Why do some people find it hard to save money?
Saving money is hard. One of the most common reasons is that you might not have a good enough reason to save. Maybe you're overly focused on the present, or maybe you simply don't know what you want in the future. Either way, you need to get a vision for what you want to achieve with your money.
Debt, especially from high-interest credit cards, significantly hinders the ability to save. Lack of budgeting contributes to poor financial management and savings shortfalls. Social pressures and lifestyle inflation can lead to increased spending, further impeding savings efforts.
It takes time to learn how to start saving. It takes time to make a saving plan. It takes time to track records how much you have already saved this month, and how much you still need to save to reach your saving goals. And, it takes time to change old money-saving habits.
Almost 3 in 10 (29 percent) of people have some savings, but not enough to cover three months' expenses. That percentage hasn't changed much since 2022 and 2023, when 28 percent and 30 percent of people said the same, respectively.
Limited income and expenses
For many people, the balancing act between income and expenses leaves little wiggle room for savings. The majority of Americans — 60% according to a LendingClub report — live paycheck to paycheck, with no additional funds left over after they cover expenses each month.
One of the most common reasons is that you might not have a good enough reason to save. Maybe you're overly focused on the present, or maybe you simply don't know what you want in the future. Either way, you need to get a vision for what you want to achieve with your money.
Procrastination is a common roadblock to saving money. People often need more time to save, thinking they'll start later when they have more income or fewer expenses. Unfortunately, the longer one postpones saving, the harder it becomes to accumulate wealth.
Ninety-three percent of millionaires said they got their wealth because they worked hard, not because they had big salaries. Only 31% averaged $100,000 a year over the course of their career, and one-third never made six figures in any single working year of their career.
How many Americans have $100,000 in savings? About 26% of U.S. households had more than $100,000 in savings in retirement accounts as of 2022, according to USAFacts, a nonprofit organization that analyzes data from the Federal Reserve and other government agencies.
Fewer than half of Americans, 44%, say they can afford to pay a $1,000 emergency expense from their savings, according to Bankrate's survey of more than 1,000 respondents conducted in December. That is up from 43% in 2023, yet level when compared to 2022.
How much money does the average person have in savings?
The average American has $65,100 in savings — excluding retirement assets — according to Northwestern Mutual's 2023 Planning & Progress Study. That's a 5% increase over the $62,000 reported in 2022.
Saving $1,000 per month can be a good sign, as it means you're setting aside money for emergencies and long-term goals. However, if you're ignoring high-interest debt to meet your savings goals, you might want to switch gears and focus on paying off debt first.
The short answer to what happens if you invest $500 a month is that you'll almost certainly build wealth over time. In fact, if you keep investing that $500 every month for 40 years, you could become a millionaire. More than a millionaire, in fact.
Our survey revealed that over 66% of Americans report living paycheck to paycheck. A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics weekly earnings report indicated a 3.5% year-over-year increase in median weekly earnings for the first quarter of 2024.
Failing to Set Goals
If you don't have a goal in mind of how much you want to save or what you want to use the money for it's easy to let other things take priority. Take some time to think about what your goals are and what you're willing to sacrifice to achieve them.
3 Indeed, economists have argued that this “wealth effect” may at least partly explain today's historically low savings rates. As people have seen value of their assets grow, this theory goes, they may feel more freedom to spend and less need to save.
After inflation, high interest rates, unattainable housing prices and other economic factors, 50 percent of U.S. adults say their overall personal financial situation is worse than it was in November 2020, according to October 2023 Bankrate polling.
Many Americans struggle to save money, but it's generally worth the effort to do so since there can be serious downsides to not stashing away cash. Those consequences can range from going into debt, facing financial hardship after losing your job, and not being able to achieve your aspirations, like homeownership.
Common Challenges to Saving Money
Low Income: It's tough to save when you're earning just enough to cover basic needs. High Cost of Living: Rising prices for essentials can leave little room for savings. Debt: Paying off loans and credit cards can consume much of your income.
The majority of U.S. adults have regrets about their financial choices, from not saving enough for emergencies to missing out on opportunities to invest, according to recent poll results.
Is it normal to have no savings?
One in seven (13%) people in the UK revealed they have nothing in their savings, whereas a third (33%) of UK savers said they would struggle to cover a month's worth of living expenses if they lost their primary source of income.
Start a separate savings account and deposit a small amount regularly, even if it's just a few dollars. Set up automatic transfers to your savings account on payday to ensure consistent contributions. Allocate a specific amount of cash for discretionary spending each month and use only that money.
Americans haven't been stashing money into their savings accounts like they used to, according to government statistics. That's part of the reason why consumer spending has been so robust since the economy ascended from pandemic depths, despite high inflation and elevated interest rates.
By those standards, the five jobs with the most millionaires are engineer, accountant, teacher, people in management, and lawyer. Doctor is sixth. They make a lot of money, but also spend a lot.
One awesome thing that you can take advantage of is compound interest. It may sound like an intimidating term, but it really isn't once you know what it means. Here's a little secret: compound interest is a millionaire's best friend.
