The number one rule of personal finance: you have to save money. Why? Because it makes your grandma proud. Because everyone knows you’re supposed to live on less than you make. Because it’s just the proper thing to do, right? Maybe, but those aren’t very motivating reasons.

What if I told you there is no such thing as saving money? It’s an illusion. It isn’t even real.

And once you realize that, you’ll be even more motivated to save money. Come alongside my young Padawan, cause I’m going to teach you a Jedi money mind trick.

The problem with savings accounts

If I was to ask a random person Billy Eichner style , “What does it mean to save money?” the most common answer would be, “Putting money in a savings account.” Most people think the act of parking money in a savings account is synonymous with saving money. In fact, a lot of marketing makes us think in terms of accounts, because financial institutions benefit from it!

And there’s nothing wrong with using a savings account!…