Saving? - The Finance Forums: Financial planning, debt help, loans, mortgages, retirement and 401k, investment, and general finance discussion forums

Nasika · #1 (**permalink**) 11-13-2007, 11:14 AM

What is the sum of money to save from my month salary or retirement and what are the best methods to save money?

Hermes · #2 (**permalink**) 11-13-2007, 11:56 AM

The problem is not really how much you safe (safe as much as possible) but what you do with those savings, how you invest them.

Do a budget and see how much you can safe and where you can safe.

I would recommend to open up a separate account and do automatic transfers from your checking account. Same amount every month.

That way you won't spend that money on something else and it will teach you discipline.

Once again the more important question you should try to answer is what you will do with that money.

SCCA · #3 (**permalink**) 12-09-2007, 03:33 PM

You should talk to a financial planner.

Dru · #4 (**permalink**) 12-09-2007, 05:59 PM

Savings of 10-15-20% of your income is in the range of most recommendations. As Hermes stated, it is just as important how and where your savings are located. If you are saving in a bank @1%, your money will double in 72 years. If you are in CD's or MM's @5%, your money doubles every 14 years. If you are in Mutual Funds earning 12%, your money doubles every 6 years. The more aggressively you invest, the larger the risk, and the return. If you have many years worth of time on your side, that helps to minimize the risk.

imolina · #5 (**permalink**) 05-07-2008, 06:14 PM

my advise is: save the money that you have in any whim (almost in one of them) In my case, this was very effective, but maybe you need 4 or 5 months to see the results.

alex@borrow123.com · #6 (**permalink**) 09-03-2008, 07:30 PM

Hi Nasika,

As was mentioned before, working with a financial planner really does make a difference. The impartial third party advice can help you see a financial situation a lot clearer.

One principle I have always stood by is "Pay yourself first". Instead of viewing savings as money you can't get to, "pay yourself first" just as you would a phone bill or a mortgage payment. This helps ensure that you are saving regularly and often. The help of a financial planner will help you decide what to do with that money once you've paid yourself for awhile.