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Message
Can you save too much??
Posted on 5/26/16 at 11:58 pm
Posted on 5/26/16 at 11:58 pm
I'm really struggling with finding the line between saving every extra penny (for retirement) and spending money to live life to the fullest. Based on your experience, how would you approach saving for retirement if you could do it all over again? How would you approach expenses & retirement based on a few assumptions..
-Married couple mid 20's
-$150k combined salary/year
-Future compensation growth expected
-Anticipating 25 years to save for retirement
-3 month emergency fund in place
-No house
-No student loans
-3,500/Month Mandatory Expenses (Rent/Utilities/Cars/Food/etc.)
-50/50 roth to traditional retirement account split
How much would you set aside for retirement each year? How much would you spend on travel/entertainment/hobbies?
-Married couple mid 20's
-$150k combined salary/year
-Future compensation growth expected
-Anticipating 25 years to save for retirement
-3 month emergency fund in place
-No house
-No student loans
-3,500/Month Mandatory Expenses (Rent/Utilities/Cars/Food/etc.)
-50/50 roth to traditional retirement account split
How much would you set aside for retirement each year? How much would you spend on travel/entertainment/hobbies?
Posted on 5/27/16 at 1:10 am to LSUTOM07
quote:
-No house
Save for a house with 20% down. You make plenty of money to buy a nice house and add this to your assets. My God, man, you're in great shape. Max out your Roth and add a mutual fund portfolio that is diversified. You will retire with $3 million dollars by 59 and live nicely all the way maintaining that income.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 6:03 am to rpg37
You going to have kids? That changes everything.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 6:28 am to LSUTOM07
I would max both 401k's if both employers offer, and I would max both Roths. That's $47k a year. If you could do that for 5 yrs or so before you buy a house or decide to have kids, you will have so many more options in the future in regard to job choices, early retirement, etc. (Owning your own home is fine and all, but is overrated especially for young couples. I speak from experience. Sure they can appreciate nicely, but they can also be money pits if you're not careful.)
Besides, in your mid twenties, just enjoy your spouse. Most things don't cost much.
Besides, in your mid twenties, just enjoy your spouse. Most things don't cost much.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 6:31 am to LSUTOM07
quote:
How much would you set aside for retirement each year?
My view will likely be different than others... do everything you can to max the $17500 for traditional 401k and max Roth $5500 limits
Also, save to put 20% down on a house (depends on how quickly you want to buy). After that, I would enjoy the hell out of every dollar.
Life is too short and uncertain to save and never enjoy your money.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 7:11 am to LSUTOM07
My wife and I are in a similar situation, but about 5 years older and make a little more. I would agree with most in this thread, max 401(k) and Roth IRA. Still should have $1000-1500 per month for fun money and saving for a house down payment. Make sure to put some money in a "fun" account each month. We budget it in the same as groceries and rent. We make use of multiple Capital One accounts as online savings for things like that (vacation, new bikes, next car, etc).
Definitely enjoy time together and travel/have experiences.
Definitely enjoy time together and travel/have experiences.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 7:13 am to LSUTOM07
If i were you i'd focus on minimalist lifestyle and retiring around 45 based on the numbers you provided.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 8:21 am to LSUTOM07
Save now while you can. Save up for 20% down on a house, but also save now because your family situation will most likely change with kids.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 8:27 am to LSUTOM07
Max the 401 and Roth. HSA too if you can.
After that, don't feel guilty about seeing the world with your wife.
frick the kids college tuition, they wouldn't appreciate it anyway.
After that, don't feel guilty about seeing the world with your wife.
frick the kids college tuition, they wouldn't appreciate it anyway.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 9:10 am to notsince98
quote:
If i were you i'd focus on minimalist lifestyle and retiring around 45 based on the numbers you provided.
To each their own... My advice bucks the trend of this thread. If I were them I would live it up while they're young. You can do a lot more physically in your 20s and 30s than 50s and 60s.
I wouldn't even worry about maxing retirement accounts. They make plenty enough money to save say $12-15k/year. I would adjust my retirement age from 50 and work til 60. Save $15k/year and they're retiring with close to $3M at 60.. while still enjoying life the whole time.
Of course, that's another 10 years they have to work... I think the trade off is worth it.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 9:30 am to foshizzle
There is a balance between saving and enjoying life. If you just got to that income, you won't notice it being gone. So I would err on the side of savings.
But definitely see the world if you can.
Savings at a young age is amazing. If you can save 47k in one year, get 7% returns (historical stock market average) that will be 700k when you retire.
But definitely see the world if you can.
Savings at a young age is amazing. If you can save 47k in one year, get 7% returns (historical stock market average) that will be 700k when you retire.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 9:54 am to Hawkeye95
Are you saving only $22,000 on 150k salary? That's less than 15%. You said 50/50 Roth/ Ira split?
If you are putting 20% into retirement and 5-10% more into savings, then pay your house off. Once your house is paid off you can start to save for a fun investment such as a vacation home. It's not going to make you a killing but if you can make 4% and enjoy it that's great.
