When I had a job (that is a whole 'nother story), I'd put half my paycheck in my savings and half in checking. I saved almost $3000 in 5 months. I had another savings account at BB&T which my dad cashed out without my permission (again, a whole new story) and put it in a bad mutual fund in which he was given a tip that the mutual fund was good. He put my whole savings account, which was $2000, into the bad mutual fund and it depreciated down to approximately $257. Well, he cashed out the $257 and repaid me what it had lost because he put MY $$ into something I never gave him permission to do. Now, I have almost $5000 in my savings account. When I get a new job, I'll pay my bills with the first paycheck of the month and the remaining $$, I'll put half in the savings and half in the checking (so I can have gas $$ and spending cash).