Am I saving enough money for the future?
Most financial savings feel inadequate because standard emergency funds only cover current living expenses rather than future life changes like moving out or renting alone. This uncertainty creates constant anxiety and leaves people without clear benchmarks to know if their net worth is actually on track.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Saving as much money as possible while trying to enjoy life
- 2Using general age-based benchmarks like 1x salary by 30
- 3setting aside the difference between current and future expenses into the emergency fund for six months as a test run
- 4using separate sinking funds for anticipated lifestyle changes like moving out
- 5Opening and maxing out a Roth IRA
- 6Planning to purchase a home in Puerto Rico as a future retirement home
- 7Contributing 25% of salary to teacher retirement savings
- 8Following standard recommendations to keep 6 to 12 months of living expenses in an emergency fund.
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I (27M) am someone who worries all too much about my financial situation. I need someone to tell me if I am where I need to be.”source ↗
“My "plan" right now is basically to save as much as possible, while also enjoying life and doing the things I want to do. That does not seem strict enough and I'd like to tighten up.”source ↗
“i sized my emergency fund off my current rent, which is a room in a house with three other people, and that is not what my life costs in two years.”source ↗
“fund covers me losing my job, not me eventually wanting my own place.”source ↗
“Yes, behind on investing. Sorry should have been more clear!”source ↗
“How much should I keep in my savings account to have available for emergencies? Is one month of expenses a good number?”source ↗
“I feel like I’m behind because I’ve saved all these years.”source ↗