Chris Phelan
When you’re young, seeing the forest through the trees can be challenging, especially when saving for retirement. The thought of putting away your hard-earned money as a teenager toward a far-away future seems ridiculous, but as we all know, that isn’t the case. Recently, people met in an online discussion to reveal compelling reasons why saving at a young age is the right move!
1. It’s Easy When You Start Young
The people have spoken: Many confess it’s the best decision they ever made, and since they started preparing at a young age, they trained themselves to not count on the money! “I started pension saving at 18,” reveals one man. “I’m 49 now, earning the national average, and will have retirement options when I turn 57. It’s the best and easiest thing I have ever done, and since I started so young, I have never missed the money. You’d be mad not to pay into a retirement plan; it’s free money from the government in tax relief, and the marvel of compound interest is a thing of beauty.”
2. You’re Foolish Not To
If you’re young and on the fence about investing toward your eventual retirement, ask yourself one question: Why not? Ask anybody their thoughts on retirement, and the response will be unanimous: Nobody regrets being in their 70s and having plenty of money in the bank. What people do regret is not having enough money, and not contributing to your retirement while you’re young is straight-up foolish.
3. You’ll Be More Comfortable When You’re Older
Sometimes, we need to learn lessons from people who have already lived the experience we’re questioning. One man gives the best reason to invest in yourself at a young age. “You’ll only understand when you do get old and realize that it’s not about ‘enjoying oneself’ but rather about having enough to avoid living in a complete and utter hell of pain and misery while waiting to die,” says one absolutely bummer of a person. Wow, I don’t know if I’m inspired or depressed!
4. It’s an Easy Way To Amass Wealth
In 2023, countless young men and women seem to be bending over backward, trying to be as wealthy as possible. As it turns out, being rich can happen to anyone if you give it enough time and are responsible with money! Like all long-term investments, amassing wealth via retirement plan contributions takes patience, discipline, and unwavering dedication. The money will be there in the future if you do your part now.
5. You May Be Out of Work Earlier Than You Think
Maybe people regard retirement planning as long-term investing, which arguably is incorrect. Instead, consider it insurance when your life doesn’t work out how you wanted! “Don’t over-estimate how constant pain and misery kicks in for people early in life,” advises one woman. “My dad is 70 and has been retired for over a decade thanks to a big pension pot he built up when he was working. He does ballroom dancing, sings in a singing group, plays ukulele, goes on holidays, walks, cycles, goes to the gym, and has fun. He can’t work anymore, but luckily, he prepared for that. What a life.”
6. Government Assistance May Disappear in the Future
In 2023, rumors are flying that Social Security benefits will cease as citizens know it in the next few decades due to various United States government mishaps. Whether that comes to fruition remains to be seen, but it never hurts to be prepared. By investing in your retirement at a young age, you’ll be less impacted by the premature ending of government programs like Social Security.
7. Your Perspective Will Change
Remember that even though you can’t see the benefit of saving now for retirement, your perspective will inevitably change. “Life has a way of changing your perception,” reveals one man. “By living and experiencing more of life, you gain a better and broader appreciation of life and the things you want to do. Enjoy life now, but don’t whine about it when you are older.” Amen to that!
8. Saving Now Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Have Fun
Countless men and women think that the notion that saving for retirement at a young age robs you of fun as a youngster is crazy. Trust me, as someone who has excessive fun doing countless enjoyable things while still putting away money toward my eventual retirement, it’s not only possible but also more accessible than you think! You’re leaving money on the table if you don’t act now.
9. Think About Your Children
Like Edna Crabapple once said on The Simpsons, will anyone please think of the children? If you’re considering having a family in the future, saving now for your retirement will invariably give them a better life. One person puts it all into perspective. “Once you have children, you soon realize that much of your enjoyment comes through them. You start to think it would be nice to leave something to your kids or grandkids to make their lives a little easier and provide them security once you’re gone.”
10. Happiness Is a Choice
According to many people, in the end, happiness is a choice, and ultimately, you will do whatever you want to do to be happy. Future-proofing your happiness isn’t binary; a pre-determined amount of money in the bank by a pre-determined age won’t necessarily bring happiness. However, we can all agree that having a retirement nest egg is more likely to bring happiness than having zero dollars in the bank!
Source: Reddit.
17 of the Best Crazy Ideas to Make Money Legitimately
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos
If you are always looking for ways to make money, I can assure you there are countless ways. It helps if you are creative and open to crazy ideas to make money legally, whether as a side gig or a full-time job. On a recent online forum, one user asked members, “What are the craziest ways you’ve heard of people making money?” The thread exploded with all sorts of suggestions that we share.
22 Dead Giveaways That Someone Grew Up Poor Long After Escaping Poverty
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Being poor is not a choice but often a reflection of society and should never be a mark of shame. Those who grew up poor have a mindset that is not easy to shake long after escaping poverty. The residual effects of feeling hunger and cold bring back memories that spurred gratitude, resourcefulness, and nostalgia by some who shared their experiences on a popular online community, answering, What are dead giveaways that someone grew up poor?” I recognized similar incidents familiar to me, bringing back memories from my upbringing.
11 Tiny Luxuries We’d Savor if We Struck It Rich
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
What small luxury item would you buy if you won a multimillion-dollar jackpot tonight? What minor yet profound indulgence would you spend your newfound wealth on? Most people would want to jump out of debt and buy a posh house by the sea where the wind gently pushes off the window panes in summertime reverie, but if you were confined to only the little luxurious things, what tiny special treats would you savor if money stopped being an issue? Someone on a money forum wanted to know what small luxury people would cash in on if they suddenly hit gold, and we consider these the funniest and most thoughtful responses on the thread.
Baby On A Budget – How to Dodge 10 Costly Pitfalls
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Let’s be honest: Having a kid is becoming more expensive as the years go by! Recently, men and women met online to reveal how to dodge costly parenthood pitfalls. Whether it’s genius money-saving strategies, avoiding costly baby purchases, or simply purchasing sensible things for your child, here is how to be a parent and not go broke.
10 Things To Always Buy On the Cheap Because It’s Not Worth Spending More
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Every time you leave your house to go to the grocery store or eat out, you decide to save money. Thanks to inflation, a trip to the grocery store will cost you more than ever before, and that’s why it’s so essential to make money-savvy decisions every chance you get.