We are 25 and both have jobs. Our combined monthly income is 4,000. We already have a mutual fund with over $5,000 saved in which we place 100 each a month into. In addition to that we each have our own short terms savings which we place 100$ into a month. And with all of this, we still are able to live in a wonderful condo and pay all of our bills and YET my boyfriend still worries about money. To the point where today just now he said we need to have 25,000. saved by April 09. So we can buy a home. I mean I am all about saving money but aren't we doing OK so far? I mean its to the point where we can't even get chinese one night a month because we're saving!?
2007-12-04 06:38:18 · 8 answers · asked by Blond&Tall 4 in Business & Finance ➔ Personal Finance
To clarify : We would have to change our savings to say 30% or 600$ each a month in order to reach 25 by April.
P.S. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL ANSWERS!
2007-12-04 07:07:18 · update #1
So, you both make about 48k/year and are doing relatively well at it. Congratulations. Your boyfriend is right, but you should get married if you're planning on purchasing a house together. Actually mixing your finances is REALLY messy if you decide you no longer want to be together. The U.S. economy is on it's way to a HUGE correction, I know it's been said for awhile, but it's coming soon. Probably before the 09 date your boyfriend has as his goal. You're also making a common mistake of living on BOTH incomes. If you were to get pregnant and couldn't work, or if he or you were to become disabled, you'd have to get by on one income. Right now, I'd bet you couldn't get by on just one income and having a savings account is a good thing to be able to survive through any bumps. You should be looking for a cheap home as a starter and trying to live off of one income while banking the entire amount of the second income. Most young couples are spending their future earnings to live well today, but that's one of the reasons the foreclosure rates are so high today. Living like that, they're not planning for any problems down the road, which will come, they always do. So, to make a long story longer, my suggestion is that you should be living cheaper and saving MORE and getting married if you're serious enough to comingle your earnings. Otherwise, you'll get cheated out of both a better life and your earnings when you break up.
2007-12-04 06:57:07 · answer #1 · answered by thickwaistedman 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Congratulations sounds like he is very wise. Saving $400 a month isn't enough to say you are doing exceptionally well but is much better than some people. That is 10% where most advise saving 10% short term, 10% long term and 10% retirement.
Remember not to buy anything or have joint accounts with someone you aren't married to.
2007-12-04 06:45:56 · answer #2 · answered by shipwreck 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Do you own the condo? It may be a good idea to save up to own your own home as opposed to renting all of your life, so that you can grow equity in it. As far as $25,000 saved in 17 months from now, if you are only saving $200 per month as you state, that is only $3400 saved over this period, which is not realistic if you need $25k.
2007-12-04 07:01:41 · answer #3 · answered by Math Wiz 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
1st of all, you don't need $25,000 saved to buy a house. you can easily buy a house with no money down, and just wrap your down payment into a second loan so you can have money in the bank to fix the house, or afford other things.
there is nothing wrong with saving money, but don't let it effect your daily happiness. trust me, I'm a huge money saver, but it gets to a point where enough is enough.
2007-12-04 06:48:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Holy crap. You guys are very very fortunate, blessed, and well off. Be happy for it!
With your b/f, just tell him that you want to make good choices, but not neglect to live. You should be able to enjoy some chinese food once a week.
2007-12-04 06:46:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would be very careful.
Your BF might be setting you up for a major con job.
I have seen it before between unmarried couples.
Get married, have an attorney set up a trust to protect your assets, or make sure your name, and solely your name, is on the accounts containing YOUR savings.
2007-12-04 06:48:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sounds like he's just thinking about the future. You should be married however.
2007-12-04 07:01:28 · answer #7 · answered by Bob 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Dump him. If you get married it will become worse. He will make you account for every dime you spend and complain about it.
2007-12-04 06:47:39 · answer #8 · answered by Larry E 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