My parents both retired in their early 50s (they're now in their early/mid 60s). Seeing them happy, healthy, traveling the country and the world, volunteering, exploring new hobbies and interests, and spending enormous amount of quality time with friends and family are incredibly motivating in terms of saving. I'd like to be like them someday, and that's why I save.
Freedom motivates me to save. Knowing that I have a chance at a secure retirement and living a debt free life inspires me to be conscious about saving money. I see too many people that are tied to their jobs because they have too much debt and not enough savings. I want to be able to pursue the things that I love and be free to travel; basically doing what I want for a change!
Partly fear (the thought of not being able to pay rent now, or when I'm 60 is kind of scary), partly pride (being able to stand on my own 2 feet) and partly wanting to take care of my parents as they get older.
I know the whole "Do one of the three free annual reports every fours months" thing. In theory, it's perfect! I just haven't done it beyond the first time.
Then, I keep thinking, "oh, I'll wait one more month until hubby's old debt is paid off, and then I'll check." And then something else comes up.
It's been over a year since I've checked anything. Definitely time to check!
I'm motivated to save because you'll never know what the future will bring. I want to make sure I have enough money to put 20% down on my future home, money for my future children, and in case something unexpected happens, I won't have to resort to putting it all on my credit card. Saving money gives me peace of mind.
My husband and I have about 6 months of living expenses in our emergency fund, so our savings end up being for stuff. We don't want to buy a house or have kids and our retirement funds are growing steadily. So we are saving for a round-the-world backpacking trip. We can't get there until our student loans are paid off ($20k and falling... from something like $150k) but as soon as they are, we are fast-track to a trip.
Saving gives me the validation to know I'm being responsible to my family. The money put aside allows me piece of mind to know I'm insuring myself against loss.
I am saving so that I can change jobs. Right now I commute over 100 miles a day and I stay at this job for the $. Once I pay down my debt I can afford to take a pay cut for a better quality of life.
my family motivates me to save! we are saving for an addition to our home (especially since we have an addition to our family coming soon) and for a minivan (for same reason). also, i am a true immigrant's daughter, so saving is really important to me "just in case..."
I am motivated to save by my children. With this economy, I want to make sure I have a solid way to feed and house everyone. Too many people are facing very difficult choices right now.
My family is my motivation to save. I know that I need to support them no matter what happens, so if I loose my job or something else happens I will have money in the bank to get us through it.
What motivates me to save is wanting to retire early at athe age of 55. I have seen too many people who have to work into their late 60s and early 70's and then health problems and lack of finances prevent them from enjoying retirement. I want to travel and enjoy family and grandkids when I am in my 60's and not working a job.
The most motivating reason for me to save is to have freedom from any debt, so that I can make choices about how I want to spend my time. Right now I work 8 to 5 but I hope to not have to do that forever and I hope to retire as well at some point.
Right now we're just saving in our emergency fund. We used it up with some unexpected repairs to our vehicle. That is a big motivator for us to save in an EF - we did not have to worry about where to get the money to pay for the mechanic.
Other than, not saving too much else right now while we continue to pay down debt.
My motivation to save is multi-part; though of course there is are the standard reasons such as stability and and peace of mind, for me there is an even bigger reason. All my life I've wanted to write for a living. Now I'm finally making a living as a freelance writer and knowing how to save is the only way I'll be able to keep doing what I love in a feast or starve field.
I am motivated to save because I have a daughter on the way. I want her to have a life of comfort!
#8, Buy Some Original Art, is my favorite surprise on the list. :)
As an artist who uses Etsy.com, I KNOW you can get tons of really beautiful/fun/creative artwork for under $25.
Love the other tips, as well! Thanks! :)
-Kristin
My parents both retired in their early 50s (they're now in their early/mid 60s). Seeing them happy, healthy, traveling the country and the world, volunteering, exploring new hobbies and interests, and spending enormous amount of quality time with friends and family are incredibly motivating in terms of saving. I'd like to be like them someday, and that's why I save.
