If your work at home business or job is generating some profits, you might be thinking about setting up a long term savings plan to roll some of that money into secure funds for your future.  Saving is almost always a good idea, and if you can afford it, you'll find your long term savings is sure to come in handy, either as an emergency fund for dealing with unexpected situations, or as an asset that you can grow over time. Here are some good guidelines for setting up the best kinds of long term saving strategies.

1. Identify Sources of Income - In order to save, you'll have to have income that's not part of your overall household budget. Find out where that money is going to come from, and figure how much you may be able to save on a regular basis.
2. Determine a "Weekly Minimum" - Using your calculations on your income, try to find a weekly or monthly amount that you can afford to save. Usually, you'll be going according to your paychecks or checks from clients. If you're approaching savings along with a spouse, talk about how much the two you can set aside for long term savings.
3. Research Matching Funds and 401ks - Some companies offer a 401k account or other matching funds options for savings. Look into this to make sure you're not overlooking any opportunities to add even more to your collective nest egg.
4. Evaluate IRAs and Retirement Accounts - Even if you don't have a 401k, or if you are a contracted employee or self-employed, you can still set up long-term savings accounts with better tax advantages. These are called IRAs or Individual Retirement Accounts. However, IRAs carry some rules regarding withdrawal. It's a good idea to look into this option for saving over many years.
5. Find Your "Destination Account" - This step can take a good bit of research. You'll be looking for a secure savings account that offers a good annual interest rate, so that your money can grow over time. You'll also be looking for a low-fee account, which means the bank won't hit you with fees for withdrawals or other transactions. Overall, you'll want a secure place to keep your money and, ideally, interest that will help you beat inflation.
6. Think About Investment Opportunities - When you have built up a significant amount of savings, you'll have a lot of options on investing that money wisely to help it grow even more. Money managers can help you with capital that you want to invest long term, but it helps to be knowledgeable about all of the financial products and investment strategies out there. Never stop learning about the financial world, and you'll be poised to take advantage of some of the wisest investment decisions that can help you prosper at each stage of your life.

When you have set up your long term savings plan, you'll be building up a good reliable cushion that can add up to future financial security. Look at all of the above for maximizing the dollars that you put away for tomorrow.