Advice To Millennials Who Want To Retire Comfortably

After years of hard labor, whether you work in trades, run a business, or work a 9 to 5, you dream of the day where it all ends. This of course has it’s contingencies, and assumes that you will have an adequate amount of money set aside for retirement.

According to the Retirement Income Strategies and Expectations survey done by Franklin Templeton investments in 2016, 70% of millennials are anxious about retirement, and are stressed about meeting the necessary funds for retirement. So if fear is induced everytime you’re reminded of retirement, know that you still have time and it’s not too late. Below are 50 tips that have been constructed in order to guide you, to ensure you’ll have enough to retire once you turn the age of 65.

  1. Start Now

Money appreciates over time, so it’s never too early, nor is it ever too late to start saving for retirement day. The best time is now.

  1. Don’t Run From The Future

As Attila Morgan, a Nuvision Credit Union Manager says, “A healthy relationship with money is absolutely crucial”. If you neglect planning for retirement, you’ll only find yourself in more stress than necessary.

       3.  Plan Ahead

It’s important to assess and evaluate just how much you’ll need for retirement. This way you know how much of your salary to save, how much to invest, and how much you have left for consumption. Of course, make sure inflation is accounted for in your calculations.

  1. Treat Yo’self

Of course there will be mandatory bills that need to be paid, however, spoil yourself a little afterwards. This doesn’t mean a greenlight to buy that Rolex you’ve been eyeing, but spoil your future self by saving/investing what you have now. In Warren Buffet’s words, “Don’t save what’s left after spending, spend what’s left after saving.”

  1. Your Piggy Bank Might Not Be Enough

Rather than leaving your money in a piggy bank or under mattresses, bring your money to the bank. Although the interest rates are lower than investors would like, it still provides extra income you would otherwise not have. This income although low, can fight against inflation rates.

  1. Make Sure You Have An Emergency Fund…

In order to account for emergency expenses, experts have generally recommended a fund large enough to sustain yourself for at least three months. As the amount you’ll need will change overtime, make sure you constantly reassess for the fund to be large enough.

  1. …And Don’t Withdraw Unless It’s An Emergency.

Rather than dipping into retirement funds for emergency expenses, this fund will allow you to keep your saving on track. However, again, you should only withdraw in cases of emergency in order to maintain a large enough safety net.

  1. Automate Your Saving

Saving gets easier when money is directly transferred, as it’s one less decision you have to make every paycheque.

  1. Cut Down On Redundant Spending

If you’re living alone and paying for multiple of similar services (netflix vs. cable), then it might be cost efficient to decide which one you use more, and cancel payments for the other. This can also be applied to magazine or news subscriptions.

  1. Keep Track Of Your Credit Card Spending

Investors suggest beginning with small payments to ensure that you have the funds to pay on time. Overtime, this will grow and maintain a good credit score which will be beneficial down the line.

     11. Monitor Your Credit Scores

As mentioned, maintaining good credit will heavily benefit you when you try to buy a house or apply to any loans in the future. Good credit can get you lower interest rates, and overall better terms.

  1. Don’t Fear Stocks

Although most millennials may have been scarred by the economic meltdown in 2008, James Goodnow, an attorney at Fennemore Craig says, “If you take a long-term horizon, the market is still a safe bet.”

  1. Millennials Should Take Some Risk

Although as investors, you should seek to invest with conservative estimates in mind, this doesn’t mean you should not take some calculated risk. If things don’t go your way, at least you’ll have time to make up for it in the future.

  1. Pay Attention To Your Company’s Matching

Some companies will match your savings contributions to a certain amount. As Roger Cowen, a retirement planner says, “If you aren’t contributing enough to get the free match from your employer, you are throwing money away.”

  1. Learn How You Can Utilize A Roth IRA

If withdrawals are made after retirement, Roth accounts are not taxed. According to the president of IRA Financial Group, Adam Bergman, “Starting young is the key to retiring rich and the Roth account is the best way to accomplish this.”

     16. A little bit here, A little bit there

You may have heard the saying “don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.” This is because you don’t want to depend entirely on one asset. Diversification will protect you from extreme risks, and ensure that you might still have a float even in downtimes, balancing out volatility in your portfolio.

