How To Save $1 Million, Step By Step - Money Under 30 (2024)

The earlier you start, the easier it is to save $1 million. Here is a step-by-step guide to show you how much you should be setting aside each month to hit seven figures.

Have you ever wondered how to save $1 million?

Now you can wonder no more because there’s a magic monthly savings number out there for you, and I’ll show you how to discover it!

Once you uncover your magic monthly savings number, all you’ll need to do is set up a recurring, automatic monthly savings plan and you’ll be well on your way to building your million-dollar nest egg.

What’s Ahead:

First, decide when you want to reach $1 million

Whether you want tosave$1 millionearly, late, or bythe typical retirement age of 65, the number of years you have leftwill determinehow much you need to save each month to reach a million dollars.

The good news? The math is simple and it will only take a few seconds to figure out.

Just take your desired millionaire age (when you want to have saved $1 million) and subtract your current age.

So, if you want to reach $1 millionat age 65 and you’re currently 30, you have 35 years to save.

Next, decide how much you expect your investments to earn

This one’s a bit trickier, I know. It requires you to think about how risk-averse you are (i.e., how much would you freak out if you lost a little, some, or a boatload of your investment portfolio) and to consider the types of investments that are likely to help you get to the investment return you’re comfortable with.

Before we start talking about how much different investments have returned over time, though, you should know this: how an investment performed in the past does not necessarily mean it will perform that way in the future.

Even so, the longer your investment horizon (the amount of time you’ll have your money invested), the greater your chances of receiving an overall return that’s closer to the historical long-term average.

Let’s take a look at how a few different investments performed over the past 20 years (which includes the so-called “lost decade,” the first recorded 10-year period when stock returns were flat).

Stocks

For the past 20 years, the average annual returnofthe stock market, as measured by the S&P 500 and reported by the NYU Stern School of Business, was 7.60%. To be clear, there were years when the market was down (a devastating -36.55% in 2008) but there were also years when it was up (a whopping 32.15% in 2013).

It’s also worth mentioning that average stock market performance is historically low for the past 20 years (that “lost decade” was quite a curveball). The average annual return for the past 50 years was 11.23%.

Bonds

Bonds are typically considered safer investments, because their returns don’t fluctuate as much. In other words, bond highs aren’t as high, but their lows aren’t as low either.

Using the 10-Year Treasury Bond as a proxy, and again using figures reported by the NYU Stern School of Business, the average annual return over the past 20 years was 5.31%. For the past 50 years, it was 7.11%.

Cash

While the money in your wallet definitely qualifies as cash, so do investments like your money market account, which are typically made up of short-term investments like three-month Treasury Bills.

These are the safest investments withthe lowest volatility (the amount an investment’s price fluctuates, over time). At the same time, they also offer the lowest return.

While it’s very unlikely that you’ll lose money with your capital parked in a cash investment, there’s also a high likelihood that your investment won’t outpace inflation, which, over time, essentially means your money will slowly lose value.

That said, over the past 20 years, three-month Treasury Bills have averaged 1.44% (again using figures reported by the NYU Stern School of Business). Over the past 50 years, they’ve averaged 5.04%.

Most investment portfolios include a combination of investments from these three buckets. Those willing to accept more risk, with the hope of higher returns, create a portfolio with a higher stock concentration. Those more risk-averse load up on bonds and cash investments.

Finally, find your magic monthly savings number

As you’ll see in the charts below, you’ll likely want to take on some investment risk to increase your chances of earning a higher return over time. Otherwise, you’ll be tasked with finding a way to save a whole lotta dough each month.

You check out the summary in the graphic at the start of this article.

If you have 40 years until retirement

Those with the longest investment horizon are in the best shape, thanks to the magic of compound interest.

If you start early and retire late, you could retire a millionaire by saving just $179 per month, assuming a 10% rate of return. Using a more conservative 6% rate of return, you will need to save $522 per month.

Related: Still don’t believe in the power of compound interest? You have to see this

If you have 30 years until retirement

Waiting just 10 years has a huge effect on the amount you’ll have to save to reach your goal. 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.

If you have 20 years until retirement

The longer you wait to start saving, the more cash you’ll have to put aside each month to reach your goal. If you wait until retirement is 20 years away, you will need to save $1,382 per month to hit the million-dollar mark, assuming a 10% return. At 6% you willneed to save $2,195 per month!

