Those New Year's Resolutions: An Emergency Fund, The Budget & Retirement
BOSTON (CBS) - Fidelity put together a list of the top financial 10 resolutions folks wanted to accomplish and more important they added resources to help achieve these new resolutions. You can link to Fidelity's resources from our website here at WBZ.
#5 An Emergency Fund
Life happens while we plan it. Set aside at least three to six months of living expenses. It could be an illness, car problems, loss of a job. You need to be prepared for the unknown.
Fidelity's Resources:
- Learn: "How to save for an emergency."
- Figure it out: See how much to have in an emergency fund with our Simple Budget Checkup.
- Stay on top of it: Check your emergency fund balance every month.
#6 A Budget
Folks think "budget" is a dirty word but once you get one set up it makes life so much easier. You will need to analyze your current spending. Where does your money go each month? A budget is essential for saving.
Fidelity's Resources:
- Learn: "50/15/5: a saving and spending rule of thumb."
- Figure it out: Review your spending/saving with our Simple Budget Checkup.
- Stay on top of it: Track your spending and saving with Cinch (log in required).
#7 Save More for Retirement
Most everyone over 35 has a retirement dream. Usually it's retiring early. But it may be as simple as sleeping late or riding your bike or playing golf on a sunny afternoon. But it always requires having enough money saved to quit working and live the life style you dream about.
Fidelity suggests saving at least 15% of your pretax income each year, from age 25 to age 67. It should help ensure that you have enough income to maintain your current lifestyle in retirement.
15% may seem like a lot, and it is, if you have a 401(k) or other retirement account with an employer match or profit sharing, that's a good beginning. Try to increase your savings each year until you get to 15%. Upping your saving just 1% may seem small, but after 20 or 30 years it can make a huge difference in your total savings.
Fidelity's Resources:
- Learn: "Three keys to retirement savings."
- Figure it out and stay on top of it: Use our Planning & Guidance Center