The only way to build wealth over the long term is to prioritise saving. We explain why and how you should prioritise saving.
Why prioritise saving?
‘Do not save what is left after spending but spend what is left after saving’
These oft-quoted wise words come from none other than investor extraordinaire, Warren Buffet.
They may have become something of a cliché in financial circles, but that’s because they offer the key to managing your money, accumulating wealth and gaining long-term financial security.
Saving is crucial because it acts as a safeguard against unforeseen expenses, provides a buffer during economic downturns or personal crises, and enables you to work towards your long-term goals, whether you want to purchase a home, fund your child’s education, or retire comfortably. In short, it ensures stability and improves your wellbeing.
Beyond mere financial security, saving gives us a sense of empowerment and freedom by enabling us to pursue opportunities and make choices without being limited by financial constraints. The more money you accumulate, the more choice you have over how you live your life.
How to establish a savings habit
Saving is important for future financial security and to succeed you need to make a conscious effort to do it.
We looked at budgeting in a previous article and that is an essential first step in establishing a savings habit. Once you have a handle on your budget, you can determine the exact amount that you will save consistently every month. Be bold to achieve your goal of financial wellbeing as early as you can.
And consistency is key. No ifs, no buts, this money should be transferred into a savings account and kept separate from your everyday spending money. Automate this transaction so that you don’t even have to think about it. And do not dip into this fund to buy a cheeky weekend away or a new gadget. It is to be used only in genuine emergencies.
At first, you may find that you miss this money, and you might have to make sacrifices in order to maintain your savings habit. After a while, however, you won’t even miss the money.
Of course, as your income increases, you need to make sure your savings increase too. The aim is to make sure that you won’t have to make lifestyle sacrifices in the future and will always be able to at least maintain your current standard of living, whatever challenges life throws at you.
What to do with your savings
If you have unsecured debts, these should be dealt with first before you start accumulating significant sums of money in savings accounts. The interest rates that you pay on money owed will almost certainly exceed the amount you earn on savings – usually by some distance. You’ll find advice on getting debt-free here.
Secured debts such as mortgages, business loans, and student loans are different as these can help build wealth over the long term.
Once debts are paid off, savings should be carefully handled to maximise return. This is when you should consult a financial adviser to put together a plan adapted to your risk profile to build wealth over the long term and invest in products that will give you a higher return than bank deposits.
Compound interest is the magic ingredient that will turn your savings into much larger sums of money. Let’s take a quick look at just how powerful it can be.
How compound interest makes your money grow
Simply put, compound interest is interest on interest. When you save, your initial sum is known as the principal. This principal accumulates interest, but the interest accrued on it also accrues interest and it is this process that makes your initial deposit grow at a much faster rate. Of course, the same is true of interest payable on a loan which is how people can very easily get trapped into a spiral of debt and the reason why you need to prioritise paying off debts.
Compound interest is at the heart of all investment decisions from personal savings plans to the long-term growth of the stock market. It creates a snowball effect.
If you want to see how $49,000 invested over 40 years yields a pension pot of over $500,000 as a result of the snowball effect, check out this article.
The key ingredient is time – the longer your money has to work for you, the more you will benefit from compound interest.
Financial planning advice to make the most of your savings
Many people don’t make the most of their savings because they invest in the wrong products. Of course, there is a balance to be struck between risk and reward and this is where a financial adviser can offer invaluable insight. They will take a holistic approach to your financial planning over the long term and produce a plan that is entirely adapted to your risk profile, your goals and your investment timeframe using sophisticated cashflow software to produce accurate projections about the future.
Take the guesswork out of your financial planning with professional advice from our team of financial planners who have extensive experience of working with expatriates in Asia.
Contact us for an initial consultation and get your savings working as hard as they can for your financial wellbeing.
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A leading provider of expat financial services and wealth management services across Asia.