If you have 10 years until retirement

As you can see, waiting until the last 10 years before retirement is a dicey strategy. At 10% returns, you would have to save $4,964 per month to reach a million dollars. That’s pretty tough to do, especially if you haven’t built up the habit of saving consistently over your lifetime.

If the returns were lower, it seems even more impossible: at 6%, you would need to put away $6,125 per month to get to a million.

For those of you somewhere in between the numbers listed below, use MU30’scalculatorto find your own numbers.

The bottom line is,the longer you have left and the higher your average annual return, the greater your chances of reaching your goal.

The good news for savers and investors is that if you’re saving through a 401(k) or another employer-sponsored retirement plan, your employer may be matching a percentage of your savings. Those matches can make a huge impact on a retirement portfolio, no matter where in the savings cycle you are.

Summary

No matter if you’re 10 years or 40 years away from retirement, saving as much as you can now help boost your financial security in the future.

Because of the power of compound interest, the more time you let your money grow, the more you can transform small savings into a huge nest egg.

Start as soon as you can, and make sure to calculate thetime you have before retirement so you can better decide how much to save each month.

Read more:

  • How Investing Just $50 A Month Can Kick-Start Your Retirement
  • BestInvestment Accounts For Young Investors

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How To Save $1 Million, Step By Step - Money Under 30 (2024)

FAQs

How to save $1 million dollars 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 long will it take me to save $1 million dollars? ›

Given an average 10% rate of return on the S&P 500, you need to save about $1,400 per month in order to save up $1 million over 20 years. That's a lot of money, but the good news is that changing the variables even a little bit can make a big difference.

How to save $1 million dollars? ›

Tips for Saving $1 Million in 5 Years
  1. Capitalize on Compound Interest. ...
  2. Leverage Your Job. ...
  3. Establish Daily, Weekly and Monthly Savings Goals. ...
  4. Identify Ways to Increase Your Income. ...
  5. Find Simple Investments to Grow Your Money. ...
  6. Cut Expenses.
Mar 20, 2023

How to save $1 million in 15 years? ›

How to become a millionaire in 15 years. To become a millionaire in 15 years, you'll need to put aside $34,101 per year for 15 years while earning an average return of 8%.

How to turn $25,000 into a million? ›

Based on an investment of $25,000 today, it'd take a return of 13.08% per year to transform into $1 million in 30 years. If you require a shorter time to grow your investments, you'll need a higher return to arrive at $1 million sooner.

Can I retire at 50 with $1 million dollars? ›

Can I retire at 50 with $1 million? 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.

What's the fastest way to save a million dollars? ›

In this article:
  1. Automate Your Savings.
  2. Start Early.
  3. Make a Budget and Stick to It.
  4. Eliminate High-Interest Credit Card Debt.
  5. Consider a Side Gig.
  6. Don't Tap Into Your Savings Early.
  7. Consistency Is Key.
Jan 7, 2022

How long can $5 million dollars last? ›

Based on the median costs of living in most parts of America, $5 million is more than enough for a very comfortable retirement. Based on average market returns, $5 million can support many households indefinitely.

How many people have $1000000 in savings? ›

In fact, statistically, around 10% of retirees have $1 million or more in savings.

Where is the safest place to put $1 million dollars? ›

Some options for relatively safe investments include high-quality bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs), and money market accounts. These investments are generally less risky than stocks, but also have lower potential returns.

Can you live off the interest of $1 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.

How hard is it to save a million dollars? ›

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 job makes you a millionaire? ›

The jobs of millionaires
  • Investment banker.
  • Certified public accountant.
  • Entrepreneur.
  • Day trader.
  • Real estate agent.
  • Engineer.
  • Lawyer.
  • Actuary.
Apr 14, 2023

Do millionaires pay off debt or invest? ›

They stay away from debt.

Car payments, student loans, same-as-cash financing plans—these just aren't part of their vocabulary. That's why they win with money. They don't owe anything to the bank, so every dollar they earn stays with them to spend, save and give!

