Calculators are nothing but tools and only good if you take action. To meet savings goals on the discretionary expenses you identified in the calculator above, here are two approaches: Don’t deprive yourself 100%. Example: cut your discretionary spending in half. This way you can still occasionally treat yourself while also contributing toward your savings goal. Use only cash — not credit cards — for discretionary items. Every week put cash for the amount you plan to spend on discretionary items into an envelope. When you’ve exhausted the cash that week it serves as reminder to stop spending. Financial guru Dave Ramsey advocates this envelope method.