Getting Started...


The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
~ Mark Twain

We all know we need to save, especially for retirement, but it's sometimes getting started that is the hardest part.  For most of us, retirement seems soooo far away but the years go by in a flash.  Anyone with a college age child (yet another thing we need to save for) will tell you how fast those first 18 years go by. 

A 401k is a great place to start if your employer (or your spouse's) offers it.  Many companies also match a certain percentage- say you put in 3% of your income your employer will match that.  There's usually a limit so check with your HR department and try to put in up to your company's match.

If a 401k isn't an option check into an IRA. There are limits as to how much you can save in an IRA as well as income limits but it's a great way to save for retirement.

If you need help deciding how you should save for retirement there are loads of books out there (check your local library) & websites to assist you.  If you're looking for a financial adviser ask a friend or relative you trust (and is financially secure) for a recommendation.  There are some unscrupulous people out there so be careful who you trust with your life savings.  Dave Ramsey says you should look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not a salesman.  

Get an idea how much you need to save for retirement using a  retirement calculator - there are many on line - just Google 'retirement calculator.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Favorite Things....

Image
Join Melissa @ 320 Sycamore for her My Favorite Things party. Here are my favorite things: David Cook. The CD. Still lovin' it. Listen to it a lot. It's good. Very good. Philosophy Lip Gloss. I have the melon daiquiri flavor and love it. It's shiny AND stays on. Tastes good, too. About $12. Electric Pepper Mill. How did I live without this? Really. You can find one like this at Crate & Barrel for about $40 or so. Peets Coffee . I talk about Starbucks a lot because we don't have a Peets here. It's really the best in my opinion. Luckily you can find it in the grocery store for about $14/lb -or less when it's on sale. You know that's when I buy it! :) Measuring cups. I have these from Williams-Sonoma. I love them. I think it's my favorite thing in my kitchen. At least one of them. And one I use almost daily. It took a while for me to break down and buy them but I have to admit that it's the best $30 I have ever spent. When Little Miss moves us...
Read more

Monday, Monday...

Image
Monday's are usually my favorite days. Everyone is back to work and school and I have the morning to gather my thoughts and eat a leisurely breakfast before starting my day. My friend, E, who I carpool with has her husband take the kids to school since he is off on Mondays. Today, however, has been a bit odd. We had a new dishwasher delivered this morning and my husband uninstalled the old one last night. This morning I wake up to a leak in one of the dishwasher hoses - thankfully just a slow leak but still an inconvenience. My husband had to come home and semi-install the new dishwasher to stop the leak. I have been washing the dishes in the wet bar sink instead of the kitchen sink since something is turned off there and the hubby said not to use it until the new dishwasher is totally installed. I am thankful to have a wet bar sink and not have to resort to washing the dishes in the bathroom - something I am sure we've all had to do at one time. I have some things in t...
Read more

Changes...

Image
I posted some photos of my living room a while back. I realized how blah and boring it looks. I appreciate the suggestions I was given. One of them was 'paint'. We had the walls painted a couple years ago so I really didn't want to do it again just yet so I had to figure what else I could do to get some color in there. I thought about painting a canvas red to match the chair ( below). After talking to my sister she suggested dipping cool whip containers in paint to make the circles and an idea was born. I bought the 3 canvases (20" X 20") at Michaels at 50% off - the three cost $21. I got a quart of paint at Lowe's ($12 - Martha Stewart's Cranberry something or the other). The blue paint was a sample size of Olympic that someone didn't buy -$1. Cool whip container and little round container I had in the kitchen - free. Fleur de lis printed off computer, traced on canvas and painted - free. So for $34 I got this new look. Very David Bro...
Read more