Martin Lewis reveals the best savings accounts even if you don't have much to save

Could it be time to start looking after your financial health and put some money aside for a rainy day?

Opening a savings account can feel like a daunting step, especially ahead of Christmas, if you don't have much to spare.

But if you're hoping to get ahead of your savings next year, now could be the best time to start. Putting just a little aside could help you out if you face an unexpected financial emergency.

And if you play your cards right and it could earn you a decent amount of money - regardless of how little disposable income you have.

At the moment, the highest paying easy access savings account  comes from Goldman Sachs. Its Marcus account pays 1.45%, and you can take as much money out as you like, whenever you like, penalty free.

But if you've got less to save, look elsewhere

Speaking in this week's MoneySavingExpert email , financial guru Martin Lewis said: "You can nearly DOUBLE this with a regular savings account.

"But... they limit how much you can pay in, and how long you can save for. Having said that, if you are, well, saving regularly, that means they're the best payers."

The good news is that this means that those with less to save can do better from their money, and as you can't just dip into the pot, you're less likely to use the cash unless you absolutely need to.

The top paying regular saver is currently 2.75%.

These accounts are linked to current accounts, so only available if you're already a customer with that bank, however, there's one account that will earn you 2.7%, and all you need is £125 a year.

If you bank with First Direct, HSBC or M&S Bank, you can earn 2.75% fixed for a year.

You've got to pay in every month to benefit.

And you've got to wait a year before you can claim the interest - if you take the cash out early you won't benefit from the pay out. All the money has to come out in one go.

What if you need a bit more flexibility?

The top open-to-all savings account is through Principality building society which pays 2.7% AER fixed for a year and lets you put in up to £125 a month.

The minimum balance is £10 - and maximum balance a year is £1,500. Make a monthly payment of anything in this bracket, and you'll get 2.7% at maturity.

It works for those with very little to save (it beats putting money into a tempting piggy bank) and works well for those who can afford to pay in slightly more - though not thousands.

If you need access to your cash you'll need to close the account and take it all out - but you won't have to cough up a penalty.

Next up, Coventry building society pays 2.5% AER variable and lets you save up to a big £500 a month. You can withdraw cash at will, but you lose 30 days' interest.

If you've got more to save, the nice thing is that that unlike ISA accounts, you can open as many regular savings accounts as you like.

Someone with a First Direct bank account who opens a Principality and Coventry saver could put £925 a year - all at a minimum 2.5%.