The other day I stumbled on an Ajo woman at the local market. If you don’t know what Ajo is, it’s a system of savings where people deposit money daily to a woman (or man) and receive the total savings bar commission at the end of the month.
Saving takes discipline and can be daunting for many people. In any case, you require a clear plan, consistency, and discipline to maintain a savings culture. While Ajo still works, there are more awesome tools and resources available to guide you toward saving and reaching your financial goals.
Let’s look at five practical tips you can build a savings culture.
1. Get a separate savings account
The first step to building a savings culture is to get a separate bank account specifically designated for saving. This account should be different from your regular account(s) and may not need an ATM card.
Using a separate savings account makes it easier to monitor your savings and progress. The Mkobo app makes it easy for you to open a savings account without having to visit a physical bank in 3 mins. With a few clicks and the provision of relevant documents for verification, you can have a new savings account.
2. Take advantage of direct debit or automated savings
One of the most effective ways to build a savings culture is to automate your savings.
Unlike Ajo, where you need to pay the collector cash every day, you can automate your savings feature on Mkolo fixed or flexi savings, to directly debit from your bank account to your savings account.
This means that a certain amount of money will be deducted from your account at intervals and transferred to your savings account. This feature ensures that you save consistently without having to worry about doing it manually.