Give to charity and live a better life. But as said, wait for kids. You are talking an easy 15k per kid a year, eats up that 'extra' pretty quick.
If you are putting 20% into retirement and 5-10% more into savings, then pay your house off. Once your house is paid off you can start to save for a fun investment such as a vacation home. It's not going to make you a killing but if you can make 4% and enjoy it that's great.
Give to charity and live a better life. But as said, wait for kids. You are talking an easy 15k per kid a year, eats up that 'extra' pretty quick.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 9:56 am to PhiTiger1764
quote:
I wouldn't even worry about maxing retirement accounts. They make plenty enough money to save say $12-15k/year. I would adjust my retirement age from 50 and work til 60. Save $15k/year and they're retiring with close to $3M at 60.. while still enjoying life the whole time.
A mid 20s couple that can't enjoy life on the remaining 100k should take a good hard look at their values.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 10:06 am to Sigma
quote:
A mid 20s couple that can't enjoy life on the remaining 100k should take a good hard look at their values.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 10:28 am to baldona
quote:
Are you saving only $22,000 on 150k salary? That's less than 15%. You said 50/50 Roth/ Ira split?
I make my last student loan payment this month. I plan to have close to an even split between roth and traditional accounts. (50% traditional 401k) (50% total of Roth 401k & Roth IRA)
quote:
I would max both 401k's if both employers offer, and I would max both Roths. That's $47k a year.
quote:
A mid 20s couple that can't enjoy life on the remaining 100k should take a good hard look at their values.
Take home is only 97k at best after taxes. Subtract the 47k retirement, and I'm looking at 50k take home per year.. Minus the mandatory expenses ($42k).. I'm looking at $8k/year or $670/month savings for house/spending money.
I'm not discounting your advice, just showing that it's not exactly a 100k/year lifestyle.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 10:38 am to LSUTOM07
quote:
I'm not discounting your advice, just showing that it's not exactly a 100k/year lifestyle.
Define your goals. First and foremost, you should determine what your desired outcome is. When you'd like to retire, what sort of house you'll want to buy, timeline for children and how that may affect your income (wife stays home), etc.
My two cents: Saving now is going to be easier than at any time in your life going forward. Kids, Mortgage/House expenses, etc. are going to drain that income. You need to take advantage of the tax advantaged opportunities you have NOW (ROTH and Maxing 401k). You'll never get this time back and a solid foundation now will have an enormous impact on the back end. (COMPOUND INTEREST).
I would absolutely focus more on filling that tax advantaged space now than on saving a down payment for a house. You have the cash now to invest, you have minimal monthly expenses (i.e., you can afford it), and interest rates are going to stay low for when you eventually purchase a house. At the very least, bump up your 401k savings and continue to max your Roths.
Again, it all depends on your goals, do you want to be set for a comfortable retirement at an early age or do you want to buy a jet ski. You'll never regret more in retirement.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 10:49 am to LSUTOM07
quote:
Take home is only 97k at best after taxes.
I am not following how a combined $150K salary pays $50K+ in taxes if you are dumping all you both can in 401K.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 11:12 am to JayDeerTay84
quote:
I am not following how a combined $150K salary pays $50K+ in taxes if you are dumping all you both can in 401K.
It's hard to know what his take home would actually be without more information, but I agree, that $97k is too low given 2 maxed 401k's.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 11:46 am to Sigma
quote:
$50K+ in taxes if you are dumping all you both can in 401K
I just took a quick 35% off the top. I did not account for the tax reduction associated with the traditional 401k contributions. I agree that 97k is probably a bit low, but remember that only half of the retirement contributions will be tax deferred with an even 50/50 split between Roth and traditional.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 11:59 am to LSUTOM07
yea it is low, but you are also accounting for your hard bills as non life style choices. They are. Especially given that you are debt free.
I have a family of 5 which includes me and we spend just over $4k for Bills but I am also paying for two rents at the moment and two sets of utilities. Although we have no debt other than a van. (Recently paid off all other debts!!!!!!)
I make good money, but that kind of puts it into perspective for you.
Early on in our life we put more value in nice things than having experiences.
It's good that you are thinking about this with your spouse this early. Really good.
I think you both have to decide how you want to spend your life outside of work and have a life style that supports that. Maybe you can both cut down on the hard bills to have more disposable income and still save the amount you want.
I have a family of 5 which includes me and we spend just over $4k for Bills but I am also paying for two rents at the moment and two sets of utilities. Although we have no debt other than a van. (Recently paid off all other debts!!!!!!)
I make good money, but that kind of puts it into perspective for you.
Early on in our life we put more value in nice things than having experiences.
It's good that you are thinking about this with your spouse this early. Really good.
I think you both have to decide how you want to spend your life outside of work and have a life style that supports that. Maybe you can both cut down on the hard bills to have more disposable income and still save the amount you want.
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