Everyone has a different idea about how much money should be kept in a bank account. The truth is, it depends on your financial situation. Everyone should have enough money in the bank each month to cover their regular expenses as well as discretionary spending, plus a little extra for an emergency fund.
You should have money in a bank account, a wallet with $100 to $300 in cash, and a home safe with roughly $1,000 in it for unforeseen expenses.
Everything starts with your budget. You won’t know how much money you should have in your bank account if you don’t properly budget. It’s time to develop one if you don’t already have one.
In today’s uncertain world, having a strong financial safety net is more important than ever. This means having an adequate amount of money readily available in your savings account to cover unexpected expenses and emergencies. But how much should you actually have in your savings account?
Determining Your Ideal Savings Amount: A Step-by-Step Guide
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you determine your ideal savings amount:
1. Calculate Your Monthly Expenses:
Start by creating a detailed budget that lists all your monthly expenses, including fixed costs like rent or mortgage, utilities, groceries, transportation, and debt payments, as well as variable expenses like entertainment, dining, and travel.
2. Estimate Emergency Expenses:
Consider potential emergency expenses such as car repairs, medical bills, job loss, or unexpected home repairs. Estimate the average cost of these potential emergencies to get a better idea of your financial needs.
3. Choose Your Savings Target:
Based on your monthly expenses and potential emergency costs, determine your target savings amount. Many financial experts recommend having 3-6 months’ worth of living expenses in your savings account. However, if you have a stable income, low debt, and access to other liquid assets like investments, you might need less. Conversely, if you have a high-risk job, significant debt, or dependents, you may need more than 6 months’ worth of expenses saved.
4. Build Your Savings Gradually:
Once you’ve set your target, start building your savings gradually. Even if you can only save a small amount each month, consistency is key. Consider automating your savings by setting up regular transfers from your checking account to your savings account.
5. Review and Adjust Your Savings Goal Regularly:
As your income, expenses, and life circumstances change, re-evaluate your savings goal and adjust it accordingly.
How Much to Keep in Checking vs. Savings: Striking the Balance
While your savings account should hold your emergency fund, your checking account should cover your everyday expenses. Here’s how to determine the ideal amount for your checking account:
1. Calculate Your Average Monthly Expenses:
Similar to calculating your savings target, determine your average monthly expenses. This includes fixed and variable expenses you pay for through your checking account.
2. Add a Buffer:
Add a 30% buffer to your average monthly expenses to account for unexpected costs or fluctuations in your spending. This buffer ensures you don’t overdraw your account and incur unnecessary fees.
3. Consider Your Spending Habits:
If you tend to spend more than your budget allows, you might need a larger buffer in your checking account. Conversely, if you’re disciplined with your spending, a smaller buffer might suffice.
Additional Tips for Building Your Savings:
- Set Realistic Savings Goals: Start small and gradually increase your savings amount as your income grows.
- Automate Your Savings: Set up automatic transfers from your checking to your savings account to ensure consistent saving.
- Reduce Expenses: Look for ways to cut down on unnecessary expenses to free up more money for savings.
- Track Your Progress: Regularly monitor your savings progress to stay motivated and adjust your strategy as needed.
Having an adequate amount of money in your savings account is crucial for weathering unexpected financial storms. By following these tips and building your emergency fund, you’ll be well on your way to achieving financial security and peace of mind. Remember, every dollar saved is a step towards a more secure future.
Costs that Don’t Change: 50%
Although it would be nice to not have any monthly expenses, the electricity bill is due on the same day as the bills for your car, water, internet, mortgage, and rent. There isn’t much you can do but pay these expenses if you have determined they are necessary after considering how they fit into your budget.
Fixed costs should account for approximately 2050 percent of your monthly budget.
Granted, not all of these costs are fixed. Electricity costs, for example, change with the seasons. However, over time, you ought to gain a decent understanding of roughly how much you’ll need to pay for the expense each month.
Discretionary Money: 30%
This is the bucket where anything (within reason) goes. It’s your money to use on wants instead of needs.
It’s interesting to note that the majority of planners include food in this category, not because eating is optional but rather because the prices can vary greatly based on your preferences and habits. You have options for dining out or cooking at home, shopping for name-brand or generic products, and purchasing flank steak or prime rib.
Whatever you decide, put it under discretionary so you’ll always be reminded to cut back on fine dining if you’re regularly going over your monthly budget for it.
This bucket also includes going to the movies, getting a new tablet, or making a charitable donation. You decide.
The general rule is 2030 percent of your income, however a lot of financial experts argue that 2030 percent is way too high.
How Much Cash Should I Keep In The Bank?
FAQ
How much money should you keep in your savings account?
How much should an average person have in savings?
Is $20000 a good amount of savings?
How much should a 30 year old have in savings account?
How much money should you have in your savings account?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how much money you should have in your savings account. The standard recommendation is to have enough to cover three to six months’ worth of basic expenses. As a goal, that number can be steep. In reality, you can benefit from saving any amount.
How much interest does a savings account earn a year?
Consider that the average rate for savings is only 0.46%, according to the FDIC. And some of the largest banks have savings accounts that earn only a 0.01% annual percentage yield. With that yield, if you deposited $3,000, you’d earn less than $15 in interest after a year.
How much money does a 30 year old have in a savings account?
According to the latest Survey of Consumer Finances, the average savings in transaction accounts for this group was $11,250, and the median was $3,240, in 2019. If you have more than this in your savings account at 30, you have more than many of your peers.
How much money should a 40-year-old save?
Americans at this life stage are reflected in Federal Reserve statistics covering people ages 35 to 44. The Fed’s most recent numbers show the average savings for the age group that includes 40-year-olds is $41,540. The median savings is $7,500. By your 40s, you’re likely in your peak earning years and may have more money to put into savings.