Tip one: Set a goal, and have a reward attached. Saving for something concrete is far easier than savings for the vague reasons such as "emergency funds", etc. So, make saving fun by having a fun thing to save for. For example, save up to buy a boat. A boat is going to cost you several thousand dollars, which means you get the "emergency fund" and "cushion" in your account along the way. Granted once you buy the boat, those are gone, but you can save again for something else just as fun, and until you buy the boat, you do have that money available for use if need be. However, in addition to saving for something fun, you have to reward yourself. For example, you can say that for every $1000 you save, you indulge in a night for yourself, a bubble bath with a good book, etc. Just be sure the reward is not monetary, or does not cost much, or it defeats the purpose.

Tip two: Make it a family affair. It is always easier and more fun to do something with other people, rather than alone. So, include your whole family. If you do not have your own kids, spouse, etc. then consider having a contest with your siblings. For example, you can all start saving on the first of a specific month, and then have an accounting each month until the end of the year. The person who saves the most at the end of the year gets a day at the spa, or something similar, paid for by the others in the contest. If you have your own children, this is a great way to teach them to save, while making it fun. You can say that whomever saves the most in the month gets a week off chores the following month. You can extend curfew if your child saves a certain amount, etc. The idea is to add some incentive and friendly competition to saving. This makes it fun. If your child knows that by saving their allowance, rather than spending it, they can get out of doing dishes for a whole week, they will be far more motivated and excited to save than they will be if you tell them that they will have money for college later. Make it more of an immediate reward. Spending is more fun because the rewards are far more immediate than those of saving. So, make your saving "rewards" more evident right away.

Tip three: Watch it grow. Saving is fun if you watch your bank balance grow. So, keep track, and check it often to get the satisfaction from seeing a large bank balance.