     17. Adjust Proportionally To Your Income

As Richard W. Rausser would advise, “Increase your 401(k) savings every time you get a pay raise, no matter what,”

  1. Manage Your Portfolio

As your portfolio grows, realize that not all investments will continue in an appreciative trend, and can even turn around into the negative sometimes. As such, make sure you update your portfolio by withdrawing earnings and purchase other investments.

  1. Check Your Spending

Much like reviewing your portfolio for gains and losses, you’ll also want to consider your personal consumption figures. As Ty J. Young suggests, “review your finances every three months to determine where you can save.”

  1. Plan Accordingly, Don’t Withdraw Early

Because there’s a penalty if funds are withdrawn early, you want to make sure that you’ve planned enough for your everyday consumption and emergency, on top of making sure you’re saving enough.

  1. Maybe You Shouldn’t Ball As Hard As Jay-Z (Yet)

As it’s easy to overspend on your credit card and deem everything as a “necessary cost”, it’s important that you keep track of your budget and everyday expenses in order to not rack up credit card debt.

  1. Living At Home Isn’t So Bad

According to Cowen, “If a new grad chooses to live at home for two years after graduation and puts the money that he/she saves on rent toward retirement, this grad could retire five years earlier.”

  1. Maybe You Should Move

If you find that you’re spending the majority of your paycheck on rent and living, leaving you with little to save or invest, then perhaps it’s time to relocate. There are plenty of large cities that offer both affordable living circumstances, and provide good career advancement opportunity.

  1. You Don’t Need A Pool In Your Backyard

For millennials that aren’t yet completely invested in families, a sizable apartment would make more sense depending on your lifestyle. However, for those that are looking to upsize, you might not need 8 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, and a backyard pool.

  1. Technology Exists for a Reason

Thanks to technological advancements, investors can get information about a stock at virtually anywhere and at any time. Besides convenience, apps and other softwares can help you stay organized and even expand your trading network.

Savings and financial planning softwares can not only help you manage how much you’ve invested, but also in savings, spendings, and donations, Marc Cenedella, CEO of career website Ladders, said.

  1. It’s Okay to Ask For Help

Seek out those that have been in the playing field for a while now. While you can learn a lot by reading and researching on stocks, it is nothing compared to the advice and wisdom you can gain from someone who have had long-term experience in investing.

  1. Make Goals and Try to Meet Them

It is always easier to accomplish something after an goal has been set and you work towards that goal. Creating a goal-based plan can help you to see how saving over time can lead to a good retirement, Chad Smith, a wealth management strategist at HD Vest, said.

Establishing a goal can also help you stay more motivated and interested in investing.

  1. If You Can, Ask for Higher Pay

It might not be easy, but negotiating or asking for a higher pay can not only go a long way in helping with your bills, but also with your investments. The compounding effect can help immensely in growing your money, Cenedella noted. An extra $5,000 can help at each stage.

  1. Have a Back-Up Plan

The market can be extremely unpredictable — what happens when the company that you’ve invested in downsizes, or get caught up in a negative media frenzy? Even worse, what if you can’t meet your retirement goals as originally planned?

Because of the volatility of the market, it is always important to have a backup plan to fall on if your current plan fails.

  1. Don’t Spend It if You Can’t Afford It

Credit card debt leaves nothing but stress and additional fees you have to pay off. To avoid building up credit card debt, only spend what you are sure you can afford and/or pay off when it comes time to pay your bills.

  1. Turn Your Hobbies Into a Job

Not only do you get to do something that you enjoy, you also get to earn some extra cash. If you enjoy playing the guitar and you are quite well at it, consider holding lessons. If you like to go to garage sales on the weekends, you could buy items and then resell them online. If you don’t have a pet but love animals, you could offer to pet-sit for others. These are just a few ways you can turn hobbies into a way to make some money, Cowen said.

  1. If You Don’t Need It, Sell It

Do you have a bunch of things taking up space that you don’t actually need? Cleaned out your closet and realized you don’t actually wear about half of the clothes you’ve bought? Sell them!

Whether you decide to sell your items online or hold a garage sell, you will most likely be able to somewhat profit from selling the things you don’t need rather than keeping them. Keep in mind, however, to sell thing that are still in relatively good condition.

  1. Keep the Car

While it might be tempting to buy a new shiny car when you drive a beat-up old model, if it still runs well, is safe to drive, and doesn’t require a lot of repairs every time you send it in for a checkup, it is probably best to save the money and keep driving your old car.

