NerdWallet: Deciding how to prioritize savings goals can be overwhelming, experts recommend ordering by urgency

Saving money sounds straightforward -- set cash aside for a future purpose -- but in reality, people often face competing savings priorities. We want it all: the travel, the house, the flush savings account. So how do we figure out which savings goals to put first, especially when we're working toward so many things at once?

"You're also still trying to live and have fun and not eat ramen noodles every day," says Al-Nesha Jones, a certified public accountant and founder of ASE Group, a full-service accounting, tax and advisory firm in West Orange, New Jersey. Saving is further complicated by the fact we're currently facing economic uncertainty, higher prices on everyday items and a tumultuous stock market.

Figuring out your savings priorities isn't easy, but these strategies can act as guideposts:

Put your emergency fund first

Consider how you felt the last time you couldn't cover an emergency, Jones said. "If it gave you major anxiety, keep that feeling in mind when you prioritize." In other words, create your emergency fund before everything else, because it's so critical to financial security.

"Now more than ever, people are understanding the importance of a rainy day fund," said Eric Maldonado, certified financial planner and owner of Aquila Wealth Advisors in San Luis Obispo, California. "It's good fundamentals to have cash in case stuff starts costing more."

Next, prioritize retirement

"Retirement is a long-term game and time is on your side, so even if you start with something very small, the more time you give yourself to work on it, the better off you'll be," Jones said. "If you keep pushing retirement off, we blink and now we're scrambling."

Thinking through the worst-case scenarios of not saving for different goals can help underscore the importance of funding retirement accounts. Noah Damsky, principal of Marina Wealth Advisors in Los Angeles, said you should save for the categories with the most severe consequences first -- and retirement tops that list, since no one wants to be impoverished in old age. "Running through those scenarios helps crystallize what's important," Damsky said.

Decide what you want in the near term

This next category of savings priorities is complicated, because you must determine your near-term goals. They might include buying a home, traveling, moving to a new city, starting a family or something else entirely.

Dale L. Shafer II, CFP and founder of Life Moves Wealth Management in Scottsdale, Arizona, recently moved with his family to that area from Michigan, and his near-term goal is to save up to buy a home there. The pandemic spurred many people to make major lifestyle changes, he said, and as a result their near-term savings goals shifted.

"Sometimes we reset expectations and sometimes we achieve more than we thought," he said. It's important to check in on your savings progress at least several times a year so you can recalibrate when needed.

Jay Zigmont, CFP and founder of Childfree Wealth in Water Valley, Mississippi, works with clients who don't have and aren't planning on having children. He said many of them are focused on major life shifts, such as starting a business, moving overseas, traveling or taking a sabbatical from work.

"You might not be able to do everything at once, but you can do most things over time," Zigmont said.

Stay organized

To keep all of these goals straight, Maldonado suggests opening a separate savings account for each one and giving it a nickname, such as "Greece, $5,000" or "Lake cabin rental, $1,500."

Online, high-yield savings accounts tend to offer higher returns than those at traditional banks, and you can set up automatic deductions from your checking account or paycheck.

"It's positive inertia that keeps the money going where you want it," he added.

You can always make changes later.

"Just get in the habit of saving, and then you can go back and add other goals," Jones said.

Enjoy life along the way

As important as it is to save for all of those priorities, so is enjoying life today. Don't wait until you have a fully funded retirement to put money toward items that bring you joy, Jones warned. That's why she's saving to buy a Tesla, which she hopes to purchase by the end of the year.

Maldonado and his wife contribute a set portion of money to a family fun account.

"We drain it every quarter. It's guilt-free spending for the family," he said, and goes toward things such as camping trips, museums or parties. With their savings safely stored in other accounts, it's spending the whole family can feel good about.

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. The content is for educational and informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Kimberly Palmer is a personal finance expert at NerdWallet and the author of "Smart Mom, Rich Mom." Email: kpalmer(at)nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @KimberlyPalmer.

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NerdWallet: Emergency fund calculator https://bit.ly/nerdwallet-emergency-fund-calculator-how-much-will-protect-you