A method for managing short messages in a mobile communications terminal transmits either a previously stored message or a newly received message to an e-mail address when a memory of the terminal is saturated. The method includes allocating the terminal memory to have a basic capacity portion and a reserve capacity portion, determining whether a newly received message can be stored in the basic capacity portion, and storing the newly received message in the reserve capacity portion when the basic capacity portion is saturated. If at least one message stored in the basic capacity portion has an "unread message" status, then that unread message is transmitted to the e-mail address to make room for storage of the newly received message. This method therefore ensures that no previously stored "unread" or "stored" message is overwritten with a new message when the terminal memory is filled to capacity.