How many times have you complained to a friend jokingly - or not - about being broke?
If you are a Generation Y alumnus, saving up for an emergency fund or doing retirement planning may sound like an oxymoron at this point, right?
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. 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 a rainy day and that 55% of them don’t have a retirement savings account at all. True, saving money will not 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.
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?
Statistics show that millennials are spending money on things that experts say would constitute huge savings if they were avoided.
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. Or get a roommate. The benefits of splitting rent and utilities is one of the biggest ways to save money.
Skip the daily latte, brew your own cuppa. Also, Learn to cook! A week’s worth of eating out, can easily cost a month’s worth of groceries. Buy groceries in bulk, cook large dinners and brown paper bag your lunch.
Car pool to make your carbon footprint smaller and save money at the same time. Switch to cash for your daily expenses and only budget a certain amount for day-to-day items.
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 hustle. Start a business on the side of your full-time job; turn your hobby into a moneymaking gig.
Saving is a delicate dance between planning for the future while paying for today.
Remember, establishing thrifty habits when you are young will pay dividends when you are older.
Source: firsthustlethenbrunch.com, wonga.co.za, handytaxguy.com, smartaboutmoney.org, bbc.com, thesimpledollar.com, fin24.com, cnbc.com businessinsider.com, moneyweb.co.za, discover.com, thebalance.com, chasingabetterlife.com, oldmutual.co.za, hip2save.com, mydomain.com, , chimebank.com, oprah.com, bettermoneyhabits.com, regions.com, greatest.com, cosmopolitan.co.uk, glamour.co.za, discountvouchers.co.za, money.usnews.com
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