Our national savings rate has dipped into negative territory. At negative one percent, savings are at their lowest since the Great Depression. While this may be discouraging, the fact remains that establishing a savings cushion is imperative to your financial well being. Fortunately, the experts at Money Management International (MMI) know that you do not have to be rich to accumulate wealth. The downside is that many consumers are easily defeated when they don’t meet their financial goals, and they give up. Perhaps even more troubling, surveys released by the Consumer Federation of America and the Financial Planning Association found that more than 20 percent of Americans think that winning the lottery is the most practical way to accumulate wealth.

If you are overwhelmed by the idea of building “wealth,” start small. Begin saving a minimum of ten percent of your take-home pay. To make it easier on yourself, you can start today by calling your bank or credit union and arranging for the money to be automatically transferred into a savings account.

As motivation, the experts at MMI offer the following four reasons why establishing a savings cushion makes good financial sense.

Things don’t always go according to plan. Unfortunately, bad things sometimes happen to good people. In fact, bankruptcy filers often site an “unforeseen” event as the cause of their financial demise. By learning to expect the unexpected, you can keep a minor financial setback from turning into a major financial crisis.

No one cares more about your finances than you. If you are looking for someone to look out for your financial best interest, it is time to take a look in the mirror. Relinquishing control of your financial future is a mistake. No one—not even the government, your employer, or your accountant—cares as much about your finances as you do.

A little money saved can add up to big savings. Making a down payment on a major purchase can really pay off. For example, making a down payment of 20 percent or more on a mortgage will likely afford you more attractive overall terms. Furthermore, having available cash can help you avoid using credit cards with high interest rates in an emergency.

The eighth wonder of the world is compound interest. If you put $1,000 in a savings vehicle that earns 8 percent interest, you will double your money in less than 10 years. In this example, a penny saved is two pennies earned.

Finally, make a commitment to pay down debt. Reducing your debt allows you the freedom to make smart financial choices in the future.