Saving in Your 20's

The Struggle is Real!

Twentysomethings are known to live an expensive lifestyle, let me tell you something, we will not let FOMO – the “Fear of Missing Out” - get in the way of our finances! Now don’t get me wrong guys, I’m all about living life to the fullest. However, this doesn’t mean we don’t take care of business when it comes to saving.

I know saving when you’re in your 20’s can be the last thing on your mind (trust me, I know), but in reality it should be a top priority. We have so many goals, aspirations and plans, it starts to become overwhelming at times we don’t know where to start. No worries though, I’m here to help! I’ve got some tips and tricks to help you start saving towards those goals of yours.
 

1. All About Me!
   
   Automate your savings! The easiest way to ensure you actually save is to pay yourself first! Check with your employer to see if they allow you to make payroll deductions; where you can choose a certain amount to come out of your paycheck each time you get paid, to go to an account of your choice. If not, you can always set this up as an automatic transfer on your Online Banking!
    
2. I like it, I want it, I got it
   
   Set Goals! By having a specific reason/amount to save, it makes it much easier and realistic. Best practice is to set them by time; Short term, mid-term and long term goals. Whether it’s your emergency fund, a car or your future house having a time limit will help you reach that goal faster. Since you have a specific reason to save for, you will have something at the end where you can “reward” yourself, making saving a rewarding feeling!
    
3. Fat Stacks Take Time to Build
   
   Save for retirement! I know it may seem like a LONG time from now, but trust me you will thank yourself later. The fact that you’re younger makes it easier for you to be more aggressive since you don’t have as much debt or asset obligations. Fortunately, many employers help out by offering a 401K. Take advantage of this, since the money taken out of your paycheck is before taxes – most employers offer a matching percentage for employees enrolled in the 401K – AKA free money in your pocket! If your employer does not offer a 401K plan, you can always take advantage of opening an IRA Savings account!
    
4. Let it grow, let it grow
   
   Take advantage of compound interest! If you know your money is going to be sitting there for quite some time, you definitely want to put it in a savings account that has compound interest. Compound interest is when you earn interest on top of the dividends posted, basically you’re making more money faster.
    
5. Living at home be like…
   
   Underspend on rent! We are KNOWN to be the generation that decides to live with their parents in order to save. If you do decide to move out, you want to make sure you underspend on your rent. Your rent payments should be kept below 30% of your income. This can be hard, especially here in California, but a great way to keep it under 30% is to have roommates. You’ll have the freedom/privacy you want while maintaining your rent payment low.
    
6. “Nah, I’m good”
   
   Know your needs vs wants! This may seem like a small tip, but it’s actually really important for you to differentiate your needs and wants. An example of this is when you’re buying a car. You need a reliable car, but do you really need the more expensive model or will the base model complete your need for a car? This will save you more money than you think, leaving you with some change you can put aside for those goals!
    
7. Ballin' on a Budget
   
   Be a smart shopper! You don’t have to buy the most popular brand when it comes to shopping for products. Most of the time buying the store's generic brand is the smarter way to go since they usually are cheaper. If you’re obsessed with coffee like me, sometimes we just have to settle for 7/11 $1.69 iced coffee (which is bomb BTW). Remember a little can go a long way when it comes to saving!
    

I know some of these may seem easy, but temptation is everywhere! These are a couple of tips and tricks you should take into consideration when trying to figure things out in your 20’s. Do you have any advice for the Twentysomethings out there? LET ME KNOW! You can email me here.