AAR27 - How do I decide how much to save?

You can download Evan’s free monthly budgeting spreadsheet here:⁠https://einvestingforbeginners.com/budget/⁠

In this episode of At Any Rate, Evan Raidt breaks down the practical process of deciding how much to save, spend, and invest—using a clear, percentage-based system that works for any income.

Evan walks through the 50-30-20 rule (and how he tweaks it himself), explains why percentages matter more than dollar values, and shows how to use a real-world budget outline (grab the free sheet ⁠here⁠). You’ll learn where to start, how to handle must-have savings like 401k matches and HSAs, and how to prioritize Roth IRAs and high-yield savings accounts with any leftover funds.

Topics Covered:

• Why percentages matter more than dollar amounts
• The 50-30-20 rule (and Evan’s personal tweaks)
• How to find your true net income for budgeting
• The power of maxing your 401k match and using an ⁠HSA⁠
• Using credit cards only as payment vehicles (not for emergencies)

Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and why this topic matters 02:00 The problem with flashy dollar amounts—percentages are what count 04:30 How to use the free ⁠budget sheet⁠ 06:00 Setting your target percentages (50-30-20 and beyond) 09:00 Calculating net income and why it matters 12:00 Breaking down “needs” and why debt payments go here 15:00 Must-have savings: 401k match, HSA, home equity 18:00 Planning for big goals (cars, houses, etc.) 20:00 Prioritizing Roth IRA and high-yield savings accounts 24:00 Tracking and adjusting your “wants” 27:00 What to do with leftover funds 29:00 Final tips: avoid regular savings accounts, use credit cards for rewards only, and keep things hands-off with index funds 31:00 Wrapping up and how to get started

Resources Mentioned:

Free budgeting spreadsheet:  ⁠⁠https://einvestingforbeginners.com/budget/⁠⁠

⁠Roth IRA basics⁠:

⁠https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rothira.asp⁠

⁠High-yield savings accounts⁠: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/banking/high-yield-online-savings-accounts⁠

⁠Vanguard VOO ETF info⁠:

⁠https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/voo⁠

Have feedback or ideas for Evan? Comment below or email him at ⁠evan@einvestingforbeginners.com⁠—your suggestions help shape future episodes.

Remember, financial freedom is built one smart move at a time. Keep it simple, keep it steady, and at any rate, we’ll see you next time.

Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.

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