Are you saving up for 40 or more years from now? Retirement planning may sound like an oxymoron at this point in your life, right?
True, it won’t give you the thrill of a new sportscar or provide you with great content for your Instagram feed, but what it will do is to ensure that you’ll be able to live as a financially independent person when you stop working.
It’s an amazing time to be growing up as a member of the so called “Generation Y.” However, it is also daunting. After paying for rent, utilities, transportation, food and the occasional night out; millennials aren’t left with much breathing room in their bank accounts to put money aside for retirement. That being said, some things are unlikely to change and the need for financial security is one of them.
Studies show that most millennials, 66%, don’t feel on track when it comes to saving for retirement and that 55% of them don’t have a retirement savings account at all.
If you think the standard recommendation of putting 15% (this was generally the rule of thumb) of your pay check towards retirement is impossible to achieve … get ready for an even bigger hurdle! Experts believe that number should be much higher. Based on academic research from economists at MIT, you need to save 40% of your income over the next 40 years if you want to live off even half of your final salary in retirement. This is based on the assumption that you want to retire at 65. Are you on par?
If you are a Generation Y alumnus and feeling pangs of anxiety right about now, the good news is that there are many ways to free up more room in your budget for retirement savings. Saving for a comfortable retirement doesn’t have to mean a radical lifestyle makeover. Hey, it’s a delicate dance between planning for the future while paying for today.
So, start small and find every day savings. Move back in with your parents. Sure it’s not the most glamorous option and it isn’t available to everyone, but living with mom and dad temporarily can help ease the adjustment of making it on your own. Skip the daily latte, brew your own cuppa. Brown paper bag your lunch; a Bloomberg study found that young people are spending more on dining out than on groceries.
Car pool to make your carbon footprint smaller and save money at the same time. Switch to cash for your daily expenses, this will make you more aware of what you’re spending on a daily basis. Prioritize your debt repayment putting the most expensive interest rates first. (which is usually the short term debt on credit cards) followed by debts with lower interest rates, such as the debt on cars and homes.
Set a monthly limit on your airtime and data. Be mindful of your daily use. Or, get a side gig. Start a business on the side of your full-time job; turn your hobby into a moneymaking gig.
Bottom line: None of these tactics will be life-changing on their own, but they can make quite a difference over time. It’s never too late to start saving for your retirement.
Source: thesimpledollar.com, fin24.com, cnbc.com businessinsider.com, moneyweb.co.za, discover.com, www.thebalance.com, chasingabetterlife.com, www.oldmutual.co.za, hip2save.com, www.mydomain.com, www.1life.co.za, www.chimebank.com, www.oprah.com, www.bettermoneyhabits.com, www.regions.com, greatest.com, www.cosmopolitan.co.uk, glamour.co.za, www.discountvouchers.co.za, money.usnews.com
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
