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When it comes to talking money, it's easy to reveal what we spent—on a travel deal or a pair of boots that were totally worth it. But it's another story to talk about how much we actually save. Here, 11 women share how much they save from their paycheck each month. Their answers will surprise you, and motivate you to get your own savings plan going, if you don't have one already.
1. Whatever I can!
"My income is $25,000 a year, but I make a point to try and save 10 percent of whatever I earn. Right now, it seems like expenses come up midway through the year that wipe away my savings. I hope to begin creating an actual nest egg in the future, but for right now, this is what works for me." —Niki, 30, social media consultant and freelance writer, Los Angeles, CA
2. $100 a month
"I've been at a tech start-up since I've graduated college. I put $100 a month away, and then I also make sure to use my salary to pay off my student loans as well." —Jessica, 27, SEO specialist, Los Angeles, CA
3. $750 a month
"When I made the decision to quit my corporate job and go into business for myself, I knew it would be up to me to give myself a 'paycheck.' I made the decision to save 10 percent of my income each month, no matter what. As my business as a life coach and empowerment speaker got more successful, I decided to push that figure up to 20 percent—which averages to about $750 a month." —Eboni, entrepreneur, 38, Talladega, AL
4. $870 per month
"In my twenties, I was working as a flight attendant and had very minimal expenses—and a minimal paycheck. Now, I'm married with a house, and have a lot of 'real life' bills—and needed to develop a system. First, 10 percent of my pre-tax check goes into my 401(k). After that, $150 per month goes into my personal savings account for short-term spending goals, $170 goes to my health savings account, $50 goes into a short-term emergency savings account (a just-in-case for things like car repairs) and $500 goes into an emergency fund (for major crises like a job loss) —Maigen, 34, web developer, Portland, OR
5. 60 percent of my paycheck
"I'm an entrepreneur, so my monthly income varies. Regardless, I've made it a point to become a super saver and put 60 percent into savings for retirement every month. I put bonuses into what I call my 'luxury account,' where I'll pull from for shopping, dinners out, and travel." —Ileea, 28, travel consultant, Little Rock, AR
6. $6,000 a month
"My husband does well, so all the money I make after taxes gets put into savings. Separating our money this way and living off one income gives us a generous emergency fund, and it also allows us to enjoy extras we wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. We're also saving for when—and if—we decide to have kids—we want to be able to have flexibility in terms of making choices for childcare." —Rachel, 29, public relations account supervisor, New York, NY
7. $1,000 a month
"I was having a lot of trouble saving money, until I started a side gig as a personal trainer. I'm passionate about fitness and decided to get my certification for fun. Now, I'm in year two of building a client base and every paycheck I get goes into an account. The only money I take out of this account is for paying taxes; other than that, I'm investing in myself." —Kacey, 29, university administrator, Seattle, WA
8. $500 a month
"My husband and I both have $500 a month go into a joint emergency account. Eventually, we'll blend our finances, but for right now, it works best to keep our accounts mainly separate. Sharing a bank account and committing to saving that much a month is helping us get on the same page financially." —Jenna, 27, teacher, Highlands Ranch, CO
9. $3,000 a month
"I make triple what I made when I started out, but my expenses haven't increased at all. I don't use credit cards, I still have a roommate, and I shop sales when possible. I'm saving to buy a house, so whenever I get annoyed at what I'm missing, I think big picture." —Jaimie, software tester, Chicago, IL
10. Nothing
"I'm embarrassed to admit it, but it's the truth. I make six figures, and although I definitely put away 5 percent in my 401(k) (and my company matches that to 3 percent), I never have any money left over at the end of the month—and what I do have needs to go to credit card bills and student loans. I definitely need to step it up, especially when I see friends investing or buying houses." —Ellen, 31, HR administrator, Boston, MA
11. $100 a month
"I made a decision to be pretty aggressive tackling my student loans, so my payment is nearly $2,000 a month. I don't have that much leftover to save, but I figured I could do $100 a month. I put it in a 'don't touch' account, and my goal this year is to figure out how to invest it. Now that there's almost $3,000 in there it definitely is showing me that a little can pay off." —Liz, 28, lawyer, Jersey City, NJ
