Here's How Investing $50 per Week Could Be Enough for You to Retire a Millionaire | The Motley Fool (2024)

If you were to save $50 each week, that would result in an annual savings of $2,600. Over the span of 30 years, that's $78,000. That's not something you can retire on. But if you invested those savings into a safe growth stock, you could potentially have $1 million by the time you retire. Thanks to compounding and dividends, you can turn a $50-per-week investment into a nest egg that can help you live comfortably in your retirement years.

Growth stocks that pay dividends can help maximize your returns

The S&P 500 averages a long-run return of approximately 10% per year. But it's possible to outperform that, especially when you factor in dividend income, which can help pad your profits. A couple of solid stocks that have generated consistent revenue growth over the years while also paying dividends are health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group(UNH 0.69%) and top drugmaker Eli Lilly(LLY 0.09%). In the past 10 years, their total returns (including dividends) have dwarfed the broad index.

Here's How Investing $50 per Week Could Be Enough for You to Retire a Millionaire | The Motley Fool (1)

Data by YCharts.

There are never guarantees about how these businesses will do in the future. However, UnitedHealth is a staple in the healthcare industry, and with a growing population of seniors, demand for its services isn't likely to drop off anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Eli Lilly's business could have a prized blockbuster in Mounjaro, a treatment for diabetes that is proving to be incredibly effective in helping people lose weight as well.

Both of these stocks could remain market-beating investments for the foreseeable future. So staying the course and investing $50 weekly into either of these stocks could play a significant part in a long-term retirement plan.

The path to $1 million

To get to $1 million by investing just $50 each week, you would need to generate an annual growth rate of a little over 13% per year, provided that you have 30 investing years left. Here's how your portfolio balance would look each year at that level of investment and growth:


Chart by author.

This model assumes you reinvest the dividend income you receive back into your investment. It also doesn't factor in commission costs. If those expenses are significant, you may be better off investing every month instead of every week.

Although shares of UnitedHealth and Eli Lilly trade at more than $300, you can acquire fractional shares and accumulate them over time.

Investors shouldn't get discouraged by a lack of savings

Inflation can make it incredibly difficult to save money and invest in the stock market right now. But getting into the habit of trying to save whatever you can on a periodic basis, whether weekly, monthly or even yearly, could pave the way for a better future in the years ahead.

Eli Lilly and UnitedHealth are just two examples of safe growth stocks you can invest in, but there is no shortage of quality options out there for investors to consider. The key is to focus on investments with strong fundamentals that ensure your portfolio isn't at risk and where there's a reasonable expectation that their underlying businesses will continue growing in the future.

David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Here's How Investing $50 per Week Could Be Enough for You to Retire a Millionaire | The Motley Fool (2024)

FAQs

Here's How Investing $50 per Week Could Be Enough for You to Retire a Millionaire | The Motley Fool? ›

If you have 30 investing years left, you don't need to invest a fortune to get to $1 million. If you were to save $50 each week, that would result in an annual savings of $2,600.

How much is $20 a week for 30 years? ›

For example: $20 Per Week invested in a Bank Account earning 3.5% after 30 years is estimated to be worth $55,169, or $20 Per Week invested in an Investment Portfolio earning 7.0% after 30 years is estimated to be worth $106,298. Use our Savings Calculator to project the impact of implementing a Savings Plan.

How much to invest monthly to reach $1 million in 10 years? ›

In order to hit your goal of $1 million in 10 years, SmartAsset's savings calculator estimates that you would need to save around $7,900 per month. This is if you're just putting your money into a high-yield savings account with an average annual percentage yield (APY) of 1.10%.

What is the best asset allocation for a 55 year old? ›

As you reach your 50s, consider allocating 60% of your portfolio to stocks and 40% to bonds. Adjust those numbers according to your risk tolerance. If risk makes you nervous, decrease the stock percentage and increase the bond percentage.

How much do you need to invest to be a millionaire at retirement? ›

If you invested $35 a week in good growth stock mutual funds with a 10–12% rate of return, here's what your nest egg could look like over time: In 20 years, you could retire with $115,000 to $150,000. In 30 years, you could retire with $343,000 to $530,000. In 40 years, you could retire with $960,000 to $1.7 million!

How much is $100 dollars every month for 5 years? ›

You plan to invest $100 per month for five years and expect a 6% return. In this case, you would contribute $6,000 over your investment timeline. At the end of the term, your portfolio would be worth $6,949. With that, your portfolio would earn around $950 in returns during your five years of contributions.

