If you don’t have to think about savings and you never see the money, you’re more likely to leave it alone. Even small amounts each month add up over time.
It’s easy to set up an allotment — similar to a civilian direct deposit — so that some of your money goes directly to savings. You’ll be glad you did.
If your goal is long-term retirement savings, you can fill out form TSP-U-1 or go on “myPay” and begin contributing to the TSP. This creates a deduction that comes right out of your paycheck.
Whatever savings amount you can squeeze out of your budget is a great start. You can always adjust the amount of your allotment or TSP contribution as your savings confidence grows.