The best motivation to save has always been freedom: to travel, to not work a certain job, to be mobile.
Freedom motivates me to save. Knowing that I have a chance at a secure retirement and living a debt free life inspires me to be conscious about saving money. I see too many people that are tied to their jobs because they have too much debt and not enough savings. I want to be able to pursue the things that I love and be free to travel; basically doing what I want for a change!
Partly fear (the thought of not being able to pay rent now, or when I'm 60 is kind of scary), partly pride (being able to stand on my own 2 feet) and partly wanting to take care of my parents as they get older.
Oh, I hear you! Uninterrupted sleep, work time, whatever -- doesn't usually happen. Thanks for the inspiration to get those 5 minutes in.
What would have normally taken me 45 minutes to create, took 2.5 hours -- my 4 month old just needed to be held.
:) Hope you all feel better (and get your home back!)
-Kristin
I know the whole "Do one of the three free annual reports every fours months" thing. In theory, it's perfect! I just haven't done it beyond the first time.
Then, I keep thinking, "oh, I'll wait one more month until hubby's old debt is paid off, and then I'll check." And then something else comes up.
It's been over a year since I've checked anything. Definitely time to check!
I'm motivated to save because you'll never know what the future will bring. I want to make sure I have enough money to put 20% down on my future home, money for my future children, and in case something unexpected happens, I won't have to resort to putting it all on my credit card. Saving money gives me peace of mind.
My husband and I have about 6 months of living expenses in our emergency fund, so our savings end up being for stuff. We don't want to buy a house or have kids and our retirement funds are growing steadily. So we are saving for a round-the-world backpacking trip. We can't get there until our student loans are paid off ($20k and falling... from something like $150k) but as soon as they are, we are fast-track to a trip.
I'm saving up to buy a new car. At the same time, I'm trying to build a rainy day fund, because I always seem to need one when I don't have it!
Saving gives me the validation to know I'm being responsible to my family. The money put aside allows me piece of mind to know I'm insuring myself against loss.
I'm motivated to save for my family. With a young child I need to be extra vigilant about my finances.
I am saving so that I can change jobs. Right now I commute over 100 miles a day and I stay at this job for the $. Once I pay down my debt I can afford to take a pay cut for a better quality of life.
i tweeted!
https://twitter.com/#!/TinyJerseyMama/status/167979375504015362
my family motivates me to save! we are saving for an addition to our home (especially since we have an addition to our family coming soon) and for a minivan (for same reason). also, i am a true immigrant's daughter, so saving is really important to me "just in case..."
I think that my upbringing -- always feeling that sense of 'lack -- motivates me to save every extra penny today.
I am motivated to save by my children. With this economy, I want to make sure I have a solid way to feed and house everyone. Too many people are facing very difficult choices right now.
My family is my motivation to save. I know that I need to support them no matter what happens, so if I loose my job or something else happens I will have money in the bank to get us through it.
Because seeing the raw sum of money in my various accounts is awesome.
What motivates me to save is wanting to retire early at athe age of 55. I have seen too many people who have to work into their late 60s and early 70's and then health problems and lack of finances prevent them from enjoying retirement. I want to travel and enjoy family and grandkids when I am in my 60's and not working a job.
My motivation is to save a foundation for investment. Every little extra adds up, especially in long term.
The most motivating reason for me to save is to have freedom from any debt, so that I can make choices about how I want to spend my time. Right now I work 8 to 5 but I hope to not have to do that forever and I hope to retire as well at some point.
Right now we're just saving in our emergency fund. We used it up with some unexpected repairs to our vehicle. That is a big motivator for us to save in an EF - we did not have to worry about where to get the money to pay for the mechanic.
Other than, not saving too much else right now while we continue to pay down debt.
My motivation to save is multi-part; though of course there is are the standard reasons such as stability and and peace of mind, for me there is an even bigger reason. All my life I've wanted to write for a living. Now I'm finally making a living as a freelance writer and knowing how to save is the only way I'll be able to keep doing what I love in a feast or starve field.