How much is $25 a week for 10 years? ›

If you invest $25 per week, you'll end up saving $1,300 every year. Over a decade, you'll stash away $13,000. Over a 40-year time frame, the sum adds up to $52,000. Here's the catch: over those periods, your contributions will also be earning interest.

What percentage of American retirees have a million dollars? ›

According to the Schroders 2023 U.S. Retirement Survey, working Americans age 45 and older expect they will need about $1.1 million in savings in order to retire, but only 21% of people in that age group expect to have even $1 million. That's down slightly from the 24% in 2022 who said they expected to save that much.

Can you live off 10 million dollars interest? ›

It's entirely possible to live off the interest earned by a $10 million portfolio, depending on how much you need and what your investment choices are. You'll want to make sure that your lifestyle goals are in line with the income produced if you're going to make it through retirement without running out of funds.

At what age can you retire with $1 million dollars? ›

A recent analysis determined that a $1 million retirement nest egg may only last about 20 years depending on what state you live in. Based on this, if you retire at age 65 and live until you turn 84, $1 million will probably be enough retirement savings for you.

At what age should you stop investing in the stock market? ›

You probably want to hang it up around the age of 70, if not before. That's not only because, by that age, you are aiming to conserve what you've got more than you are aiming to make more, so you're probably moving more money into bonds, or an immediate lifetime annuity.

What is the 120 age rule? ›

The 120-age investment rule states that a healthy investing approach means subtracting your age from 120 and using the result as the percentage of your investment dollars in stocks and other equity investments.

Should a 70 year old be in the stock market? ›

Seniors should consider investing their money for several reasons: Generate Income: Investing in income-generating assets, such as stocks, bonds, or real estate, can provide a steady income stream during retirement. This can be especially important for seniors who no longer receive a regular paycheck from work.

Can I live off interest on a million dollars? ›

Once you have $1 million in assets, you can look seriously at living entirely off the returns of a portfolio. After all, the S&P 500 alone averages 10% returns per year. Setting aside taxes and down-year investment portfolio management, a $1 million index fund could provide $100,000 annually.

Can I retire at 60 with $1 million dollars? ›

So, can you retire at 60 with $1 million, and what would that look like? It's certainly possible to retire comfortably in this scenario. But it's wise to review your spending needs, taxes, health care, and other factors as you prepare for your retirement years.

Can I retire at 52 with $1 million dollars? ›

You can retire at 50 if you have saved one million dollars. You will get a guaranteed income of $53,750 each year, starting immediately for the rest of your life.

How much is $50 dollars a week for 30 years? ›

If you were to save $50 each week, that would result in an annual savings of $2,600. Over the span of 30 years, that's $78,000.

What if I save $50 a month for 20 years? ›

Let's start with the obvious: If you're not contributing any money to retirement, even $50 per month will make a substantial difference. That monthly contribution could add up to nearly $24,600 after 20 years, $56,700 after 30 years, and $119,800 after 40 years. That's still not enough to retire on, but it's a start.

How much is $5 a day for 1 year? ›

How to grow $5 a day into six figures. Five dollars a day amounts to about $150 per month or $1,825 per year.

How much is $50 a day for 20 years? ›

It'll take a lot of discipline and a high savings rate, but it's doable: “I call it the 50-20 formula: $50 a day for 20 years at a 10% rate of return is over $1 million.” If you save for 30 years, based on that formula, you'd have about $3.39 million, he says.

How much is $20 a day for 1 year? ›

What if you could save $10 every day—or save 20 dollars a day—without compromising your lifestyle? Saving just 10 dollars a day would mean $3,650 more each year to invest in your future. Saving 20 dollars a day adds up to about $600 a month or $7,300 each year!

How much is $900 a week annually? ›

If you make $900 per week, your Yearly salary would be $46,811. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.

How many Americans have $1 million in savings? ›

21,951,000 people in the U.S. have a net worth of $1 million or more. Among all states, New Jersey has the most millionaire households. Only 3% of American millionaires received an inheritance of $1 million or above. Real estate makes up about 40% of a typical millionaire's net worth.

How many Americans have $100,000 in savings? ›

Most Americans are not saving enough for retirement. According to the survey, only 14% of Americans have $100,000 or more saved in their retirement accounts. In fact, about 78% of Americans have $50,000 or less saved for retirement.

What percentage of Americans have $500000 in savings? ›

How much do people save for retirement? In 2019, about 50% of households reported any savings in retirement accounts. Twenty-one percent had saved more than $100,000, and 7% had more than $500,000.

Can you live off the interest of 2 million dollars? ›

At $200,000 per year in average returns, this is more than enough for all but the highest spenders to live comfortably. You can collect your returns, pay your capital gains taxes and have plenty left over for a comfortable lifestyle. The bad news about an index fund is the variability.

