Don’t use the credit card, save for it! A little good old delayed gratification can go a long way to help you reach your saving goals.

Whether it’s for retirement, your next car or vacation, or just something you really want, saving money takes discipline and patience.

In today’s world of “I want it now”, saving money goes against the grain, but it can be very satisfying to know that you paid for something with your own money, and you own it, not financing it.

There are so many benefits to saving money, for example, not having to pay finance charges, that make you end up paying twice for something over the span of the loan.

Another is that psychological benefit, knowing that you don’t have a monthly payment hanging over your head. Also, when you save money for something, by the time you have enough money to buy it with cash, you realize that you really don’t need it.