America Saves Week 2026: Do You Have a Savings Plan?

News headlines often declare that Americans aren’t saving enough money. In fact, a recent survey by Bankrate found less than half of those surveyed had enough money to afford a $1,000 emergency expense.

April 6 through April 10 is America Saves Week, an annual initiative of the Consumer Federation of America, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. It promotes the value of saving money and the importance of making a plan to save.

The America Saves Week campaign encompasses five themes throughout the week to help make the process of building a saving plan less overwhelming. It’s all about taking small steps that make a big difference in your financial future.

Building a strong foundation

A strong financial foundation begins with knowing where you are and where you want to go. That means taking time to understand your income, track your spending, and identify your goals.

One of the easiest ways to strengthen your financial foundation is to automate your savings. When you schedule regular transfers from your checking to your savings account, you remove the temptation to spend first and save later. You can start small with just $10 or $20 from each paycheck and increase the amount over time.

Expect the unexpected

Whether it’s a flat tire, a medical bill, or a surprise home repair, unexpected expenses can happen any time. Having an emergency fund—even a modest one of just $500—can protect you from relying on credit cards or feeling stressed when something goes wrong.

That first $500 is your first win. From there, you can build toward a larger goal, like one month of living expenses, and eventually three to six months.

Dream big and plan with purpose

Beyond savings for emergencies, you might also be working toward a major milestone in life, such as buying a home, starting a family, or paying for education. Identifying the milestones that are important to you and being deliberate about saving can help focus your efforts and gives you something tangible to work toward.

Rewrite the debt narrative

Rewriting the debt narrative is all about shifting your mindset: Every payment you make, no matter how small, moves you closer to financial freedom and confidence.

Tackling debt can feel overwhelming, but two popular strategies can make it more manageable. The snowball method involves focusing on your smallest debt first for quick wins and motivation, while the avalanche method focuses on paying off your highest-interest debt first to save the most money over time.

Your story, your future

Whatever your savings goal, start small and build on that momentum over time. Financial success rarely happens overnight. It’s built through small, consistent habits that add up over time. Every intentional step you take today will help shape the life you want tomorrow.

PERA resources to build financial confidence

Our Financial Wellness Library contains articles on topics such as saving and planning, creating a budget, and getting ready to retire.

We also offer a variety of webinars—live and on-demand—to help PERA members better understand their benefits and retire with confidence.

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