Can you live off interest of $5 million dollars? ›

Yes, you can retire at 60 with five million dollars. At age 60, an annuity will provide a guaranteed income of $305,000 annually, starting immediately for the rest of the insured's lifetime. The income will stay the same and never decrease.

Can you live off the interest of 4 million dollars? ›

Sustainable Withdrawal Rate

So, if you have a $4 million portfolio withdrawing 4% per year would give you about $160,000 per year to live off of. Of course, this figure doesn't account for taxes or inflation rates.

Do most retirees have a million dollars? ›

In fact, statistically, around 10% of retirees have $1 million or more in savings. The majority of retirees, however, have far less saved. If you're looking to be in the minority but aren't sure how to get started on that savings goal, consider working with a financial advisor.

What is the average Social Security check? ›

Average Social Security retirement benefits in 2023

Average payments for all retirees enrolled in the Social Security program increased to approximately $1,827, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

What is the average 401k balance for a 65 year old? ›

Average and median 401(k) balance by age
AgeAverage Account BalanceMedian Account Balance
35-44$97,020$36,117
45-54$179,200$61,530
55-64$256,244$89,716
65+$279,997$87,725
2 more rows
Jan 20, 2023

What age is too late to invest? ›

No matter how old or young you are, it is never too late to start investing in the stock market. Investing now will allow you to take advantage of compounding returns sooner rather than later. This can make all the difference when it comes down to long-term financial goals such as retirement.

How much should a 75 year old have in stocks? ›

The #1 Rule For Asset Allocation

As an example, if you're age 25, this rule suggests you should invest 75% of your money in stocks. And if you're age 75, you should invest 25% in stocks.

What is the best asset mix for retirement? ›

At age 60–69, consider a moderate portfolio (60% stock, 35% bonds, 5% cash/cash investments); 70–79, moderately conservative (40% stock, 50% bonds, 10% cash/cash investments); 80 and above, conservative (20% stock, 50% bonds, 30% cash/cash investments).

What is 100 age rule? ›

According to the '100 minus age' rule, an investor's portfolio should comprise 100 minus their age percentage of their surplus funds in equities and the remainder in debt.

What is the 110 minus your age rule? ›

Risk tolerance

To determine this number, you simply take 110 minus your age. So, if you are 40, then the rule states that 70% of your portfolio should be kept in stocks. The remaining 30% should be kept in bonds and cash. This rule of thumb can be adjusted to reflect your own personal risk tolerance.

What is 110 age rule? ›

Age-Based Asset Allocation

For example, there's the rule of 110. This rule says to subtract your age from 110, then use that number as a guideline for investing in stocks. So if you're 30 years old you'd invest 80% of your portfolio in stocks (110 – 30 = 80).

What is the safest investment with the highest return? ›

High-quality bonds and fixed-indexed annuities are often considered the safest investments with the highest returns. However, there are many different types of bond funds and annuities, each with risks and rewards. For example, government bonds are generally more stable than corporate bonds based on past performance.

Where is the safest place to put your retirement money? ›

Most of our experts agree that one of the safest places to keep your money is in a savings account insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). “High-yield savings accounts are an excellent option for those looking to keep their retirement savings safe.

Which investment is best for senior citizens? ›

4 best investment options for senior citizens in India in 2023
  • For senior citizens. ...
  • Senior Citizens'Savings Scheme. ...
  • Fixed deposits. ...
  • Mutual funds. ...
  • Post Office Monthly Income Scheme. ...
  • Points to note.
2 days ago

What is a good monthly retirement income? ›

According to data from the BLS, average incomes in 2021 after taxes were as follows for older households: 65-74 years: $59,872 per year or $4,989 per month. 75 and older: $43,217 per year or $3,601 per month.

Do millionaires keep their money in the bank? ›

High net worth investors typically keep millions of dollars or even tens of millions in cash in their bank accounts to cover bills and unexpected expenses. Their balances are often way above the $250,000 FDIC insured limit.

How much interest does a million dollars make in the bank? ›

Bank Savings Accounts

As noted above, the average rate on savings accounts as of February 3rd 2021, is 0.05% APY. A million-dollar deposit with that APY would generate $500 of interest after one year ($1,000,000 X 0.0005 = $500). If left to compound monthly for 10 years, it would generate $5,011.27.

What does the average person retire with? ›

The average retirement savings by age is: Under 35: $30,170. 35-44: $131,950. 45-54: $254,720.

Can a married couple retire on $1 million dollars? ›

It's definitely possible, but there are several factors to consider—including cost of living, the taxes you'll owe on your withdrawals, and how you want to live in retirement—when thinking about how much money you'll need to retire in the future.

