How to Save More, Automatically

Just remember, you'll have to make sure your bank account balance has enough funds to pay the bills when they're due, or you could be subject to insufficient fund or overdraft fees.

Retirement Savings Under Your Radar

Anyone contributing to a 401(k) knows that contributions taken right out of your paycheck really add up over time, even if the market downturn has taken a chunk out of their balances in the past year. But even if you're self-employed and contribute to an IRA, you can make automatic contributions as well if you have an account with Fidelity, Schwab (Stock Quote: SCHW) or other financial services companies that offer the feature.

Automatic for the Children

If you have kids and you've been making adequate contributions to your retirement savings plans, a 529 plan is a great investment vehicle to help you save for college. And you can schedule periodic automatic payments online. Minimum contributions can be as low as $25, and you may be able to set up automatic deductions from your bank account once every week, month or quarter.