- My high-yield account balance is $53,520, and $7,220 of that is interest earnings.
- By combining the reverse budgeting method with automated saving, I curbed my spending and saved nearly $50,000 in under two years.
- Every month, my account pays me around $150 in interest, and my balance keeps growing.
- At the national average savings rate of 0.38% (as of 06/15/26), $20,000 earns $76 a year. The same balance could earn up to ten times more with a SoFi Checking and Savings account. See SoFi®'s current rate.
I have just over $53,520 in a high-yield cash management account. I started saving about four years ago, in September 2022. I already had an IRA at this institution, and the platform's cash reserve account was offering 2.25% APY, a solid yield at the time.
I gave myself a head start with three $5,000 monthly deposits, and then I automated $1,000 a month, increasing my deposit when I had extra income, until March 2024.
I've needed to lower my contributions in recent years based on my income and life circumstances, and I've made a few withdrawals.
But the practice of automating a monthly deposit into a high-yield account has changed the way I spend and save, and my earnings have surpassed my expectations, providing a source of ongoing income even when my contributions dropped to $0.
What I actually contributed vs. what the account paid
Like many high-yield accounts, the account has a variable APY, which means the interest rate fluctuates. Over the last four years, the APY has ranged from 2.25% to 5.00% at its peak. Currently, the account offers 3.5% APY. Compare that to the national average savings rate of just 0.37%, according to the FDIC.
My net deposits (money in minus money out) for the four years equaled $46,300.
Here's a breakdown of how I got to $53,520.42:
- Deposits: $51,800
- Withdrawals: $5,500
- Interest earned: $7,220.42
- Ending balance: $53,520.42
| If you have | One year at 0.38% APY (national average) | One year at 3.80% APY (example) | You are leaving behind |
| $10,000 | $38 | $380 | $342 |
| $25,000 | $95 | $950 | $855 |
| $40,000 | $152 | $1,520 | $1,368 |
| $50,000 | $190 | $1,900 | $1,710 |
| $100,000 | $380 | $3,800 | $3,420 |
Why I picked $1,000
After reviewing several months of my spending, I determined that $1,000 was an amount I could comfortably contribute without restricting my everyday spending too harshly. I had already picked the reverse budgeting method as my savings strategy of choice, and now I was going to put it to the test.
For those unfamiliar, this method involves paying yourself first, setting aside the money you intend to save, and spending only what remains in your checking account.
I knew that automating $1,000 deposits into my savings account every month would keep me from overspending on things I didn't need while still allowing me the luxury of dinner or drinks with friends once a week.
Having your checking and savings accounts with the same financial institution can make money management a lot simpler. SoFi® was our 2026 award winner for Best Checking and Savings Combo because it delivers on interest and additional features.
For example, you could earn up to 4.20% APY on your savings balance with direct deposit. (3.30% APY2 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/2026. Full terms at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/">sofi.com/banking</a>. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 0.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 9/23/26. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at <a href="https://d32ijn7u0aqfv4.cloudfront.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/raw/SoFi-Bank-Rate-Sheet-September-23-2026.pdf">http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.90% APY Boost) for up to 6 Months on new accounts.1 <p>Earn up to 4.20% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on one SoFi Savings account with a 0.90% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 9/23/26) for up to 6 months. Open your first SoFi Checking and Savings account and receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 12/31/26. Rates are variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#4">sofi.com/banking#4</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> SoFi also offers more special features than any other account combo we looked at:
No account fees: No overdraft fees.3 <p>Overdraft Coverage is a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi website.</p> No minimum balance fees. No monthly fees.4 <p>We do not charge any account, service, or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge transaction fees for outgoing wire transfers, Instant Transfers, and global remittance transfers. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a>.</p>
Get paid up to two days early: Feel the magic of payday up to two days earlier — automatically — when you set up direct deposit.5 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3M: Typically, single-member deposit accounts are federally insured up to $250,000. With SoFi, FDIC insurance up to $3 million on deposits is available through a seamless network of participating banks.6 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
Open an account with SoFi here.