Can you retire on 1.5 million and Social Security? ›

You can certainly retire comfortably at age 65 on a $1.5 million, but your ability to do so relies on how you want to live in retirement, how much you plan to spend, when you plan to claim Social Security and how your portfolio is structured.

Can I retire with $4 million at age 55? ›

Medicare is another valuable benefit that isn't available for most 55-year-old retirees. Until you reach the usual qualification age of 65, your post-retirement budget will have to include paying premiums for private health insurance. You can probably retire at 55 if you have $4 million in savings.

Can you retire at age 60 with $2 million dollars? ›

Yes, for some people, $2 million should be more than enough to retire. For others, $2 million may not even scratch the surface. The answer depends on your personal situation and there are lot of challenges you'll face. As of 2023, it seems the number of obstacles to a successful retirement continues to grow.

Can a retired couple live on $60000 a year? ›

Plan to maintain your standard of living

To accomplish this, financial experts say you'll need between 70-80% of your pre-retirement income. So, for example, a couple earning $60,000 per year would need between $42,000 ($60,000 x . 70) and $48,000 ($60,000 x . 80) each year during retirement.

How much is $20 a month for 30 years? ›

In year three you would save $540 a month and so on. Twenty bucks a month can't be worth that much, right? In this scenario, assuming the same 7% annual return, your ending balance after 30 years would jump from a little more than $606,000 to more than $867,000. That $20 a month would be worth more than $260,000!

How much is $20 a week for a year? ›

$20 weekly is how much per year? If you make $20 per week, your Yearly salary would be $1,040.

How much is $50 dollars a month for 30 years? ›

If you stashed $50 a month under your mattress for 30 years, you would end up with $18,000, but if you invested it and earned just 5%, you would end up with almost $40,000 – at 8%, that figure becomes $68,000.

How much is $5 a day for 20 years? ›

How to grow $5 a day into six figures
Time Frame6% Average Annual Rate of Return8% Average Annual Rate of Return
5 years$10,570$11,107
10 years$24,716$27,427
20 years$68,977$86,640
30 years$148,244$214,475
1 more row
Nov 19, 2022

How much is $5 a day for a year? ›

If you make $5 per day, your Yearly salary would be $1,300. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.

How much is $100 a week for 10 years? ›

This is even more surprising: If Annie can keep finding that extra $100 per week for another 10 years, she'll be sitting on roughly $2 million at the end of that 40-year stretch. Those are jaw-dropping numbers, to be sure. But the math has been checked. It's right!

How much is $50 a week for 1 year? ›

$50 weekly is how much per year? If you make $50 per week, your Yearly salary would be $2,600. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.

How much is $3 a week for a year? ›

$3 weekly is how much per year? If you make $3 per week, your Yearly salary would be $156.

How much is 80 dollars a week for a year? ›

$80 weekly is how much per year? If you make $80 per week, your Yearly salary would be $4,160.

How much is $5 dollars a day for 50 years? ›

You don't need a lot of money to start investing. What you need is time. If you save $5 a day in an account with a 10 percent annual return, you'll have around $30,000 in 10 years, $330,000 in 30 years and $2.3 million in 50 years.

What happens if you save $100 dollars a month for 40 years? ›

What can an extra $100 a month do for you over time? If you were to sock away an extra $100 a month over the next 40 years, you'd have an additional $48,000 at your disposal for retirement, assuming those funds generate no return at all. That's a nice chunk of money, but it's not earth-shattering.

How much is $5 dollars a day for 2 years? ›

Turn that $5-a-day-savings into an investment.

With a very conservative approach of investing $5 per day at 8% return, you will earn $4,100 in two years (calculate your earnings here). In ten years, it will grow to $28,553 and double that time frame will make you earn $90,197.

What is $100 dollars a day for a month? ›

$100 daily is how much per month? If you make $100 per day, your Monthly salary would be $2,171. This result is obtained by multiplying your base salary by the amount of hours, week, and months you work in a year, assuming you work 40 hours a week.

How to save $1000000 in 30 years? ›

If you have 30 years until retirement

Even with an average annual return of 10%, you'll have to save $481 per month to get to $1 million before you retire. At 6%, you would need to save $1,021 per month.

How much to save per month to be a millionaire in 30 years? ›

To save a million dollars in 30 years, you'll need to deposit around $850 a month. If you make $50k a year, that's roughly 20% of your pre-tax income. If you can't afford that now then you may want to dissect your expenses to see where you can cut, but if that doesn't work then saving something is better than nothing.

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