A Beginners Guide to Building a Savings Pot in 2026
Table of Contents
Saving has never been harder.
A survery conducted by Lloyds Banking Group in 2021 found that around 23% of UK adults worry about their finances and at Thistle Credit Union, we’re passionate about empowering our members to build a habit of regular savings, make sensible financial decisions and improve their financial resilience.
Why Saving Matters
Saving regularly helps to put money aside for a rainy day, helping to reduce stress and providing you with breathing space to focus on what matters most to you.
This National Savings Week we’re sharing 4 proven ways to get started on your savings journey.
Step 1 - Track Where Your Money Goes
Simply knowing where your money goes often leads to better financial decisions by helping you identify your spending habits; you could potentially notice areas where you can easily save money.
Our FREE digital budget planner can help you see where your money goes and how much you have left to play with at the end of the month.
Step 2 - Set Clear, Achievable Goals
Setting clear SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound can help to provide structure and direction; helping you focus on the end result and increasing your chances of success.
More information about setting SMART goals can be found in our blog post below:
Step 3 - Automate Where Possible
Automatic saving removes temptation to skip months and helps to reduce spending over time. Scheduling payments for the day after payday means you won’t even notice it leaving your account.
To begin your regular savings journey, you can set up an automatic direct debit to go straight into your Thistle Credit Union account.
Our bank details are as follows:
- Account Number: 00319183
- Sort Code: 82-20-00
** Please always use your member number as a reference when making payments into your savings account to ensure we can allocate your savings to the correct account.
Step 4 - Look for Money Leaks
Start by looking at reoccurring payments, cancel any unused subscriptions and compare utility suppliers to find cheaper alternatives. Then look into your everyday spending habits to see if there’s anywhere you can cut unnecessary costs. These small changes all add up and can provide significant savings over time.
Things to Consider
Setting yourself fun and achievable challenges is a great way to keep yourself motivated on your end goal. Consider a no-spend day each week and a weekly spare change jar. Saving can be challenging, especially in today’s economic climate, which is why it’s important to focus on small wins and what you’ve learnt throughout the process.
Click here for more information about Thistle Credit Union or read more from Thistle below.
A Better Way to Borrow
At Thistle Credit Union, our home improvement loans are designed to help you plan ahead, spread the cost sensibly and avoid high-interest credit cards.
Borrowing up to £15,000 and spread repayments over 5 years.
Fixed repayments, no hidden charges and no early repayment penalties.
Applying is straightforward and decisions are made locally by real real people, not algorithms.
Representative Example:
- Borrow £7,500
- Repay over 5 years
- Interest rate of 11.9% APR
- Monthly repayments of £170
Apply online today or get in touch with a branch to discuss your options.
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