15 guides
Sinking fund guides
Plain-English guides to saving ahead for irregular expenses. General information only. We don't earn commissions from banks or apps.
The basics
What they are, vs. an emergency fund, and where to keep them.
- What is a sinking fund?
Saving ahead for a known cost.
- Sinking fund vs. emergency fund
Planned costs vs. true surprises.
- How many jars should you have?
Start with three. Add as you go.
- Where to keep sinking funds
Separate, safe and easy to see.
Common jars
Car, holidays, home repairs and annual bills.
- The car jar
Insurance, registration, repairs and tires.
- The holiday and gift jar
December stops being a shock.
- The home repair jar
Something always breaks.
- The annual bills jar
Subscriptions, memberships and premiums.
Set them up
List, calculate, automate and time with paychecks.
- List your irregular expenses
Last year's statements tell you.
- How much to save each month
Goal minus saved, divided by months.
- Automate your jars
Set it once, on payday.
- Matching jars to your paychecks
Weekly, every two weeks or monthly.
Keep them going
Spending, shortfalls and a yearly review.
- Spending from a jar
That's what it's for.
- When a jar falls short
Borrow from another jar, not a card.
- The yearly jar review
Raise, lower, add or close.