Which stock can make you a millionaire? ›

10 Penny Stocks That Will Make You A Millionaire
  • Zevia PBC (NYSE:ZVIA) Share Price as of January 6: $4.64. Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 3. ...
  • Trilogy Metals Inc. (NYSE:TMQ) ...
  • Matterport, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTTR) ...
  • Absci Corporation (NASDAQ:ABSI) Share Price as of January 6: $2.43. ...
  • Unity Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:UBX)
Jan 10, 2023

How many $100 dollars make a million? ›

Ten thousand $100 bills equals $1 million (10,000 x $100 = $1,000,000).

Does $2 million make you rich? ›

Being rich currently means having a net worth of about $2.2 million. However, this number fluctuates over time, and you can measure wealth according to your financial priorities. As a result, healthy financial habits, like spending less than you make, are critical to becoming wealthy, no matter your definition.

Am I rich if I have $10 million dollars? ›

You might need $5 million to $10 million to qualify as having a very high net worth while it may take $30 million or more to be considered ultra-high net worth. That's how financial advisors typically view wealth.

Can 1 million dollars last a lifetime? ›

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.

How many people have $3,000,000 in savings? ›

1,821,745 Households in the United States Have Investment Portfolios Worth $3,000,000 or More.

Is $2 million enough to retire at 45? ›

Retiring at 45 with $2 million takes diligent saving and detailed planning, but it is possible. However, you'll have between 20 and 25 years to save, so you must save nearly $3,000 each to hit your goal.

What is the smartest thing to do with a million dollars? ›

Pay off debt

With a million dollars, you could do a lot of things, but one of the smartest is to pay off your debts -- especially those with high interest rates. Your credit card debt, student loans, and mortgage could all be completely paid off, along with any other debts you owe.

What is the average age to make a million? ›

How old is the average millionaire? The average millionaire is 57 years old. This is because it takes smart financial decisions, hard work, and wise investments to become a millionaire, most of which don't fully pay off until around the age of 50 or 60.

Can $1 million last 20 years? ›

Assuming things get back to normal sometime soon, $1 million today will have the same purchasing power as $1.8 million two decades from now. That means if you plan to retire in 20 years, you might need an extra $800,000 in your nest egg to live the kind of lifestyle $1 million would buy you in retirement now.

How much money is enough to never work again? ›

It's called the 25 times rule, and it's very simple. You multiply your annual spending by 25, and that is the minimum amount of money you would need invested to fund your lifestyle without working.

Can I retire at 45 with $3 million dollars? ›

Retiring at age 45 with $3 million is quite feasible if you already have the money and your post-retirement income needs are not excessive. Accumulating that much money in time for such an early retirement will likely be challenging.

Is $1.5 million enough to retire at 62? ›

Is $1.5 million enough to retire at 62? Yes, you can retire at 62 with one million five hundred thousand dollars. At age 62, an annuity will provide a guaranteed income of $95,250 annually, starting immediately for the rest of the insured's lifetime.

How much savings is considered wealthy? ›

The Modern Wealth Survey collected responses from 1,000 adults between the ages of 21 and 75. According to those surveyed, it would take an average net worth of approximately $2.2 million to be considered “wealthy” in 2022. In 2021, survey respondents indicated it would take a net worth of $1.9 million.

How many Americans have $300,000 in savings? ›

What's better, the 2018 Retirement Savings assessment shows 16 percent of Americans have $300,000 or more saved; 10 percent have $200,000 to $299,999; and 12 percent have $100,000 to $199,999. Twenty percent of survey respondents report having somewhere between $10,000 and $100,000 in their nest egg so far.

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.

Where do millionaires keep their cash? ›

Examples of cash equivalents are money market mutual funds, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and Treasury bills. Some millionaires keep their cash in Treasury bills. They keep rolling them over to reinvest them and liquidate them when they need the cash.

What happens if you put $1 million dollars 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).

Where do most millionaires put their money? ›

No matter how much their annual salary may be, most millionaires put their money where it will grow, usually in stocks, bonds, and other types of stable investments. Millionaires put their money into places where it will grow such as mutual funds, stocks and retirement accounts.

Can I retire at 55 with $2 million? ›

Yes, $2 million should be enough to retire. Annuities provide an income option to pay a guaranteed monthly amount for two lives.

Is 2 million in 401k enough to retire? ›

A retirement account with $2 million should be enough to make most people comfortable. With an average income, you can expect it to last 35 years or more.

Can I retire on $2 million at 65? ›

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.

