Too many Americans skip the savings part of their financial plan in favor of other ventures. The reality is that savings play a huge role in overall financial wellness and should be considered a priority. If you're struggling to get your savings off the ground, these tips for getting started (and how to get cash quickly) are going to be a huge help.

Create a strong budget

A solid budget is a perfect foundation for getting into savings. Budgets can act as a sort of roadmap that helps to create pathways to where you want to get financially. If your end goal is a healthy savings account for emergencies or a big vacation, a great budget is a way to get there. You can choose a budgeting method like the 50/30/20 rule (which allocates 50% of your income to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to your savings), or create your own budget that is tailored to your unique needs.

Work on your debt

Once you've created the perfect budget, it's time to tackle any outstanding debt. Debt is something that many Americans live with, but few have the resources or knowledge to correct it. If you're struggling with a large amount of debt, there are several ways to make it manageable. A payback plan, such as the debt avalanche or snowball method, can be a great approach. If you're struggling to keep up with debt given your current income, check below for methods to get cash quickly. 

Ditch the subscriptions

An easy way to save money is by cutting back on unnecessary subscriptions or other financial obligations. While that doesn't mean you need to completely give up what you love, it does mean that you should trim some of the excess costs. For example, do you need all five of the streaming platforms you use, or could one or two suffice? By canceling unnecessary subscriptions, you help to free up more money for savings. 

Open a hard-to-access savings account 

If you have the funds to save but you're easily tempted, try opening a hard-to-access savings account. For some, that may mean opening a lone savings account with a different bank, and for others, it means deleting the mobile banking account to make it more difficult to transfer funds. 

Either way, making your savings a little less accessible will help to keep you from accessing your funds. Bonus points if you can automate transfers from checking to savings, so you can save money without lifting a finger! 

What to do if you need funds fast

If you don't have enough extra funds to accomplish your savings goals, you might consider one of these methods for coming up with cash fast. 

Instant cash advance

An instant cash advance is a short-term loan, usually with a high-interest rate. With this type of loan, the idea is that you take out the loan and repay it when payday comes around in two to four weeks. For many, it's a bridge between pay periods when they run low on cash and need to cover essential or emergency expenses. In case you're struggling to find money and need it fast, cash advances are an accessible solution. 

Installment loan

An installment loan is a personal loan you can get from a financial institution or online lender. You'll pay these loans back in fixed monthly payments, or installments. Installment loan repayment terms can last from a few months to a few years. Keep in mind that the longer your loans are spaced out, the more interest you'll owe for borrowing, and the greater your repayment amount will be in the end. 

Pick up a side hustle

Side hustles are all the rage these days. And with the ability to make money quickly and on your terms - why wouldn't it be? You can use your creative talents to sell services online, or you might pick up a side job like rideshare driving in your own neighborhood to bring in cash. 

The bottom line

Savings are an important part of any healthy financial plan. With a few simple tricks, you can help to free up more income to put toward your savings goals. And if you're struggling to cover the financial obligations you have, let alone work toward savings, there are many ways you can get money fast.