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Anti-budget method Switzerland: Saving without sacrifice and stress
You know the feeling: every month you resolve to finally draw up a budget. You open Excel, enter your expenses and vow to stick to it this time. Three weeks later, the spreadsheet is forgotten and you feel guilty.
The sobering truth: Most Swiss people exceed their budget or do not use a budget at all. This is also shown by the annual results of the Worry Barometer studies **. The reason is not a lack of discipline - but our brains.
The solution? The anti-budget method turns everything around: Save first, then spend. Without sacrifice, without stress, without complicated tables. I'll show you how to save automatically with this system - and why it works when all else fails.
Table of contents
Why your brain rebels against budgets
Budgets are like diets: they work in theory, but fail because of human nature. Your brain is programmed to favour rewards and avoid restrictions.
The budget paradox:
- You plan rationally, but live emotionally
- Budgets require constant willpower
- Every expenditure becomes a conscious decision
- Feelings of guilt for transgressions exacerbate the problem
"I just can't manage to stick to my budget," writes a Schwiizerfranke reader. I know this frustration from countless emails. The problem isn't your discipline - it's the system.
Behavioural psychology explains failure:
- Decision fatigue: 35,000 decisions a day (What to wear? Which coffee? Stick to a budget?) overload your brain
- A mentality of renunciation: Budgets feel like a punishment
- Complexity: Categories and limits create mental stress
This is precisely where modern financial solutions such as Zak They simplify saving through automation and relieve you of the psychological burden of constant decision-making.
The psychology behind the anti-budget method
The anti-budget method uses psychological tricks to your advantage. Instead of fighting against your nature, you work with it.
The basic principle: You only see the money you can spend. What is saved is already "gone" - mentally and physically separated.
Why it works:
- Mental accounting: Your brain treats money differently depending on where it is. 500 francs in a savings account feels different to 500 francs in a current account.
- Automation eliminates decisions: No more daily savings decisions. The system runs in the background.
- Psychological safety: You can spend everything in your account - without a guilty conscience.
Right here comes Zak into play. With automatic savings pots, saving becomes an autopilot, while you experience the psychological separation between saving and spending money.
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"Pay yourself first": the secret of automatic saving
The concept is simple: before you spend a franc, you pay yourself. The savings target becomes the first "bill" of the month.
Traditional order:
- Salary received
- Pay fixed costs
- Spend money
- Save what's left over (usually nothing)
Anti-budget order:
- Salary received
- Save automatically
- Pay fixed costs
- Spend the rest freely
The 50/30/20 rule as a basis
- 50% for fixed costs (rent, insurance, food)
- 30% for discretionary spending (hobbies, restaurants, shopping)
- 20% for saving and investing
The trick: The 20% disappear automatically before you "miss" them.
My self-test: 3 months of anti-budget with Zak
Personal experience: I've been following this approach since my apprenticeship. Back then, I had completely squandered my first three monthly salaries - the money was gone by the middle of each month. This lesson has shaped me to this day.
Since 15 March 2020 I tested the Zak account and the savings pot system. The result surprised me:
Setup (5 minutes)
- Salary goes to main account
- Automatic division into three pots:
- Savings pot "Short-term savings": CHF 400
- Savings pot "Holidays": CHF 200
- Pillar 3a" savings pot: CHF 605 (transferred directly to the 3a custody account solution)
- Remaining amount available for expenditure
Result after long-term experience:
- Saved: CHF 3,615 (automatic)
- Expenditure: 0 minutes per month
- Frustration: Zero
- Surprise: I have mentally "forgotten" the money I saved
Quote from my test diary: "Day 45: Looking into the savings pots for the first time. 1,800 francs are already there - feels like a gift to myself."
What surprised me:
- Mental relief: No more daily savings decisions. The system runs in the background.
- Higher savings rate: Automatic saving led to a savings rate of 18% instead of the usual 12%.
- More relaxed spending: I can spend everything in the main account without a guilty conscience.
Zak has in historical interest rate comparison always paid out very attractive interest rates. This has regularly resulted in a good bonus over the years.
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Scope of the scale 44
Scale 44 applies to all persons who were fully liable to contribute to the AHV system. This can apply to both Swiss nationals and newcomers. A full contribution year cannot be completed by paying contributions alone. Parenting or childcare credits can also be taken into account. It is also possible for a spouse to pay double the minimum contribution during a year. If there is a missing contribution year that is not closed, this will lead to a reduction in the pension.
At a glance: Scale 44 is relevant for all persons living in Switzerland. It is only paid out in full if 44 years of contributions have been paid. Gaps can be closed in some cases. If there are no years of contributions, the pension is reduced proportionately.
Implement the anti-budget method: Step-by-step
Step 1: Analyse your finances (15 minutes)
- Make a note of your net income
- List your fixed costs
- Calculate 20% for automatic saving
Example with a net salary of CHF 6,000:
- Fixed costs: CHF 3,000 (50%)
- Saving: CHF 1'200 (20%)
- Freely available: CHF 1'800 (30%)
Step 2: Define savings pots
Divide your 20% into concrete goals:
- nest egg: Individual calculation depending on life situation
- Medium-term goals: Holidays, car, further education
- Long-term provision: Pillar 3a, ETF savings plan
Step 3: Set up automation
With Zak particularly simple:
- Salary on main account
- Automatic splitting via economy pot function
- Different pots for different targets
- Fair interest on all pots
Alternative with other banks:
- Standing orders to various savings accounts
- Separate accounts for different destinations (expensive for account management fees / time-consuming due to more administration)
Step 4: Test and customise the system
Start with a conservative 15% and build up. Important: The system must fit your life.
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We have compiled our top selection for you from all our tests and experience reports:
Conclusion: Your next step towards the anti-budget method
The anti-budget method works because it works with your human nature instead of against it. You save automatically without having to make sacrifices - and best of all, you can start today.
Perfect for getting started: Zak offers the ideal infrastructure for your anti-budget system with its savings pots. Fair interest, automatic splitting and psychological separation - all in one app.
Swiss franc bonus: With the code CHFRAN you will receive CHF 50 starting credit for your Zak account. Perfect for the start of your anti-budget system.
Open a Zak account now and secure a CHF 50 bonus →
The anti-budget method has shaped my financial life since my apprenticeship. And after many years of using Zak, I can say: it's time for it to change yours too. Your finances will thank you.
**Source UBS Worry Barometer: https://www.ubs.com/ch/de/microsites/worry-barometer.html
Transparency note: This article was created in collaboration with Zak from Bank Cler. The content and presentation have nevertheless been freely and independently created by Schwiizerfranke.
The information on Zak is intended exclusively for persons domiciled in Switzerland. A Zak account can only be opened with domicile in Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions about the anti-budget method
How much should I save automatically?
Start with 10-15% and increase. The 20% rule is a goal, not a must.
What happens if income is irregular?
Calculate an average of the last 6 months and save as a percentage.
Can I access the money I have saved?
Yes, but the mental separation makes it less likely. With Zak, the savings pots are always available.
How long does it take to set up at Zak?
In my test: 3 minutes for three economy pots. The setup is intuitive and quick.
Is the system also suitable for families?
Absolutely. Families can Joint savings pots for destinations such as holidays or home ownership.
About the author
Eric is the founder of Schwiizerfranke.com and certified IAF wealth advisor. Since 2019, he has been helping Swiss citizens to organise their finances comprehensibly, independently and efficiently.
📌 Note: This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute personalised investment advice.