How much of your income should you be saving?
A common rule of thumb answer used to be that 10 percent of income should go into savings.
"But 10 percent of income is a lot!" is a common response. Saving that kind of money seems so daunting that most people don't even try, which is why the national savings rate ended up actually being negative in the mid-2000's. Today, consumers are spending less and saving more, but the national savings rate is still in the low single digits - well below the 8 to 10 percent rate in the 50's and 60's.
10 Percent Is Not Enough
Here's the real kicker: based on recently published research, the average savings rate really should be 16 to 20 percent of household income... not 10 percent.
Sixteen to 20 percent?! Ouch!
If 10 percent was so difficult that most Americans didn't even try, how likely is it that you will take a shot at 20 percent savings? It's almost too depressing to think about.
this savings of 20%, deduct it with 10% for investments...