  1. Look for Better Rates

Bills for things like internet, insurance, and cable can quickly add up. Make sure you are getting the best deal for things such as internet and phone plans by looking at multiple companies and asking questions about their deals.

If you’re lucky, some companies may be doing promotions and you can obtain a pretty good deal without researching or looking around too much.

  1. Cut Down on Annual Fees

If you have a credit card that you barely use that charges annual fees and is not beneficial to you in any way, consider cancelling it and getting another card that does not charge an annual fee. Before doing so, however, double check that your credit is good enough that it won’t be too affected if you were to terminate a credit card.

  1. Be Cautious when Co-Signing

According to TransUnion (NYSE:$TRU), co-signers have a very strict timeline for repaying loans — missing a payment, even for someone else’s loan, can hurt your credit score. If you are a co-signer, make sure that you are organized and won’t miss a payment.

  1. Start Paying Off Student Loans as Soon as Possible…

The faster you can pay off student loans, the less stressed you will be and the easier you will breathe in the future. As well, you will pay less in interest.

  1. But Remember to Set Some Money Aside Too

While it is important to pay off loans and debts as soon as possible, it is also important to set some money aside for retirement. It doesn’t have to be a lot — $1 a day or $10 from every paycheque can build up and help quite a lot in the future. As well, saving something is always better than nothing.

  1. If You Can, Get Health Benefits

Things like Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) — if you are eligible — can help a great deal. By saving into this account, contributions are tax-deductible and any interest earned from the account is tax-free. The money you save in HSAs is used to cover cost for health-care,.

  1. Thoroughly Understand which Insurance is Best for You

It might add to your bill, but insurance can be extremely beneficial. Accidents and unexpected things can happen all the time, and insurance can help protect you from the losses you may experience from these situations. Over the next couple of decades, you can save a lot of money, Dan Green, CEO of Growella, explained. But all it takes is one accident to clear all those savings out — that’s why you get insurance, to protect you from loss.

  1. Kick Some Unhealthy Habits

Maybe, instead of eating out all the time, cook at home. Cut out that morning coffee at least a few times a week. Stop spending a ridiculous amount of money on cigarettes and quit smoking.

By getting rid of some unhealthy habits you might have, not only will you feel healthier, you can also save some money.

  1. Transform Your Savings into Investments

Look into what kind of bank account you have — transportation savings or flexible spending accounts can help you save, Cenedella advised. Invest what you save.

  1. Lower Your Bills

Just like how you can save on internet or phone bills by choosing the best, most cost-efficient deal, you can do the same with electricity bills or something similar. Using energy-efficient light bulbs or getting a smart thermostat is just some ways that can help you cut down the cost of some bills.

  1. Don’t Spend your Tax Refund

While it may be tempting to spend your tax refund as an reward for surviving a horrible tax season, sometimes investing the money can help a long way in increasing your investments.

  1. Don’t Blow Your Bonus

Although it may be tempting to drop your bonus on an extravagant night out, or go on a few extra tinder dates, remember this is still money that you earned. Although your bonus may be a positive surprise, it can easily be cancelled out by any negative events in the future. Go ahead and treat yourself a little, but consider saving a fair portion of it.

  1. Plan When You Will Receive Social Security

You may want to wait a bit after you’ve retired before collecting Social Security to ensure that you are getting the most out of it.

  1. Be A Little Selfish

While you may want to add a little more to your kid’s education fund, remember that they could also take out student loans or even work part-time to help with extra payments. You, on the other hand, can’t really take out a retirement loan.

  1. Maybe You Qualify For An IDA

An Individual Development Account (IDA) is an account geared towards low income individuals where your contribution amounts are matched. Make sure you check whether or not you qualify.

  1. Think About Meeting a Financial Advisor

While you can learn a lot about investments by yourself, professional help and guidance can help a lot. Don’t be afraid to meet with a financial advisor if you aren’t sure of something, or if you want to get started on investing and saving but don’t know how.

  1. Educate Yourself

There are many kinds of investments and many ways you can invest. Make sure you know the difference between each before getting started. As well, stock markets often require a lot of research to ensure that you are investing in a good company.

Featured Image: Depositphotos/© halfpoint

About the author: Grace is currently studying at UBC to achieve her BA in Computer Science. She is due to graduate in 2020. As a content creator, Grace has written financial analysis, stock market news, and informational investing articles. She also worked as an editor with her university publication 'UBC Undergraduate Journal of Art History'.