It's true what Grandma said: Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves. Here are four small ways to save without even thinking about it.

1. Set up automatic transfers. Bank the Rest from Scotiabank lets you round up every purchase you make using your debit card to the next multiple of $1 or $5 and transfers the difference to your savings account. Figure out how much you can save with the online calculator at scotiabank.com/banktherest.

And with the Simply Save program from TD, you determine a preset amount (from 50 cents to $5) to transfer to your savings account during each debit transaction or ATM withdrawal. If you make 35 transactions per month and transfer 50 cents each time, you'll save $210 per year. If you transfer $5 each time, you'll save $2,100.

2. Pay yourself first. Arrange for automatic deductions from your chequing account to your savings account every time you get paid. A standard rule of thumb is to save 10 per cent of your net income, but if that seems impossible, start with just one or two per cent and then gradually increase that amount.

3. Banish bank fees. The average Canadian pays $185 per year in bank fees. Keep more money in your pocket by making fewer withdrawals, maintaining a monthly minimum balance, paying your bills online, using only your own bank's ATMs and making sure you have a low-fee banking package with unlimited transactions. Or consider using a no-fee bank such as ING or President's Choice Financial.

4. Stockpile your change. Jeff Griffiths, 55, and Katrine Foss, 48, of Hamilton, empty their pockets every night and put the coins in a big tin can. They save about $600 per year, which they put toward their annual camping trip.


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