Are You Saving Too Little?

Posted on: 23 July 2019

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Saving money is important for all people. Whether they're saving for retirement, for those emergency situations that pop up in life, or even, as is ideal, for a little bit of both, saving is incredibly important. The key, however, is to make sure you're saving as you go and that you're saving adequately.

Fortunately, there are many simple ways to tell if you're saving enough money or not. If you're not sure exactly where you stand, savings-wise, then there are a few things you'll want to think about.

The Importance of Exact Figures

Ideally, you should be socking away 10 to 20 percent of what you earn in savings. Of course, that's impossible to do correctly if you don't have a clear idea of what you're earning.

In addition to being aware of your exact earnings, you should also know how much you spend each month. Even more importantly, you should be able to track where your money goes. How much goes to bills? How much is spent on frivolous purchases?

If you're not clear on these figures, then there's no way you can be saving as you should for your income. And, even if you are, you won't know it. For this reason, make an effort to carefully track your income and expenses and then to appropriately calculate how much you should be saving from there.

Why Clear Goals Matter

In addition to being aware of the exact state of your finances, you also need to have clear financial goals in mind.

Do you want to save a certain amount for retirement? If so, is that amount derived from careful research or projected living expenses in the year that you retire?

Most people haven't done this kind of in-depth research, so even if they have savings goals, they're more just guesses than actual, achievable, and actionable goals.

To truly save what you should, set goals, research them, and then set your plans to reach those savings goals accordingly. Otherwise, your saving efforts, no matter how noble, may be in vain.

The Implications of Living Paycheck to Paycheck

Are you struggling to stay afloat financially? Do you barely pay your bills each month or, even worse yet, have you fallen behind?

When you're struggling financially, you can't save adequately. All you can do is just make it from one paycheck to the next.

Breaking this cycle and getting control of the situation is the only way to start saving as you should.

Of course, much of this advice is easier said than done. But, following it can be easier and more possible than you think if you enlist the help of the right financial advisor. Take the step of hiring a professional to help you, and watch your savings and your overall financial state soar.