The general rule of thumb is that you should save 20% of your salary for retirement, emergencies, and long-term goals. By age 21, assuming you have worked full time earning the median salary for the equivalent of a year, you should have saved a little more than $6,000.
How much do you need to save in your 20s? As you embark on your career and set the path for future finances, your 20s is the time to set strong savings habits. Using the 50/30/20 model, you could be aiming to save upwards of $500 every month (or as close to 20% as you can).
According to various numbers and studies, the average net worth range of Americans in their twenties is $56,000+. Don't freak out! Most people in their 20s are significantly under that or will have a negative net worth. But, higher earners who may be debt free can skew the average numbers.
By age 25, you should have saved at least 0.5X your annual expenses. The more the better. In other words, if you spend $50,000 a year, you should have about $25,000 in savings. If you spend $100,000 a year, you should have at least $50,000 in savings.
The general rule of thumb is that you should save 20% of your salary for retirement, emergencies, and long-term goals. By age 21, assuming you have worked full time earning the median salary for the equivalent of a year, you should have saved a little more than $6,000.
A sum of $20,000 sitting in your savings account could provide months of financial security should you need it. After all, experts recommend building an emergency fund equal to 3-6 months worth of expenses. However, saving $20K may seem like a lofty goal, even with a timetable of five years.
Average net worth: 20s
So, the median net worth of half of those in their 20s surveyed have less than $6,500, while half accumulated more assets. Many people in their 20s are saddled with student loans and their starting salaries may not enable them to save a ton of money.
For high earners, a three-person family needed an income between $106,827 and $373,894 to be considered upper-middle class, Rose says. Those who earn more than $373,894 are rich.
Avoid convoluted spending categories. Simply divide your budget three ways: 50% towards living expenses and essentials (i.e. rent, groceries, utilities), 30% towards flexible lifestyle spending (i.e. entertainment, eating out, travel), and 20% towards your financial goals (i.e. savings, debt payments, investments).
Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds can all be good places to start investing in your 20s. But don't count out other alternative investments outside these markets. Real estate is one example of an alternative investment that can be attractive to some investors.
Most financial experts end up suggesting you need a cash stash equal to six months of expenses: If you need $5,000 to survive every month, save $30,000. Personal finance guru Suze Orman advises an eight-month emergency fund because that's about how long it takes the average person to find a job.
The highest-paying job in the world, in a traditional sense, holds the number one spot in this article: anesthesiologist. They are also the only job listed above $300,000 a year. The list, however, does not take into account mega-CEOs like Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos, who make considerably more than that.
Net Worth Poverty Explained
That's the number the study used as a threshold for net worth poverty. If a family has less than about $6,500 in assets, they are considered to be net worth poor. “Wealth, or net worth, is the value of total household assets,” says Lisa A.
So the average 18 year old net worth is around $5,000.
According to The College Investor, the average net worth of a 22 year old is… … -$39,915. That's right, NEGATIVE.
If You Invest $1,500 per Month
Putting away $1,500 a month is a good savings goal. At this rate, you'll reach millionaire status in less than 20 years. That's roughly 34 years sooner than those who save just $50 per month.
How Much Should I Have Saved by 18? In this case, you'd want to have an estimated $1,220 in savings by the time you're 18 and starting this arrangement. This accounts for three months' worth of rent, car insurance payments, and smartphone plan – because it might take you awhile to find a job.
Yes, saving $2000 per month is good. Given an average 7% return per year, saving a thousand dollars per month for 20 years will end up being $1,000,000. However, with other strategies, you might reach over 3 Million USD in 20 years, by only saving $2000 per month.
From ages 25-34, the median wage is $60,000 and will increase to a median wage of $90,000 by ages 45-59. Compare that with a major in the health field, which has a median wage of $53,000 at ages 25-34 and grows to a median wage of $72,000 by ages 45-59.