A recent chart from Deutsche Bank’s Torsten Sløk shared on Business Insider shares a scary reality: 47% of US households don’t save any part of their current income.

47% of Americans Save Nothing — Image originally posted on Business Insider: http://www.businessinsider.com/half-of-america-doesnt-save-any-money-2015-3

Of course, as Anthony Isola put it on Twitter, “Making lemonade out of lemons, 53% save something!”. Some people truly don’t have the means to save any part of their paycheck, but many others simply don’t because they think $50 a month or $20 a week will never make a difference. They couldn’t be more wrong. The power of compounding returns will amaze you over time.

Start saving in any way you can. First, build up an emergency fund containing 3-6 months of expenses. Then, consider investing additional savings for your future. Participate in the retirement plan your employer offers or think about opening an IRA or Roth IRA if they don’t have one.

Sitting down with a good, fee-only investment advisor is a nice place to start if you’re confused about your finances. They’ll be able to point you in the right direction and get your saving and investing plans on track. Don’t forget that when it comes to saving money, every little bit helps. It sounds cliche, but it’s true.

Source:

http://www.businessinsider.com/half-of-america-doesnt-save-any-money-2015-3