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[[{“value”:”Right now, inflation is around 2.4%. Meanwhile, the average savings account pays just 0.38% APY. (It’s even worse for checking accounts which average a pitiful 0.07%.)Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. Basically, for the average saver, inflation is eating at cash value faster than interest is being earned. This results in a net loss each and every month.But here’s the good news. Simply moving cash from an average account to an above average account means it can outpace inflation and keep growing. Some of the top savings accounts are paying near 4.00% APY — that’s 10x more interest than average!Why earning less than 1% interest is costing youLet’s break this down with numbers…If you park $10,000 in a checking account at the national average rate (0.07%), you’ll earn about $7 in interest in one year. Not seven percent. Just seven dollars.In an average savings account at 0.38%, you’d earn about $38.But inflation at 2.4% would eat away $240 in purchasing power over that same year. So in both cases, your money is worth less at the end of the year.Earn up to 4.00% with a high-yield savings accountRight now, many of the top high-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) pay upwards of 4.00% APY.At that rate, your money not only outpaces inflation, it earns meaningful interest on your cash.Using the same $10,000 example, a 4.00% HYSA would earn you around $400 in a year. Here’s a comparison with the average savings and checking interest rates:AccountAPYInterest EarnedChecking0.07%$7Savings0.38%$38HYSA4.00%$400Data source: Author’s calculations.Personally, I hold a large cash pile for my emergency savings, and I keep it all in a high-yield account. Last year alone, I earned $798 in interest.If you’ve got cash sitting around in an average savings account earning pennies, it’s time to make a switch. Check out the top-tier HYSAs available today and start earning up to 4.00% on your cash.When it makes sense to keep cash in an HYSANot all your money needs to live in a high-yield savings account. Checking accounts definitely have their use, too!But for any cash you’re purposefully keeping on the sidelines — that money should be working as hard as possible for you.Personally, I treat my HYSA like a financial waiting room. It’s not invested, it’s not at risk, but it’s also not sitting around doing nothing.Here are a few great uses for an HYSA:Emergency fund — A good rule of thumb is three to six months’ worth of essential expenses.Short-term savings goals — Like saving up for a vacation, new car, or wedding. You’ll need the money soon, so you want it safe and liquid.Large upcoming purchases — Whether it’s a tax bill or a home down payment, parking that money in an HYSA keeps it accessible and growing.Buffer cash — If you’re self-employed, seasonal, or just like sleeping better at night, an HYSA can give you extra wiggle room.Basically, if the money isn’t being spent or invested in the near term — it should live in an HYSA earning a top rate.Don’t settle for average interest. You’ll only lose value to inflation over time. Check out today’s top high-yield savings accounts and put your money to work!Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.”}]] [[{“value”:”
Right now, inflation is around 2.4%. Meanwhile, the average savings account pays just 0.38% APY. (It’s even worse for checking accounts which average a pitiful 0.07%.)
Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
Basically, for the average saver, inflation is eating at cash value faster than interest is being earned. This results in a net loss each and every month.
But here’s the good news. Simply moving cash from an average account to an above average account means it can outpace inflation and keep growing. Some of the top savings accounts are paying near 4.00% APY — that’s 10x more interest than average!
Why earning less than 1% interest is costing you
Let’s break this down with numbers…
If you park $10,000 in a checking account at the national average rate (0.07%), you’ll earn about $7 in interest in one year. Not seven percent. Just seven dollars.
In an average savings account at 0.38%, you’d earn about $38.
But inflation at 2.4% would eat away $240 in purchasing power over that same year. So in both cases, your money is worth less at the end of the year.
Earn up to 4.00% with a high-yield savings account
Right now, many of the top high-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) pay upwards of 4.00% APY.
At that rate, your money not only outpaces inflation, it earns meaningful interest on your cash.
Using the same $10,000 example, a 4.00% HYSA would earn you around $400 in a year. Here’s a comparison with the average savings and checking interest rates:
| Account | APY | Interest Earned |
|---|---|---|
| Checking | 0.07% | $7 |
| Savings | 0.38% | $38 |
| HYSA | 4.00% | $400 |
Personally, I hold a large cash pile for my emergency savings, and I keep it all in a high-yield account. Last year alone, I earned $798 in interest.
If you’ve got cash sitting around in an average savings account earning pennies, it’s time to make a switch. Check out the top-tier HYSAs available today and start earning up to 4.00% on your cash.
When it makes sense to keep cash in an HYSA
Not all your money needs to live in a high-yield savings account. Checking accounts definitely have their use, too!
But for any cash you’re purposefully keeping on the sidelines — that money should be working as hard as possible for you.
Personally, I treat my HYSA like a financial waiting room. It’s not invested, it’s not at risk, but it’s also not sitting around doing nothing.
Here are a few great uses for an HYSA:
- Emergency fund — A good rule of thumb is three to six months’ worth of essential expenses.
- Short-term savings goals — Like saving up for a vacation, new car, or wedding. You’ll need the money soon, so you want it safe and liquid.
- Large upcoming purchases — Whether it’s a tax bill or a home down payment, parking that money in an HYSA keeps it accessible and growing.
- Buffer cash — If you’re self-employed, seasonal, or just like sleeping better at night, an HYSA can give you extra wiggle room.
Basically, if the money isn’t being spent or invested in the near term — it should live in an HYSA earning a top rate.
Don’t settle for average interest. You’ll only lose value to inflation over time. Check out today’s top high-yield savings accounts and put your money to work!
Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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