#savingstips

Now that I have your attention, let’s bring something a little different to this space. Finances. We’re gonna get financially naked here so if finances intimate you, here’s your warning. That said, this is not meant to flex by any means. We all know people who make more or less than us and this barrier needs to come down. Should that be why we don’t talk about this stuff enough? I don’t think so. Let’s generate some value here, shall we?

Before I start this, understand that timing was on my side with this one. I happened to line up a new job, a delayed stimulus check being sent out to me, and my last collection of money for unemployment around the same time. Due to this, there was a lot coming in at once. That is part of what we struggle with however. We’ve got all this money...LET’S SPEND IT! You could. I can’t make your life choices for you...but hear me out and take a look here. No doubt what they want you to do is that whatever isn’t being spent on bills, gets thrown back towards Amazon, or Walmart, or whoever else wants your money. No doubt by now, you’ve figured out where my $1400 stimulus check went. NOT to them. Straight to savings. That’s debatably a bad place too but better than back into the system.that isn’t helping the common man or woman. See 2020.

$1400 just put away without a second thought. I was excited given my current job pays $18/hr to have just over the same amount coming in at the same time...but I didn’t take into account the taxman and paying into social security/medicaid, which is about 15% of that so...whoops. Can’t plan for it all, eh? So less than $1400 to work with. No big deal. From here, we’re paying bills for the month. None of this is for rent. We’re talking lights, internet, etc. We have a little over $1200 to do this with. Roughly $500 is going into past expenses put on credit cards and bills already previously paid with said cards. Credit Cards aren’t as scary as some want you to think but that’s perhaps for another time. This is where we start diving into wants. We’re going big though. My couch due to pets and negligence to an absurd degree has put it in not the best of shape. The couch which will now also be a recliner is $600. Then, gotta get a delivery person. With said $600, I should be getting help with $200 of that from one of two people that were ultimately responsible for the couch in its current state. This means only $400 + delivery which will be around $125 or so. I think we will stop here for the sake of this post.

In this example, let’s do some basic math. Really. Basic. Because I’m terrible at it.

$1400 Stimulus + $500 Bills = $1900 of money we don’t even touch. We paid ourselves first and were responsible in paying bills. Next paycheck, another $1000 will go towards rent. Yay responsibility!

$525 on wants = This is what was decided on for splurging. Long overdue and a good chance to afford it instead of putting it on credit.

Amounts not spoken for, they stay in checking for whatever comes up. Gotta have funds on hand. To this, we are adding roughly another $500 from our last payment through unemployment before going back to work and making a part of this aforementioned money. There’s still a lot to plan for and a bunch of it will not doubt be spent. On what however and for what purpose? We all have to make choices like this.Those choices can become real difficult depending on budget. Some random guy on Tumblr maybe isn’t your first consideration for financial advice and by all means, I am not claiming I am one. I am not. However, since we are not taught what we need to know in school to get ahead financially and/or build wealth, we’ve gotta make our own rules. A combination of consumed content from people that know more than I do about this stuff online and personal values keeps me in check. I’m also in a unique position of knowing what it has been like to live safely between lower and middle class much of my life, so I can empathize with making less, while taking my chances with greater wealth to help plan for the future.

If you get value from this, amazing. I’m just a regular human trying to get by like the rest of you. My biggest advantages vs people in my age group is the lack of debt ever carried for very long, specifically no student debt, and actually having a savings. Average millennial? Not trying to live that life. Life is stressful enough. While much should be done “with a purpose” as my father used to say, that applies to so much here in the finance space as much as it would for something like what clothes we chose to wear.

I’d encourage you, for as intimidating as it is, to at least think about making a plan to get ahead. When you simply come face to face with your own spending habits, only then, and over time, probably through many years of learning, can you go towards a less stressful life and one lived based on your values. Not how cool you look in a Instagram pic having a daily five to six dollar coffee at Starbucks.

Feb Savings Tip: Cut your own hair. Again, this one isn’t for everybody. Personally, I use electric clippers to shave my head. It’s simple, it’s cheap, it’s minimalist, it’s care-free. I don’t worry about my hair getting messed up. Lots of people cut their own hair, in many simple but nice hairstyles. Saves money, and time.

How Much Money Should You Really Save to Build Financial Security?

/Finance/Written by: Segun Akomolafe (Founder & CEO of GreatNiches, Inc.)

Let’s be honest — nobody sat you down in school and gave you a clear answer about how much money you really need to save. You’ve probably heard “save more” your whole life, but when you ask “how much exactly?” The room goes quiet. That’s because personal finance isn’t one-size-fits-all, and the answer genuinely depends on where you are, what you earn, and where you want to be.

The good news? There are solid, research-backed guidelines that can take the guesswork out of it. Whether you’re starting from zero or trying to sharpen a savings plan you already have, this guide walks you through exactly how much money you should save — and why those numbers actually make sense for building real financial security

An image showing a suitable solution to the question of how much money should you save?

Quick Answer

Most financial experts recommend saving 3–6 months of expenses as an emergency fund, 10–15% of gross income for retirement, and at least 20% of your take-home pay overall. If you’re just starting out, even 10% is a solid foundation. The right number depends on your income, expenses, and goals — but having any consistent savings habit beats waiting until the amount feels “perfect.”

Why Financial Security Starts With a Number

Most people’s financial anxiety doesn’t come from spending too much — it comes from not knowing if they have enough of a cushion. When you don’t have a savings target, every unexpected expense feels like a crisis. Financial security, at its core, is about reducing that anxiety by building buffers that match your life’s risks.

So before you ask how much should you save? It’s good to first define what you’re saving for. The three core pillars of financial safety are your emergency fund, your retirement nest egg, and your short-to-medium-term goal savings. Each one has a different recommended amount — and together, they form a complete financial safety net.

Here’s a quick overview of common savings goals and what’s typically recommended.