It’s never been easy to save money — to think about future needs when present ones are so pressing. Americans have failed to do so for decades, says financial expert Suze Orman.

“The majority of the people in the United States have never had more than $400 in a savings account to their name,” Orman tells MoneyWise. “So if something happened, an emergency happened, they wouldn't have that money.”

WATCH NOW: MoneyWise speaks with Suze Orman and Devin Miller of SecureSave

That’s when a momentary crisis becomes a long-term disaster: People tap into their retirement savings and their credit cards, losing even more money in the form of fees, interest and missed earnings.

Orman has written several books on personal finance and hosts the podcast Women & Money, but now she says it’s time to go beyond advice.

“For 40 years, I've tried to change the mindset of people. People change when they're ready to — they don't do what they're told to do. They do it when they know they have to do it.”

Two proposals before Congress would make new saving options available through employers, but Orman is refusing to wait. She’s created her own system she says will help Americans finally put money away — by taking the decision out of their hands.

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Congress steps in

Orman is right about how fragile most Americans’ finances are: Last year, only 32% said they could handle a sudden $400 expense.

It’s only becoming harder this year thanks to inflation and higher interest rates, but Orman argues this is “not a new phenomenon.”

“It may feel like it's new because of inflation — many people alive today never experienced inflation back in the ’70s … and now they're going, ‘Oh my God, inflation is eating up our money,’” says Orman.