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\n\n\n\nNo matter how old you are, it\u2019s never too late to start putting money aside. Yes, retirement may seem distant right now– and yes, a lot of challenges may slow or even halt your progress. Having a milestone set for each decade, or stage of your life, can help you set clearer goals and motivate you to get started right away<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you get started on a retirement savings account, there is one thing experts advise you do first that is absolutely essential– and that is to have at least <\/em>three months\u2019 worth of expenses saved before you officially get started saving for retirement. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSome experts say saving at least six months\u2019 worth of living expenses is even better. So sit down and map out how much you spend on rent, mortgage payments, transportation, insurance, utilities, food, debt, and other bills. Then, go ahead and multiply that number by three to six, depending on how much you want to save up. That\u2019s how much you need to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This money is hopefully never going to see the light of day, unless a catastrophic event happens that requires extra cash or prevents you from having an income for an extended amount of time. It\u2019s inevitable that life will throw you curveball or two — a financial curveball at least. This money will save the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, a part of being an adult– or rather, a responsible <\/em>adult– is having an ironclad retirement plan in place. The first step is figuring out the answer to this crucial question: how much do you need to retire? Depending on the individual, their income, and the lifestyle they lead and <\/em>the lifestyle they plan to lead in retirement, that answer is going to vary dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow do you start saving? It\u2019s easy. If you can\u2019t figure out where <\/em>to start, here is an easy first step. See how much you need to save by age<\/em>. This is going to help you create crystal clear retirement goals and stay on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou never know. You might be an overachiever already! Check out these stats by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, which show the median retirement savings by age in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to this survey, by the time Americans reach their 20s, they have about $16,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By their 30s, they have $45,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By their 40s, they have $63,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By their 50s, they have around $117,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And by the time they reach their 60s, nearing the retirement age, they have saved around $172,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which one of these categories do you fall under? How much do you have saved up in comparison to the median?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It could be helpful to think in terms of percentages or multiples of your salary to see how much you should be accumulating at various stages of your life. Focus on what\u2019s coming next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the gist of it. The same survey suggests that by the time you reach your 30s, you should have 1-2 <\/em>times your annual salary stashed away.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s say you\u2019re 35 years old, and you\u2019re making around $45,000 a year. That means you should have around $90,000 saved up in your retirement accounts. This is twice the median and average of what most people have saved– why you should aim towards being above average is something that we\u2019ll explain in a minute, so stay tuned!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, by the time you\u2019re in your 40s, you should have 3-4 <\/em>times your annual salary safely stored in a savings account.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBy your 50s, that number should rise to 6-7 <\/em>times your annual salary.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBy your 60s, you should have 8-10 <\/em>times your annual salary.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s break it down further. And you know what? Let\u2019s go all the way to your 20s. During this time, saving for retirement may not feel like a pressing matter. You probably have student loan debts, unstable jobs, and some of the biggest challenges when it comes to savings. But did you know that numerous surveys have found that people in their 20s are actually taking the lead <\/em>for contributing to retirement plans?<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe previously mentioned Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies believes that millennials have median retirement savings around $23,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you plan to follow the above mentioned formula of having one year\u2019s worth of salary saved up by age 30, you really should get started during your 20s. If you\u2019re 25 years old, aim to have 25% to 50% locked away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n