Is it safe to keep a million dollars in the bank? ›

Most deposits in banks are insured dollar-for-dollar by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. This insurance covers your principal and any interest you're owed through the date of your bank's default up to $250,000 in combined total balances.

How to turn $1 million into $2 million? ›

To go from $1 million to $2 million likewise requires 100% growth, but the next million after that requires only 50% growth (and then 33% and so on).

How much do I have to save to be a millionaire in 10 years? ›

Here it's important to understand that the longer we have to save and grow our money, the less we have to save each month to reach our goal. If we want to become a millionaire in 10 years, we would need to save about $6,000 per month.

What do most millionaires do for work? ›

The top five careers for millionaires include engineer, accountant, teacher, management and attorney.

What is the average salary of a millionaire? ›

How much does a Millionaire make? As of May 24, 2023, the average annual pay for the Millionaire jobs category in the United States is $47,712 a year.

What are the top 5 professions of millionaires? ›

The Ramsey study found that five careers produced the most millionaires: engineers, accountants, management, attorneys and teachers.

What do rich people do everyday? ›

They Educate Themselves

Whether they're listening to podcasts, reading business books or watching TED Talks, rich people have a hunger for knowledge, according to Corley. His research showed that 63 percent of wealthy people listen to audio books during their commute to work versus 5 percent of poor people.

What debt is unforgivable? ›

1. WHICH DEBTS ARE NEVER FORGIVEN? Bankruptcy never forgives child and spousal support or alimony, criminal fines and restitution, and claims from drunk driving accidents.

Do millionaires keep cash? ›

Many millionaires keep a lot of their money in cash or highly liquid cash equivalents. And they tend to establish an emergency account even before making investments. Millionaires also bank differently than the rest of us.

What cheap stock will make me rich? ›

7 Penny Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years
VULNFVulcan Energy$4.75
DNNDenison Mines$1.28
REIRing Energy$2.41
CPSHCPS Technologies$2.96
MGLDMarygold Companies$1.57
2 more rows
Jan 18, 2023

What stocks to buy to get rich quick? ›

Best Get Rich Quick Stocks To Buy
  • Niu Technologies (NASDAQ:NIU) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 9. ...
  • TopBuild Corp. (NYSE:BLD) ...
  • Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA) ...
  • H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB) ...
  • UiPath Inc. (NYSE:PATH) ...
  • United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE:UMC) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27. ...
  • Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:ABG)
Dec 22, 2022

Can you get rich fast with stocks? ›

Investing in the stock market is one of the best way to get rich, if not the best ways to do so -- as long as you understand that it will typically take awhile. Stocks that increase in value 1,000%, or even 10,000%, generally take many years to do so.

How much is $1 million dollars in 30 years? ›

Based upon the numbers above, you will be a millionaire in 30 years. If you start today, that means you'll reach your goal in before-inflation terms in 2053. Your million dollar savings will be worth $411,987 in todays' dollars (inflation adjusted) at that time.

How much do I have to save 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.

Can $1 million dollars last 30 years in retirement? ›

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.

How much to save monthly to have $1 million in 20 years? ›

Given an average 10% rate of return on the S&P 500, you need to save about $1,400 per month in order to save up $1 million over 20 years.

How long will it take to turn $500 K into $1 million? ›

The time it takes to invest half turn 500k into $1 million depends on the investment return and the amount of time invested. If invested with an average annual return of 7%, it would take around 15 years to turn 500k into $1 million.

Is saving $6,000 a month good? ›

So the answer to the question “Is $6,000 a month good for retirement?” depends on your circ*mstances. But if you can supplement your retirement income with other savings or sources of income, then $6,000 a month could be a good starting point for a comfortable retirement.

Is saving $1,500 a month good? ›

Saving $1,500 a month is an excellent goal to have. It can help you build up your savings and put you in a better financial position for the future. Having this amount of money saved each month can give you more flexibility when it comes to making decisions about spending or investing.

Can I retire at 67 with $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 I retire at 50 with $2 million dollars? ›

Yes, you can retire at 50 with 2 million dollars. At age 50, an annuity will provide a guaranteed income of $125,000 annually, starting immediately for the rest of the insured's lifetime. The income will stay the same and never decrease. annually initially, with the income amount increasing to keep up with inflation.

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