From savings beginner to pro: 7 steps to make your money work harder

One in three people aged between 18 and 34 can't cover an unexpected £300 expense, new research to mark UK Savings Week shows.

The Building Societies Association's annual campaign, which runs from 21 to 27 September, aims to raise awareness of the importance of savings. Its report also found that just over a quarter have less than £1,000 stashed away in case of an emergency.

For many people, building a savings pot can feel like a daunting task. But you don’t need thousands in the bank to get started. In seven steps, we show you where to begin and what to do once your nest egg has grown. 

1. Come up with a savings plan

If you have very little saved already, your first priority should be to build an emergency fund. How much you need to stay afloat in the event that the worst happens will depend on your individual circumstances. For example, you may have a family to support, or health problems that mean you don't have a reliable source of income. 

The Financial Conduct Authority recommends having enough money to cover you for three months. If you're retired, however, you may need much more to tide you over – think one to three years' worth.

Building a safety net can feel daunting, especially if money is tight. But starting small and contributing consistently will add up over time. Go through your current spending to identify the things you simply can't live without, and work out what each costs. Then set a target to aim for.

2. Start with an instant-access account

Once you've set a goal, it's time to open a savings account. Instant-access accounts are a great option to start building a pot. They allow you to deposit money whenever you want, and many also let you dip into your pot as often as you need to.

You can often open an instant-access with as little as £1, but make sure you read the small print first. Some deals restrict the number of withdrawals you can make in a year or require you to open a current account first.

Regular savers are another type of account aimed at people who only have a small amount to tuck away each month – typically between £250 and £500. In return, these accounts offer interest rates far higher than most other types of savings product.

• Find out more: Best savings accounts

3. Consider fixing for long-term returns

The downside to instant-access accounts is that their variable rates can rise or fall at any time. Once you’ve built up a sizeable cash pot, it's time to think about moving some of it into fixed-term bonds, which guarantee your rate for the length of the term.

The next question is: how long should you fix for?  

Locking your money away in a bond lasting a year or less is smart if you're worried about losing access to your cash for too long. However, putting funds in an account lasting two to five years protects your nest egg from the impact of falling rates and could therefore leave you better off in the long run.

• Find out more: What are the different types of savings accounts?

4. Switch to a better rate

Always shop around for the best returns, and switch accounts if you find you're no longer getting a competitive rate. 

At the very least, you should pick a savings account with an interest rate above the current inflation figure of 3.1%. Anything below that means your money is effectively losing value over time.

A savings platform is one way to take the legwork out of hunting for the best deals. You’ll have one login and help sourcing market-leading – and sometimes exclusive –  accounts. The downside is that these platforms typically don't cover the whole market, meaning you could miss a top rate offered by a provider that the platform doesn't include. 

The table below shows the top rates available for instant-access and fixed-rate savings accounts, ordered by term.

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5. Compound for greater growth

Compounding can be a powerful way to grow your savings. It means that, as well as earning interest on your savings, you also earn interest on the interest itself. 

The key is to re-save both the initial deposit or balance you fixed and the interest earned on it, so you can maximise your earnings. 

If you aren’t saving for anything in particular, you can repeat every year: earning interest, on interest, on interest.

6. Try the 'staircase strategy'

If you want to take your savings strategy up a notch, try ‘laddering’, also known as the staircase strategy.

The idea is simple: rather than locking all your cash away for the same length of time, spread it across fixed-term accounts that mature at different points.

For example, you could split a lump sum between one, two, three, four and five-year fixes. You don't have to divide it equally between the accounts. You can tailor deposits to how much you’re comfortable locking away and when you might need the cash.

As each account matures, you can reinvest at the rates available at the time, while your longer-term fixes can lock in a rate if savings rates fall.

• Find out more: Should you try the savings 'ladder' trend? 

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7. Open an Isa for tax-free returns

One of the biggest snags to higher rates is that you could end up being taxed on any interest earned on your savings, and those with larger nest eggs are most at risk.

The personal savings allowance means basic-rate taxpayers can earn up to £1,000 a year in savings interest tax-free, while higher-rate taxpayers get a £500 limit. Additional-rate taxpayers have no personal savings allowance.

For example, a basic-rate taxpayer opening today's market-leading one-year fix at 5% AER would exceed their PSA after saving over £20,000. For higher-rate taxpayers, this falls to £10,000.

The best way to avoid a bill from HMRC is to open an Isa. They allow you to save up to £20,000 tax-free every year, and adults can choose from four types of products - the cash Isa, stocks and shares Isa, innovative finance Isa and the lifetime Isa. 

Although the cash Isa limit for savers under 65 will fall to £12,000 from April 2027, the overall Isa allowance will remain at £20,000. Under-65s wanting to use their full Isa allowance will need to invest at least £8,000 in a stocks and shares Isa. 

The most popular product is the cash Isa, which works in much the same way as a traditional savings account. This table shows the best instant-access and fixed-term cash Isa deals, ordered by term:

• Find out more: Best cash Isas