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New Year’s Advice for the Younger Generation: It Starts With Saving!

March 17, 2023

At one time in the not-so-distant past, our society was tuned into saving. We wouldn’t think of buying something until we saved enough cash to pay for it, whether for a car or other consumer goods. Only for the rare, big-ticket item, such as a home, would we go into debt.

Today, this quaint notion has largely gone by the wayside. Younger generations appear more impulsive, often choosing to ignore the admonishments to “wait” before spending. Our increasingly on-demand and cashless society, with easy access to credit cards and lines of credit, can land many in difficulty with debt. Often missing has been the discipline of the past: “Can we afford this?” The lack of a saving strategy has implications for investing: Without saving, there is no accumulation of capital; Without capital, there can be no investment.

It’s Hard to Save!

Often, those who profess to want to save will protest that it is impossible to do today. Yes, the cost of living is high and inflation is creating further pressures, with many people having a tough time making ends meet. Yet, there may be certain ideas that can help improve our personal fiscal habits, and here are some tips:

Pay ourselves first — It is interesting how the shift to spending from saving has occurred during a time in which the general wealth of Canadians continues to grow. Sometimes, the problem with saving is a lack of will. One easy way to make saving a regular habit is to “pay yourself first.” This involves having a portion of each paycheque automatically set aside in a separate account: via a payroll deduction at work, an automatic bank account debit, a dollar-cost-averaging investment plan or similar program. The theory: What you don’t see, you won’t miss — and otherwise spend. How much you allocate is up to you, but almost any amount sent to savings can create a sizeable amount over the years. And this can translate to even more if invested over time. It may surprise many young people, but the ability to become a millionaire is well within reach if you start early (see chart).

Consider a budget — This is not to admonish anyone about their spending habits. Yet, just the effort of sitting down and mapping out the family income and expenses each month, without doing anything else, can be revealing. It will pinpoint where your money is going — in debt repayment, entertainment costs, daily expenses, commuting costs or others. As a result, you may be able to determine areas on which to focus in order to bring spending into better balance. Cut consumption — Minor reductions in consumption can lead to meaningful savings that can be put towards building an investment portfolio or other worthwhile cause. Some ideas? Consider that skipping the $5 coffee each workday for a year could achieve annual savings of $1,250. Or carpooling to work could save on gas and parking. There may be an opportunity to prioritize and cancel memberships or subscriptions. Or, avoiding lifestyle creep to “keep up with the Joneses” — the pressure to buy certain things because others around you have them.

With some forethought, you can build your own list of possible savings that fits your lifestyle and circumstances. You may surprise yourself with what you can achieve. These tips may not seem significant at first glance, but consider that finding just $3,000 in savings each year can accumulate to over $100,000 in just 20 years if invested at a five percent rate of return. Not a bad basis for a real investment program!

Don’t overlook the “gift” of time — One of the greatest gifts that most young people have is time. A good rule of thumb that may encourage saving is the “Rule of 72,” a simplified formula that estimates how long it takes for an investment to double in value based on a rate of return by dividing 72 by the rate of return. Here’s a thought: An investment with an annual rate of return of five percent will double in approximately 14 years (72÷5=14.4), so a 25-year-old could potentially see their savings double four times within their lifetime (assuming average life expectancy). The bottom line? Success in building wealth is often within reach for many of us…and it can all start with saving!

The information contained herein has been provided for information purposes only. Graphs, charts and other numbers are used for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect future values or future performance of any investment. The information has been provided by J. Hirasawa & Associates and is drawn from sources believed to be reliable. The information does not provide financial, legal, tax or investment advice. Particular investment, tax, or trading strategies should be evaluated relative to each individual’s objectives and risk tolerance. This does not constitute a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell securities of any kind. Market conditions may change which may impact the information contained in this document. Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. (WAPW) and the authors do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein, nor does WAPW, nor the authors, assume any liability for any loss that may result from the reliance by any person upon any such information or opinions. Before acting on any of the above, please contact me for individual financial advice based on your personal circumstances. WAPW is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. ©️ 2023, Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO USE OR REPRODUCTION WITHOUT PERMISSION

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The opinions contained herein are the opinions of the author and readers should not assume they reflect the opinions or recommendations of Wellington-Altus Private Wealth. Assumptions, opinions and information constitute the author’s judgement as of the date this material and subject to change without notice. We do not warrant the completeness or accuracy of this material, and it should not be relied upon as such. Before acting on any recommendation, you should consider whether it is suitable for your particular circumstances and, if necessary, seek professional advice. Graphs and charts are used for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect future values or future performance of any investment. The information does not provide financial, legal, tax or investment advice. Particular investment, tax, or trading strategies should be evaluated relative to each individual’s objectives and risk tolerance. All third party products and services referred to or advertised in this presentation are sold by the company or organization named. While these products or services may serve as valuable aids to the independent investor, WAPW does not specifically endorse any of these products or services. The third party products and services referred to, or advertised in this presentation, are available as a convenience to its customers only, and WAPW is not liable for any claims, losses or damages however arising out of any purchase or use of third party products or services. All insurance products and services are offered by life licensed advisors of Wellington-Altus. Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.