How do you save/manage your savings for some specific goals?

In 2024, I really wanted to buy an iPhone 16 with my own money. I had just started working, was earning decently, and planned to set aside some amount every month till October.

But since all my money was just sitting in my bank account, I kept dipping into it… food orders, random outings, movies, small impulse spends. Individually they didn’t feel like much, but over months it added up. By October, I checked my balance and realised I was nowhere close.

Later, my uncle suggested trying goal-based saving instead of just “keeping money aside.” I ended up using this app called Multipl where you basically create a goal (like buying a phone), set a monthly SIP, and the money goes into mutual funds instead of just lying in your account.

Fast forward to now — I followed the same approach and recently bought the iPhone 17 entirely from my own savings. Even got some brand discounts along the way, which was a nice bonus.

It was not just about the Mutual Fund Returns, i also got brand discounts which helped me buy my dream phone from my own money.

Curious how you guys manage saving for specific goals — do you separate accounts, invest, or just rely on discipline?