Ahorros vs. economías

In Spanish, 'ahorros' and 'economías' can both mean 'savings', but they have different connotations and uses. Understanding these differences is essential for correct usage in context.

Ahorros

'Ahorros' specifically refers to money that has been set aside or saved for future use. It is usually used in a personal or financial context.
Gasté todos mis ahorros en esto.
(I spent all the savings I had on this.)
Mis ahorros están en el banco.
(My savings are in the bank.)
Debido a mis ahorros, pude pagar mis estudios universitarios.
(Thanks to my savings, I was able to pay for my college education.)

Economías

'Economías' generally refer to savings made by economizing or cutting expenses, often implying a broader sense than just money saved, including efforts to reduce costs or manage resources more efficiently.
Las economías realizadas this mes nos ayudarán a salir de deudas.
(The savings made this month will help us get out of debt.)
Hacemos economías en la casa usando menos electricidad.
(We make savings at home by using less electricity.)
Con las economías que logramos en el proyecto, podemos invertir en otros recursos.
(With the savings we achieved in the project, we can invest in other resources.)

Summary

While both 'ahorros' and 'economías' can mean 'savings', 'ahorros' is specifically related to money set aside for future use, whereas 'economías' often refers to efforts to reduce costs or manage resources efficiently.