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100 Practical and Interesting Things to Save Up For

We’re taught saving money is good, right? But for what? Well as a personal finance and travel blog, you miiight just know where I’m going with this. But it’s not all travel! I had some fun with it and came up with huge list. Here’s a list of 100 things you could save up for.

things to save up for view of money with flower and popcorn

This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, see my disclosures.

And yes, there’s some basics in here like saving money for retirement. A house, car, and even your dream vacation. But what else should be on a list of things to save up for?

Well, let’s dive in!

Best things to save up for: paying for your next trip

Because I’m a dreamer and am actively checking places off my travel bucket list, I’ll start with travel. Here are different types of travel that are worth saving for.

  1. Family vacation
  2. Couples vacation
  3. Honeymoon
  4. Anniversary trip
  5. The trip you’ve been dreaming about since you were a kid
  6. Gifting your parents with a family trip
  7. Trip to see your favorite sports’ team play
  8. A mega trip around the world

Read next:
Exactly How to Save Money for Travel (your vacation savings plan)
101 Travel Bucket List Ideas

things to save up for - like vacation savings!
Photo credit: Nikki’s

We’ll get to more fun stuff later. Here are more practical things you might want to be saving for.

Saving up for an emergency fund

We all know life happens and unexpected situation arise. Well many of those can be expensive! While there are a bazillion reasons why saving up for an emergency fund is a great idea, here are some that make the most sense.

  1. Emergency fund
  2. You lose your job
  3. New refrigerator (or other appliance)
  4. Car repairs
  5. Health issues
  6. Getting new brakes
  7. Pet surgery
  8. A new mattress

Other practical things you should be saving up for

I mean, you probably didn’t think I could create an article about saving money without mentioning retirement, right? Retirement is at the top of the list of practical things you want to save for!

  1. Retirement
  2. Health expenses when you’re older and need long-term medical care ( like a nursing home)
  3. New car
  4. Spouse/partner’s new car
  5. Taxes

Read next:
6 Steps to Build an Emergency Fund
55 Ways to Save Money

Things to save up for related to your home

Being a homeowner can be expensive with a capital ‘E!’ But saving now for upcoming projects and maintenance can help you tackle that ever-growing to-do list!

  1. Down payment for a house
  2. Buying your house with cash (whaaaaat?)
  3. That fantastic new kitchen table you’ve been eyeing
  4. Bathroom remodel
  5. Master suite expansion
  6. Landscaping
  7. A new garden
  8. In-ground swimming pool
  9. Outdoor shed
  10. New lawn mower (or robot lawn mower)
  11. Finish your basement
  12. Getting your carpets cleaned
  13. Getting your windows cleaned
  14. New furniture
  15. New TV
  16. Robot vacuum
  17. A home security system
  18. Paint the exterior of your home (finally time to get that fun colored door you’ve always wanted)
  19. New furnace
  20. New water heater
  21. Updated windows
  22. New roof
  23. Literally any other home maintenance that might pop up

You might also be interested in: 10 Reasons to Save and 8 Ways to Make it Happen

Alright, let’s get back to the fun stuff for a bit!

the best things to save up for
Photo credit: Nikki’s

New Technology

It’s updating all. the. time. If you’re big into technology, you’ll want to make sure you factor this into your savings goals.

  1. New phone
  2. New computer/laptop
  3. Drone
  4. Camera equipment
  5. Really any other kind of new tech you’re into

Fun things to save up for: hobbies & recreation

Having fun can get expensive! Better start saving up for these so you can buy when the time is right.

  1. Kayak
  2. Electric scooter
  3. An RV
  4. A boat
  5. ATV, jet ski or other sporty toy
  6. A hot tub
  7. Camping gear
  8. Equipment to start your own winery or brewery
  9. Power tools
  10. Season tickets to you/your significant other’s favorite team games
  11. Tickets to a big movie premier or Hollywood awards show
  12. New gaming system
  13. Powered paraglider
  14. Whatever other hobby gear and supplies you desire

10 reasons you should be saving and 8 ways to make it happen

Treat your money like the tool that it is! You should get to tell your money, that you work hard for, what it should do for you. Want to go on the most epic beach vacation ever? Money will get you there. Want to be debt-free and not owe a single thing to anyone?