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What automation changed about how I spend
My strategy worked. I had enough room in my budget that I could buy a new sweater or replace my broken headphones without wrestling with whether to withdraw from my savings, but I also wasn't tempted to buy every premium beauty product advertised to me on Amazon.
When the post-holiday sales rolled around that year, it was less about the discounts and more about the practical impact of the expense; some items were in my budget after I met my savings goal, and others weren't. With that one simple change, I successfully curbed my spending and was on track to reach my savings goals.
I kept my deposit at $1,000 for three months. In March 2023, encouraged by my account's growth so far, I started increasing my deposit in months when I had extra income from freelancing. My account makes it easy to update my recurring deposit with a few clicks in the mobile app, so whenever my balance got high, I increased my deposit for the following month.
What happened when I couldn't afford the automated deposit
I kept saving at least $1,000 a month until March 2024, when I started having health problems, and the medical bills hit me hard. This, my friends, is why we build emergency funds.
By this point, I already had nearly $50,000 in my account. At first, I reduced my automated deposit to $500. Once I had established the habit of saving, it was easy to adjust the amount to fit my changing budget. Eventually, as I came to terms with the reality of chronic illness, I stopped contributing altogether.
But here's the thing: I still get paid interest every month, and that interest gets paid directly to my account, so the balance keeps growing. I've made withdrawals when I needed to, but I've still kept my balance above $50,000.
Last year, I reduced my hours to part time to take care of my health needs, cutting my income in half. One reason I felt comfortable with that decision is that I had a well-stocked emergency fund. With that safety net, I knew I could get by with less monthly income.
Setting it up
One thing I love about my account is how easy it is to manage auto-deposits from the mobile app. Once you have a connected bank account, you just enter your recurring deposit amount and choose a frequency.
I chose monthly on the first of the month because it worked best with my reverse budgeting strategy. I get paid at the end of the month, and I wanted the money in my account before I could spend it. But my account lets you choose twice a month, weekly, or even exact dates. It's just as easy to edit, skip, or turn off an upcoming auto-deposit, so you can see how it works for you and revise on the fly.
Bottom line
After less than two years of automating $1,000 a month and four years of watching my money grow, I have $53,520 in savings. For a while, I couldn't afford to make recurring deposits, but I still collected between $150 and $200 in interest each month. Recently, I've found room in my budget to start automating $50 a month — a little goes a long way.
FAQs
How much should I automatically transfer to savings each month?
Choose an amount that works for your budget, or consider choosing a savings strategy to get started. Start with an amount you know you can comfortably set aside and work your way up.
What happens if my account is short on the transfer date?
It depends on where you bank and whether you have overdraft coverage. If you have overdraft coverage turned on, your bank may allow the transfer and charge you a fee. Otherwise, the transfer might be declined and skipped until the next scheduled date. If that happens repeatedly, your bank could cancel the recurring transfer.
Opting out of overdraft coverage protects you from fees on debit card and ATM transactions, but some banks could still charge a fee on a transfer. A checking account with no overdraft fees could help you avoid that.
Is it better to automate savings weekly or monthly?
It depends on your payment frequency and savings strategy. For example, if you get paid weekly, you might want to set up an automatic weekly deposit a few days after payday to pay yourself first.
On the other hand, if all your bills are due at the beginning of the month, you may want to set up an automatic monthly deposit after your bills are paid to give yourself time to adjust the amount when you're starting out. If you need to start small, consider an app that lets you save your spare change.
Would You Spend Ten Minutes for $1,465?
