Risparmiare vs. mettere da parte
The Italian words 'risparmiare' and 'mettere da parte' both relate to saving money, but they have subtle differences in usage and connotation.
Risparmiare
'Risparmiare' means to save money by spending less or being economical.
Cerco di risparmiare sulla spesa comprando prodotti in offerta.
(I try to save on groceries by buying products on sale.)
Risparmiamo energia spegnendo le luci quando usciamo.
(We save energy by turning off the lights when we leave.)
Mettere da parte
'Mettere da parte' literally means 'to put aside' and is used for setting money aside for future use.
Ogni mese metto da parte un po' di soldi per le vacanze.
(Every month I set aside some money for vacations.)
Ha messo da parte una somma considerevole per l'università dei figli.
(He has put aside a considerable sum for his children's university.)
Summary
While 'risparmiare' focuses on the act of saving by reducing expenses, 'mettere da parte' emphasizes the action of setting money aside for future use. 'Risparmiare' is about being economical in daily life, whereas 'mettere da parte' suggests a more purposeful saving for specific future goals.