SmartyPig Review: What it is and How it works

Setting and achieving goals for ourselves is important. I would even say it’s vital… especially when it comes to money. It is possible to get things you want without going into debt, and SmartyPig is proof of that. Let me share with you this SmartyPig Review, in hopes you realize just how amazing it is!

SmartyPig is a type of ‘micro savings’ program that helps you set and achieve savings goals. In fact, their members have saved upwards of $5 billion. And these are just normal people taking their savings goals seriously.

You can too, and it’s completely free.

SmartyPig Review: What it is and How it works

What is a SmartyPig Account?

It is an online goal-oriented savings account designed to make it easy for you to set and achieve savings goals. They refer to it as an “online piggybank”. What’s really cool is that you can have as many piggy banks as you want. They take a second to set up and it’s all free!

How is it different from a Savings Account at a Traditional Bank?

With a traditional bank, if you wanted to set different savings goals, you’d have to open up multiple accounts and manage everything. And then there’s the hassle of opening up accounts in the first place. Beyond that, many savings accounts have high balance minimums, requirements, and embarrassingly low-interest rates.

Once you open a SmartyPig account, you can make as many financial goal savings accounts as you want, and move money among them however you want. Instantly. Plus, their interest rates are much higher than typical bank savings accounts. I mean, they aren’t as high as they were in the ‘old days’, but much better. To check out their current rates, click here.

Not too bad! Additionally, SmartyPig is not a bank in the sense that they hold your money. They help you save while it is held by Sallie Mae Bank and is FDIC-insured. You will need a traditional savings and/or checking account as the funding account for your SmartyPig accounts. Or, you can set up a portion of your paycheck direct deposit into it.

How Should I Use It?

The overall focus of their services is a save-then-spend mentality. Their accounts are not designed to focus on retirement investing or really long term saving, but on helping you achieve shorter-term spending goals and avoiding debt. Members use their SmartyPig accounts on things like:

• Saving for a vacation
• Building that Emergency Fund
• Saving for a new family computer
• A down payment
• Christmas savings
• Education for the kids
• Birthday gifts

How does it work?

Once you decide on what you want to save up for, here’s what you do and what makes a SmartyPig account work for you:

1. Make your new financial goal
2. Punch in your total goal amount
3. Add a target date for your goal (optional)
4. They will calculate how much you will need to deposit regularly to meet your goal, but this is just a suggestion.
5. Determine an automatic transfer amount, or manually add funds as you want. The automatic transfer option is great because you can build it right into your budget, and it will take the sting and hassle out of manually transferring it all the time.
6. Once your goal is reached, transfer the funds to your checking account and pay for them with CASH!
7. If there is some left over, move it to another one of your goals, or leave it for next year’s vacation or Christmas.

Get Free Money for Referring Friends

For every friend that you refer to Smarty Pig using your unique link, you earn $10! When a friend opens an account and deposits $25 into that account, you earn $10!

What is the User Interface like?

Their Desktop and Mobile interface are both very intuitive and user-friendly. With their mobile app, you can keep track of your goals wherever you are, and transfer money out as needed. With accounts like this, if they aren’t easy and quick to use, it makes the whole process a chore. SmartyPig gets this and wants to make the process of saving as simple as possible and it shows with their interface. Here’s what it looks like:

Is it Free?

YES. It is completely free! That includes: setting up an account, creating an unlimited amount of savings goals, and any withdrawals. All free. But, like with any savings account, there are some withdrawal limitations imposed by the federal government.

Can I Spend Money Directly from these accounts?

No. They are not designed that way. That’s not their purpose. I think it’s better this way. They are strictly an interest-bearing way to help you save for your financial goals. Once the goals are reached, just move the money back into your checking account.

How Do I sign up?

Again, signing up is free, and it doesn’t take long at all.

In addition to these items, you’ll need a state-issued ID. Beyond that, they will verify your account by making a couple small deposits and equal withdrawal from your checking or savings account.

Ask yourself these questions:

Is there something you have been wanting to save up for?

Something you should be saving up for (like your emergency fund)?

Or something you need to be saving up for?

– If you answered “yes” to any of these questions. SmartyPig is for you! –

Disclosure:

Please note that I was compensated by Sallie Mae for providing this content. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

SmartyPig Accounts are offered through Sallie Mae Bank, Member FDIC.

Current SmartyPig Accountholders can get a reward for each new valid SmartyPig Deposit Accountholder(s) referral via the Refer a Friend Program. To get the $10 reward, you must submit your friend’s email address on the form provided on our website or via the link we send you, or your friend must apply using a valid Program code. Your referred friend(s) must open a SmartyPig Account and fund that Account with at least $25 within 30 days of receiving the invite. The $10 reward will be deposited into your SmartyPig Account within 90 days of completion of the requirements. Maximum of 100 referrals per Accountholder, up to $1,000. Sallie Mae reserves the right to revoke, change, or terminate this promotional offer at any time without notice.  Other terms and conditions apply