That's roughly the year's difference on $40,000 between the national average and the up-to-4.00% rates available now. And ten minutes isn't a figure of speech. You just provide some information, like your name, address, Social Security number, and the account your deposit money's coming from. But rates are variable and follow the market, which is why the only number worth acting on is today's. Compare the current top accounts here.
| Bank/Institution | APY | Bonus Offer | Open Account | Bonus Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2026 AWARD WINNER
Best Checking and Savings Combo
|
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|
4.20
With $0 min. balance
%
APY
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Limited-Time Offer: +0.90% boost on Savings APY to up to 4.20% for up to 6 months on new accounts1 <p>Earn up to 4.20% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on one SoFi Savings account with a 0.90% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 9/23/26) for up to 6 months. Open your first SoFi Checking and Savings account and receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 12/31/26. Rates are variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#4">sofi.com/banking#4</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> + $50 or $400 Bonus with eligible direct deposit.2 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/2026. Full terms at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/">sofi.com/banking</a>. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 0.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 9/23/26. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at <a href="https://d32ijn7u0aqfv4.cloudfront.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/raw/SoFi-Bank-Rate-Sheet-September-23-2026.pdf">http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> Terms apply. | |||
|
4.20
With $250+ monthly deposits
%
APY
|
— | |||
|
3.64
With $1 min. balance7 <p>APY means Annual Percentage Yield. APY is accurate as of as of 09/01/26. This is a variable rate account, Interest rate and APY may change after initial deposit. Minimum initial deposit to open account and earn interest is $1.00.</p>
%
APY
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Limited-Time Offer: Use code STACK to earn a cash bonus based on your savings balance. Earn up to $50 for $10,000, $125 for $25,000, $250 for $50,000, $500 for $100,000, or $1,000 for $200,000 or more. Visit site for full details.8 <p>New customers only. Earn a cash bonus (the "Welcome Bonus") when you deposit and maintain funds with partner banks on the Raisin platform. Customers will receive a Welcome Bonus of $40 for depositing between $10,000 and $24,999; $100 for depositing between $25,000 and $49,999; $200 for depositing between $50,000 and $99,999; $425 for depositing between $100,000 and $199,999; and $900 for depositing $200,000 or more. If the Qualifying Deposit balance declines at any time during the maintenance period below the minimum required for a bonus tier, the customer will be placed in the bonus tier corresponding to the lowest Qualifying Deposit balance maintained during that period. </p><p>Savings + CD Boost: Customers eligible for the Welcome Bonus may earn an additional bonus by opening a product in a second product category. To qualify, customers must deposit at least $1,000 into the secondary product category within 14 days of their initial deposit and maintain balances over $1,000 in both categories through 90 days from the initial deposit date.</p><p>For the purposes of this promotion, High-Yield Certificates of Deposit constitute one product category; No-Penalty CDs and Callable CDs constitute a second product category; and Savings Accounts (including Money Market Deposit Accounts, High-Yield Savings Accounts, and Rate Lock Savings Accounts) constitute a third product category. Savings + CD Boost eligibility is determined by your Welcome Bonus tier: customers depositing between $10,000–$24,999 receive an additional $10; $25,000–$49,999 receive an additional $25; $50,000–$99,999 receive an additional $50; $100,000–$199,999 receive an additional $75; and $200,000 or more receive an additional $100. </p><p>The Savings + CD Boost is optional and paid in addition to the Welcome Bonus. To qualify for the Welcome Bonus and Savings + CD Boost, your first deposit must be initiated between September 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026, by 11:59 PM ET, and the promo code STACK must be entered at the time of sign-up. Only funds deposited within 14 days of the initial deposit date and maintained with partner banks on the Raisin platform for 90 days of the initial deposit date will be eligible for the Welcome Bonus and Savings + CD Boost. Bonus cash will be credited directly to your Cash Account within 30 days of meeting all qualifying terms. This offer is available to new customers only, is non-transferable, and may not be combined with any other bonus offers. Raisin may modify or end this offer at any time and may withhold or revoke bonuses in cases of fraud, abuse, or violation of these terms or Raisin’s Terms of Service.</p> | |||
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