You may find it difficult to allocate extra money for your retirement savings, but you have two options:
As you make more money, you tend to spend more. The key is learning to spend less. It may be challenging, but in the end, it's vital to fund your retirement. Even saving a small amount is better than nothing at all.
You need to take this critical first step… allocate money to invest and save for your retirement.
Here are some simple ways to spend less and save more...
| Idea | Savings in current dollars for one year | Total savings when invested for 10 yeats at 6% |
| Trade babysitting with another couple instead of hiring someone | $25 each time x 12 months = $300 |
$537.25 |
| Create a "magazine recycling plan" with a group of friends. Buy only one magazine a month intead of four | 3 magazines at $4 x 12 month = $144 |
$257.88 |
| Downgrade your cable package | $15 per month x 12 months = $180 | $322.35 |
| Wait for paperback of buying the hard-cover novel | $35 - $10 = $25 $25 x 12 months = $300 |
$537.25 |
| Borrow a movie from your library instead of renting it | $5 per week x 52 weeks = $260 | $465.62 |
| Have a garage sale | $100 (once a year) | $179.08 |
| Buy one less coffee per day | $1.50 per coffee x 250 working days = $375 | $671.57 |
| Buy the CD instead of going to the concert | 2 tickets at $60 each = $120 less cost of CD $20 = $100 x 12 months = $1.200 | $1,790.85 |
| TOTAL | $2,859 | $4761.85 |
What ideas do you have to find money to invest?
While the first step is to find the money to invest, you also need to take the next step – start or increase savings through payroll deduction.