5 clever savings tricks I learned from TikTok helped me add hundreds to my emergency fund in just a couple months

• I made it a goal to bulk up my emergency fund in 2021, and TikTok is helping me get there.
• I've tried using a "budget binder," and saving anything that's leftover from my monthly budget.
• I'm also selling things I no longer need, and saving all my windfalls and bonuses.
• Read more stories from Personal Finance Insider.

Having an emergency fund is important, not only because it's a stash of cash set aside to assist you in case something expensive pops up in your life, but also in case you find yourself suddenly out of work, which in my case is important to plan for.

I'm a solopreneur and a freelancer whose income fluctuates. The pandemic really made me get serious about making sure I had a healthy emergency fund. While some experts say you should have six months' worth of expenses in that account, I wanted to aim to have between eight and 10 months instead.

That's why one of my biggest financial goals of the year includes putting a steady stream of cash into my emergency fund. I've set a goal for how much money I want to put into that savings account every month and have found small ways to cut costs along the way. But over the last few months, I've found myself struggling to find ways to fund my emergency savings account and have been tempted to give up that goal.

After spending quality time on TikTok (my favorite social media platform for entertainment and advice), I came across a few unique and practical ideas to make saving and contributing to my emergency fund a lot easier. Here are some of the inspiring ideas that have helped me get back on track with my emergency fund contributions on a monthly basis.

1. Using a budget binder

I've always enjoyed savings challenges, like using only cash and putting my credit cards away for a few days a week. One visual and fun trick I learned on TikTok was the idea of using a budget binder, where you label different folders (or zipped bags) with what you are saving for and put cash into each of the folders.

I created a budget binder for the next six months of the year. At the start of a new month, I make sure that I put aside a certain amount of cash every week, so at the end of the month I have met my "cash" savings goal (I try to save around $50 to $75 in cash a month) for my emergency fund contribution.

2. Saving any extra bonuses throughout the year

I'm always so tempted to view any extra cash that comes my way during the year as "fun money." When I heard that I'd get a stimulus check and that I was also going to get a tax refund this year, I immediately started researching exciting vacations I could take or even what new gadget I could buy. But the more I sat down and reviewed my financial goals, the more I realized that any money I would receive in 2021 that I didn't expect to receive (meaning anything that's not income) should be used wisely.

I felt inspired by this TikTok video where a woman shares how she's contributing her tax refund and stimulus check to her emergency fund, and it made me commit to putting a chunk of that extra cash into my own fund as well.

3. Putting leftover money from my budget into that account

Another major financial goal of mine for 2021 was to stick to my budget and make sure I wasn't going over allotted amounts for each spending category. While most months so far this year I've found myself cutting it very close and almost going over budget, for the most part I've stayed below my budget by at least $100.

After watching this TikTok video on saving money by grocery shopping strategically, it challenged me to find ways to stay even more under budget every month and put the money I didn't spend, that was allocated for my budget, into that emergency savings account. So far, that's amounted to an extra $200 a month into that fund.

4. Selling the pile of things I no longer need

I've cleaned out my apartment many times during this pandemic and have a closet filled with items I want to discard (from clothing to household accessories). Instead of bringing them to a donation bin, I've decided to carve out the time to sell one of those items a month and put that money in my emergency fund.

This video, on making $1,000 fast, had that as a recommendation and made me realize that If I sell 75% of the items in my pile, I could make that much money if not more, and donate the rest.

Putting an extra $1,000 in my emergency fund just by selling unused or unneeded items around my house is a major win for my savings.

5. Becoming more intentional about discretionary spending

After watching a TikTok video about a woman who saved $10,00 in six months by being more intentional about her purchases, I realized that If I restructured and edited my budget even more, I'd be able to lower the amount I was spending on discretionary items and put even more into an emergency savings fund instead. I could even do this by not limiting myself too much and enjoying things I liked, but just being more intentional about my purchases.

For example, I was able to cut back by $100 last month in that discretionary category by being more mindful about getting together with friends. Instead of doing a workout class with a friend, I invited her over to do an at-home workout video (saving me $25) and instead of spending on a lavish dinner with my cousin, I offered to cook her dinner using a new recipe I really loved (saving $75).

Related Content Module: More Savings Coverage