How 14 Savings Accounts Keep Me Sane

"A big part of financial freedom

is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life."

— Suze Orman

I have 14 savings accounts.

Not including my main checking and savings in a big bank. Fourteen separate accounts, each with its own name, its own purpose, its own little job to do. They're all housed in a high-yield savings account at an online credit union, which makes it just difficult enough to access that I can't impulse-spend from them. And I've been doing this for at least 25 years.

People think I'm weird. My dad was unimpressed when I told him about it—he thought I was overcomplicating things. So I gave his way a shot. I consolidated everything into one savings account like a normal person. It lasted maybe three months before I went back to my buckets.

Here's what happened: With one account, I didn't know how much I was allowed to spend on what, and that made me feel anxious. I'd look at that one number and think, okay, I have money saved. But for what? I knew I had over $3,000 in my car fund specifically for my next car. If a vacation idea came up, I didn't know how big of a vacation I could take without jeopardizing the car fund. Or the dog fund. Or any of the other things I'm building toward.

The buckets aren't just about organization—they're about clarity and permission. When I see my vacation bucket, I know exactly what I can spend without guilt or second-guessing. I’m on vacation and I still have a bunch of cash left and I want to go out to a nice restaurant?  I’m there.  When an unexpected $904 insurance bill showed up recently, I just paid it from my "yearly needs" account. No stress. No panic. No wondering where the money was going to come from. It was already there, waiting for exactly this moment.

This is what the buckets do for me: they make me feel safe and secure in a grounded, abundant way. This is not scarcity mindset. This is abundance mindset—knowing I have what I need, when I need it. I don't ever have to feel stressed about lack. I have an emergency fund—not because I'm living in fear of what if, but for peace of mind. Just in case. I have a house repair fund for when the roof leaks or the ADU needs maintenance. A dog fund (which I lovingly call "Doggles"). Vacation funds. A fund called "My Next Chapter" that gets $20 a month for my post-retirement dreams—big plans I won't touch for years, but energetically, it's good juju to have it present and growing.

This isn't about expecting something bad to happen, it's about moving toward what I want—and I'm excited to have each one of my buckets. I get to go to Mexico! And Kauai! In the same summer! Because I saved for it. And if something happens to my roof, I'm covered. The buckets regulate my nervous system because when I know exactly how much I have for each goal, I feel calm. Grounded. Like I'm building a life I actually want to live.

Here's how my buckets work, practically: they are all what fancy financial experts call "sinking funds"—money you set aside regularly for expenses you know are coming. My "yearly needs" account is a sinking fund. This is where I save for things like my Costco membership, annual insurance premiums, car registration—all those once-a-year expenses that can feel like they came out of nowhere if you're not ready for them. Instead of scrambling when the bill comes, the money's already there waiting.

Each bucket gets funded automatically on payday. I set it up once, and then I never have to think about it again. The money just goes where it needs to go, and I never notice it's gone. This is ease; the less I have to worry about, the better.

Included along with these sinking funds is, of course, an emergency fund--that's SO important. Also, my vacation funds—I currently have one going for next summer as well as the following summer; each trip gets its own. I budget out how much each bucket needs per month based on priority and timing. Some get $20. Some get $400. It depends on what's coming and what matters most right now. I always over-budget—I'd rather have too much than scramble at the last minute. Things add up faster than you think they will when you're not watching the account obsessively. Start with $25 a month—in four months you'll have $100 towards your goal. This is actually how I saved for my first house, starting with just $25 and adding every bit of extra money I got.

When a bucket reaches its goal—like when I take that cruise next summer to the Mexican Rivera—I don't retire it, I repurpose it. I change the name to my next goal. If there's money left over, I move it to whichever bucket needs it next—or leave it be as seed money for the new goal. The buckets are flexible, not rigid, so that I can change my mind at any time.

The names matter to me, too. These aren't boring budget categories like "Miscellaneous" or "Future Expenses." They're specific and they make me smile: Summer Mexico Cruise. Adventures. My Next Chapter. Each one is a reminder that I'm building toward things I actually want to bring into my life.

Most banks will let you create multiple savings accounts for free, so check the banks you're already using before opening a whole new bank account. If you already have a high-yield savings account somewhere, see if they'll let you create more savings accounts. Set them up with your goals in mind. Name them something that makes you happy. Decide how much each one gets per month. Automate the transfers so you don't have to think about it. And then let them grow quietly in the background while you live your life.

My dad thought I was overcomplicating things. But here's what I know: this system works for me. It's worked for over 25 years. It makes me feel secure, not because I'm hoarding money out of fear, but because I always know I have enough. And that feeling—that solid, grounded, I've-got-this feeling—is worth every extra account.

I am grateful.