal or Planner
Prefer pen and paper? No problem. Use your planner or journal to note:
- Weekly savings entries
- Expenses avoided (as wins)
- Motivational quotes or savings goals
7. Track Progress with Visual Goals
Turn savings into a game or challenge:
- Color in a jar every $50 saved
- Use a “100-envelope” challenge
- Track percent completion toward a goal
Visual cues trigger motivation and keep you going.
8. Use Shared Trackers with a Partner
- Saving as a couple or family? Use shared tools like Google Sheets or budgeting apps to track and update together.
- It builds accountability and transparency — and even becomes fun!
9. Automate Your Savings
- Set up automatic transfers to your savings accounts every payday. Then, just track the totals weekly or monthly.
- This removes the friction of manual saving while keeping you on goal.
10. Link Tracking to Real Goals
Don’t just track “money.” Track what you’re saving for.
When you write:
- “$500 saved for my Italy trip”
- “$300 toward my emergency buffer”
…your brain connects the number to real life, making it more exciting.
Free Savings Tracker Printable (Grab Yours)
To help you get started, we’ve created a free savings tracker you can print or use digitally.
Download it here → Savings chart for print
Final Thoughts
Saving money is one thing. But tracking it is where the real magic happens.
You don’t need fancy tools — just something you’ll actually use. Pick one method today, stay consistent, and watch your progress grow month by month.
👉 Got your own system for tracking savings? Share it in the comments or tag us on Pinterest with your tracker!