Hey, It’s Monday, which means another Making Cents with Mouni is here. On October 1st, this little newsletter officially turns six months old—and last week we crossed 100 subscribers. If you’ve been here since April, you might remember those first emails: clunky formatting, no clear direction… basically me tossing words into your inbox and hoping for the best. Thank you for sticking around as this has slowly taken shape. To celebrate these milestones, I’ve refreshed my website, updated my booking flow, launched new social accounts—and I’m kicking off a special giveaway 🎉. One winner will get a $50 Amazon gift card AND 2 free 1:1 coaching sessions with me. How to enter: |
Follow Mouni Finance on socials (links below)
Forward a Mouni Finance email to a friend (just CC me so I know)
Or subscribe if you’re brand new here (all you current subscribers are already set on this one)
Each action = one entry (1 entry for every social you follow and 1 for every person you forward an email to). The giveaway runs through October 19th, and the winner will be announced in the October 20th newsletter.
Alright, milestone moment complete—let’s get back to the Money Map. Today we’re on Step 6: Save for Soon.
Why Step 6 exists (and why most people skip it) Most systems jump from “build an emergency fund” to “invest for the long term.” But what about money you’ll definitely need in the next 1–3 years for a down payment, wedding, tuition, a reliable car, or a move? Markets can swing sharply even within a single year; the S&P 500’s average intra-year drop has been about 14%, yet many of those years still finished positive. Translation: big dips happen even in good years. I recommend matching your money to your time horizon: shorter timelines usually call for safer, more liquid options—think cash equivalents—because you don’t have enough time to recover from a drawdown. Bottom line: If you know you’ll spend the money soon, don’t invest it in stocks just because “cash feels boring.” Boring is a feature here—not a bug. |
Where to Park “Soon” Money (1–3 Year Goals) Think capital preservation + easy access. Here are solid parking spots: |
High-Yield Savings Account (HYSA) or Money Market Deposit Account
Easy access, variable APY, federally insured when held at an FDIC-insured institution. Great default for timelines under ~18–24 months.Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
Often higher yields than savings; trade-off is locking funds until maturity (watch early-withdrawal penalties, commonly measured in months of interest). Stagger maturities (a “CD ladder”) if your date is flexible. CDs at FDIC-insured banks are insured like savings.U.S. Treasury Bills (T-Bills) or a T-Bill ladder
Backed by the U.S. government; terms from 4–52 weeks; interest is exempt from state and local taxes. You can buy them at TreasuryDirect or via a brokerage. Useful when your date is known and within a year.Series I Savings Bonds (I Bonds) (niche but sometimes helpful)
Inflation-linked, but you can’t redeem in the first 12 months, and redeeming before 5 years costs you 3 months’ interest; $10,000 annual purchase limit per person. Good only if your timeline is >12 months and you’re okay with the lockup.
How Much to Save (and How to Systematize it) 1) Define the target.
2) Set up a monthly number. 3) Protect your Step 3 (Emergency Fund). 4) Automate and label. 5) Choose the right parking mix. |
< 12 months: mostly HYSA /T-Bills; if exact month is known, a short CD can make sense.
12–24 months: blend HYSA + CD ladder + T-Bills to balance yield and access.
24–36 months: still prioritize safety; if you stretch at all, keep it conservative and time-matched (e.g., more CDs/T-Bills).
🧮 Use My Savings Calculator It’s one thing to know you should save, and another to see exactly what it will take to reach your goal. That’s where a simple calculator can make the difference. I built the Mouni Savings Calculator to help you: |
Set a clear target (down payment, tuition, car, etc.)
Break it into monthly/weekly numbers you can actually plan around
Stay motivated as you track your progress over time
Instead of guessing—or stalling—you’ll have a clear roadmap for how much to save and when you’ll reach your goal.
Sometimes the best next step isn’t a big leap, it’s just getting the math out of your head and into a system that works for you. |
Giveaway Reminder To celebrate 6 months + 100 subscribers, I’m hosting a giveaway through October 19: the winner receives a $50 Amazon gift card AND 2 free 1:1 coaching session.
If this email helped, would you forward it to someone who’s saving for a home or wedding? That one nudge might save them from a lot of stress later. |
With you, |
P.S. Some links may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission. No extra cost to you, and I only share what I trust! |
