Lessons About Investing, Saving, and Getting Rich Most People Learn Too Late in LifeThe secret to saving is start early and save often. Create a savings plan so you can manage your money and stick to your goal. Change one regular spending habit and save. Small spending changes add up to big savings in the long run.Sometimes the hardest thing about saving money is just getting started. This step-by-step guide for how to save money can help you develop a simple and realistic strategy, so you can save for all your short- and long-term savings goals. One of the best ways to save money is to set a goal. Start by thinking of what you might want to save for—perhaps you’re getting married, planning a vacation or saving for retirement. Then figure out how much money you’ll need and how long it might take you to save it.Why Is Saving Important?Unless you’re fabulously wealthy, it’s likely that large expenses in your life will require planning in order to purchase. Define what you’re saving for to help keep you on track when it comes to avoiding unnecessary purchases. For example, if you remember that your goal is to save $100,000 over the next ten years in your child’s college fund, it will be a lot easier to stay out of the drive-thru line. Consider that you may need to save up for pricey necessities like a car and a home. The average American will own a total of six cars in their lifetime, so it may be a good idea to start saving for your next vehicle now, even if you don’t currently need one.Finally, it’s essential to save for retirement from your first job to your last. According to a recent study, most Americans near retirement have only save twelve percent of the recommended amount for retirement. That may be because getting to a place where you have extra income to save takes time, but may also be because many people don’t practice good money-saving techniques from an early age.