Submitted by washingtonpost t3_10l8yv7 in IAmA
Togapr33 t1_j5vcnt5 wrote
Do you have an equivalent financial philosophy to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs when it comes to saving/investing money?
akin to 1) 401k 2) IRA 3) Standard brokerage account 4) HSA/Education accounts ?
washingtonpost OP t1_j5vfh8d wrote
Great question. I do.
- Build a healthy emergency fund. Aim for at least 1 month if funds are tight, 3 to 6 months if you’ve got some cushion in your budget. If you are a highly compensated employee/self-employed person try for 12 months to 18 months. And I know that’s a lot of dough, but higher earners when they lose their job or income spend that much time get back to that same earnings level
- Life happens fund. Different from emergency fund, which I call, “I lost my job” fund. This is the pot you tap when your car breaks down, etc. This way you can leave the emergency fund for something dire
- Retirement account. Save as much as you can, as soon as you can.
- College fund if you got kids. My husband and I did this starting when our kids were wee little ones. Saved for 20 years mostly in 529 plan. Had enough to send all 3 to college with no debt, plus one to graduate school. Savings and scholarships did the job.
- Non-retirement investment account. Pay for our cars with cash/earnings built up by investing over the years.
- Fun money. So we can take vacations, etc. without building up debt
misersoze t1_j5wmmeo wrote
HSAs are good to have on that list too if people have HDHPs
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