Many people make the mistake of following self-help guides. While the internet is a treasure trove of personal finance bloggers who are at the top of their game, the advice tends to be one size fits all.

Sometimes all people need is a push to get going and some support along the way. Here are a few suggestions for a painless and fun way to improve your bank balance.

1. Turn saving money into a game

Make saving money the same as playing computer games that are designed to reward people with upgraded armour, more coins, more gems and so on.

Set up a saving game that is fun and gives real rewards. Personalise it to meet certain goals.

For example, an individual could hand over their paycheque to a spouse or a trustworthy family member who makes sure that the bills are paid and there is money to spare at the end of the month.

This money can only be accessed once a certain goal has been reached, say RM1,000. A small sum can then be “withdrawn”.

To make it more interesting, compete with friends and family who are in the same situation and motivate each other.

Whoever saves the most is owed a favour, having a meal cooked or being taken out for a drive wherever they want to go. The possibilities are endless. Get inspired and make up a little game and have fun saving money.

2. Get intimate with your money

Research shows it is more painful to spend cash than use a credit card. Owning a credit card can be exciting but it allows one to spend beyond one’s means and makes it even harder to save.

If an individual finds themselves spending too much on credit, they should remove temptation and give up the card. Ask a sibling or parent for permission to use theirs in an emergency. They will not give it easily.

It is much more satisfying to open a wallet and see exactly how much money is available. But beware, research has shown that the more worn out the notes are, the more prone one is to get rid of them. So, exchange old notes for fresh ones regularly.

Another trick the older generation would be familiar with is to stash cash on a regular basis in hiding places around the house – the more the better. It’s surprising just how much money can be saved in this way

Another more popular way to get personal with one’s finances is to use a budgeting app.

Find one that fits and make a habit of using it like Facebook. Blog about it and let everyone know about the milestones reached. Inspire others to come along on the journey.

3. Give money the value it deserves

What if we could turn back time to the days there was no currency and a barter system was used? Well, an individual barter system can encourage saving.

Assign scary price tags to the amount one might be tempted to spend on something unnecessary. For example, take a fancy coffee for RM15 – that’s one week’s worth of transport. Is it worth walking to the office every day for one week? Because that’s the price of that cup of coffee.

Assign tangible values to things with equal weight of importance — rent or interest on debt and so on. This discourages spending and encourages saving.

Another way to save is to keep only big notes in the wallet. Have some change for parking fees or other absolute necessities but for the rest keep RM50 and RM100 notes.

It can be painful to break up a RM100 note just for a RM15 coffee. It’s all about playing mind games.

4. ‘Water’ money regularly so it grows

This is not about a mythical plant that rains currency notes if it is watered regularly. It is about reality and putting money to work. Instead of saving up to buy a new smartphone or spending it all on a mortgage, add to the retirement nest egg.

Saving for retirement needs to start in the twenties. The longer one saves, the more one saves.

Apart from inflation, there is rising potential for technology to replace people and getting work in old age can be difficult, so it is better to be safe than sorry.

The money can be put away in a savings account, but saving in a bank account can be as slow as snails given the interest rates.

A better option to earn higher returns is investing. But remember that investing comes with risk.

The only way to reduce the risk while enjoying a good rate of return is to educate oneself about the investment vehicle. Investing money is the way to future financial security.

Bottom line, make every day a fun, new experience to look forward to and customise each saving opportunity into a new game. With each passing day, saving will become as easy as checking notifications on Facebook.

This article first appeared in kclau.com

KC Lau’s first book Top Money Tips for Malaysians has sold thousands of copies. He launched the first online personal finance course specifically designed for Malaysians, entitled the Money Automation System. He also co-founded many other online financial courses including the Bursa Method, Property Method, Founder Method and REIT Method.