Mega bucket list activity

Aside from your travel bucket list, start dreaming about other big things you want to do in life. Then save up for them!

  1. Superbowl tickets
  2. Going to the Olympics
  3. World Cup

Alright as fun as that was to dream, let’s knock it back down a notch for more practical things to save up for.

More things to save up for: annual payments

Lots of times you can pay for something annually and get a better discount than paying for it monthly. Or the expense is high enough that you don’t want it to surprise you and throw off your budget. It’s helpful to save up for them in advance.

  1. Annual car registration
  2. Annual membership fees, like Amazon Prime
  3. Life insurance
things to save money for
Photo credit: Nikki’s

Health and appearance things that you might want to save for now

You do you! Sometimes you’ll want to make changes to your health and appearance that will cost you a chunk of change. Here are some examples.

  1. Teeth aligners for your best smile
  2. Vision surgery
  3. Laser hair surgery
  4. Other elective surgery like plastic surgery
  5. Large tattoo
  6. Home gym
  7. New bicycle

Things to save up for: having kids!

I mean, nobody ever said having kids was cheap. Saving up to have a baby is only the beginning.

  1. Having a baby
  2. Fertility treatment
  3. Kids college funds
  4. Back to school shopping
  5. Swing set for your kids
  6. Kids birthday parties
  7. Fancy kids toys, like a power wheels
  8. Kids sports and activities
  9. Christmas/Hanukkah
  10. New Christmas tree
  11. New pet (equally for you and your kids, obvi)

Read next: How to Stop Fighting Over Money (do this so you’re both happy)

Want to save money and travel the world?

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    Saving up for your future

    Aside from retirement, there’s plenty of things you might want to save for related to your future.

    1. Going back to college
    2. Further training to advance your career
    3. An online class or training to start a business
    4. Equipment for your side hustle
    5. Supplies to start an Etsy shop
    6. Real estate investment property
    things to save up for
    Photo credit: Nikki’s

    To better the world

    Here are some fun ideas to save up your money to help others.

    1. Start a scholarship fund
    2. Make a big impact in a charity through a large donation
    3. Help to bring water to those born in regions who don’t have it

    More fun things to save up for: lavish items

    Let’s go big or go home here! A few things that you’ll want to save for if you want to live an extravagant life might be:

    1. A horse and stable
    2. Vacation home
    3. Private island
    4. An airplane

    Saving money is important. Hopefully this list is evidence that you can save up for fun stuff or the practical (and sometimes boring) stuff, too.

    Now, what are you saving for? Drop it in the comments below!

    Want more money content? Here you go…
    How to Pay Off Debt: 27 Realistic Ways to Kick Debt to the Curb
    Budgeting 101: How to Make a Budget in 3 Simple Steps
    How to Save $1000 in 30 Days or Less

    100 practical and interesting things to save money for
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    Tamara | The Gutz Life

    Friday 27th of September 2019

    I love how the first 8 are trips... that seems to be what we are always saving up fo!

    Nikki

    Friday 27th of September 2019

    Oh Tamara, me too. ;)

    Justine

    Friday 27th of September 2019

    Great list, wish I had had better money sense when I was younger. Am much better now I have ditched the very expensive ex husband ?.

    Nikki

    Friday 27th of September 2019

    Oh yikes! I think we all have regrets when it comes to money. Glad to hear you're smarter about it these days. :)

    Sunshine

    Friday 27th of September 2019

    Great tips on saving for all areas in life. And a post worth bookmarking too, comes up as a valuable reminder.

    Nikki

    Friday 27th of September 2019

    Thanks for hanging out on the blog today. :)

    Farrah

    Friday 27th of September 2019

    Great list! Having an emergency fund is super important! I'm currently saving up for a house, but since I live in the bay area, that's proooobably gonna take a long while, haha. Short-term goal is to save up a fund to build my own desktop though! :]

    Nikki

    Friday 27th of September 2019

    Nice Farrah! Love those goals. :)

    Rebecca @ Boss Single Mama

    Monday 9th of September 2019

    This is a great list of things to save up for! I love saving money and always have several goals I'm juggling, the biggest being retirement and college funds for my kids. I'm not a spender though so it's easy for me to save just to save, without having a firm goal in mind.