Building a savings account isn’t easy. But it’s also not hard. Unfortunately, many people begin building their savings accounts operating under some common misconceptions that may be more detrimental to your finances than they are beneficial. To make the most out of your saving goals, reconsider these four financial myths:

Savings Myth 1: Buying On Credit Can Save Money

If someone has ever tried to convince you that using a credit card will somehow save you money, they’re wrong. No matter what you’re buying, credit is always more expensive than cash. Once interest starts piling onto the original purchase price, the item is all of a sudden more expensve than it was when you bought it. Every now and then you might have to use a credit card. If you do, make sure you pay off your balance as quickly as possible. Otherwise, try to spend only your own money.

Savings Myth 2: You Can’t Start Saving Without Lots of Money

You don’t need a huge salary in order to start putting money away. There are countless ways to save money here and there, and even to make some extra on the side. The trick to building a savings account is organizing your budget to make savings a monthly priority. Challenge yourself to tuck away as little as $5-10 every other week toward your savings. You might be surprised how quickly you’ll have a nest egg to fall back on if you should ever confrton a financial emergency later on.

Savings Myth 3: Saving Money Requires Sacrifice

If you’re goal is just to save a little money, you don’t have to live like a miser. Small changes in your routine can put money into your savings without noticeably changing your lifestyle. Something like packing lunch once or twice a week and putting your lunch money into savings can make a big difference. Don’t make savings too hard on yourself; work it into your regular routine without giving up the things you enjoy.

Savings Myth 4: Bulk Buying is Cheaper

Even though the per-item price is likely less, sometimes buying in bulk costs you money. Have you ever bought too much of something and had to throw old items away? That’s money down the drain. Buying in bulk only saves you money if the items are non-perishable and are something you know you’ll finish off in a reasonable amount of time. Before you do buy in bulk, do the math and make sure the things you’re buying really are less expensive compared to smaller packaged items.

How did you approach your first savings venture? Was it a slow process, or did you have enough money to set aside immediately? What advice would you give to someone just starting a savings account? Post in our comments section below.

Jessica Bosari is a PerkStreet Customer Columnist, as well as the Site Manager and Editor for billeater a blog with money-saving tips to lower your bills. When she’s not gathering money-saving tips, Jessica is feeding her geeky side with sci-fi movies, tech gadgets, useful apps and productivity tricks, just to keep things interesting. Read more of Jessica’s great financial advice on Perkstreet’s blog, or view her other money-saving tips at billeater.com.