They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and that's true of your financial journey as well. Sometimes, you can make the biggest progress towards your goals when you make just a few small changes.
Just like with physical fitness, financial fitness isn't accomplished in a day, so you may need to wait a bit before you see some of these deceptively simple methods start to pay off. But, when they do, you'll be surprised at how easy it all was.
Set up direct deposit - pocket $400
Set up an eligible direct deposit with SoFi Checking and Savings and you could pocket a bonus of up to $400. Make the switch, set up direct deposit, earn the bonus. It basically takes no extra work at all other than following these steps.
Why people are switching: This account earns up to an insane 4.00% APY1 <p>Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on one SoFi Savings account with a 0.90% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY as of 5/28/26) for up to 6 months. Open your first SoFi Checking and Savings account and receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 12/31/26. Rates are variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#4">sofi.com/banking#4</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> on savings for up to six months (3.10% APY standard + 0.90% APY boost) on top of that $50 or $400 bonus.2 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/">sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/</a></p> That's way better than the measly 0.38% APY (as of 06/15/26)3 <p>Based on <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/national-rates-and-rate-caps">this</a> FDIC data, as of 6/15/26.</p> national average savings accounts offer.
No monthly fees and no surprises. Open your account and earn up to a $400 bonus
1. Automate your savings
You're likely familiar with automatic bill pay. Did you know you can also set up automatic transfers to your savings account? All you need to do is decide how much you want to transfer to your savings account with each automated deposit, designate the savings account where you want the money sent, and choose the dates you want the transfers to happen.
Putting your savings on autopilot removes the temptation to spend more. And, keeping your money in a savings account that's tied to your checking account can make it easy to access in the event of an emergency.
2. Take advantage of your employer's matching program
If your employer matches contributions to your retirement plan and you don't opt-in, you're literally turning away free money. Instead, you should consider contributing enough of your paycheck to your 401(k) plan to trigger your employer's full matching amount.
3. Get cash back with credit card rewards
If you're able to pay the balance of your credit card in full when it's due, using your charge card to pay for the things you buy anyway can allow you to take advantage of cash back credit card perks without costing you a monthly interest fee.
But this method only works if you can pay your cards off before the end of the billing cycle each month. Otherwise, you may be throwing extra money away on fees and interest charges, effectively decreasing your net worth.
4. Invest windfalls wisely
Receiving a financial windfall can be a somewhat rare but life-changing experience. If you end up with a sudden influx of cash, whether it be from an inheritance, lawsuit payout, or even a lucky lottery ticket, you should ensure that you're using it in a way that will help you reach your long-term financial goals. It's wise to have a plan.
That means investing your money wisely by tucking it into your emergency savings or an account with a high interest rate.
5. Diversify your income
In today's world, it's smart to have multiple sources of income to mitigate your risk of job loss. Having multiple income streams, even when some of them are on the smaller side, can not only help with job security, but it can also help you pad your bank account.
For example, if you've started consulting on the side solely to build and maintain relationships in your field, you can tuck away any extra money you earn in a high-yield savings account.
6. Open a high-yield savings account
High-yield savings accounts typically offer higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts, making them a great place to stash any cash you may be saving for a rainy day. Unlike riskier investments that may require a higher level of financial understanding or carry a potential for loss, using a high-yield savings account is a relatively safe way to increase your net worth, as it is backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
Best of all, using one is easy, and after you set your account up (and maybe schedule some automated transfers to help it grow), you won't really need to do anything else.
7. Open a Health Savings Account (HSA)
A Health Savings Account (HSA) can be set up through your employer, allowing you to make pre-tax contributions to your account before the money ever hits your bank account. This can help you grow your net worth, as the money set aside isn't subject to Medicare or payroll taxes, allowing you to keep more of your hard-earned cash.
Not only that, but you will have the opportunity to grow the money in your HSA even further by investing it, which could help with your long-term plans, especially when it comes to retirement.
Bottom line
While we often think that increasing our net worth involves years of complex financial planning, there are some small ways that you can achieve your goals right now. From taking on side jobs to earn extra income to automating your savings, there are numerous small ways to make a significant difference.
All you need to do is decide which of these methods will work best with your short and long-term goals before getting started.
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