More than 50% of Australians are failing to save

December 22, 2017

According to Mortgage Choice’s Australian Financial Savviness Whitepaper, 53.4% of Australians fail to save a decent portion of their income, with 26% stating that they save nothing each month and instead live pay cheque to pay cheque.

“Alarmingly, 6% said they actually spend more than they earn each month, which means they are forever trapped in a negative debt cycle,” Mortgage Choice chief executive officer John Flavell said.

“When we look closer at the data, those aged between 30 and 49 were the least likely to save at least 10% of their salary.

“We found 56.9% of Australians aged between 40 and 49 years failed to save 10% of their regular earnings. Similarly, 55.8% of Australians aged between 30 and 39 were in the same situation.”

Mr Flavell said he was surprised to see such a significant proportion of Australians failing to stash money away for a rainy day or unexpected expenses.

“According to the Whitepaper, 77.2% of Australians consider themselves to be ‘financially savvy’. Yet, despite this, more than 50% of surveyed respondents are also failing to save money on a regular basis,” he said.

“While it’s not uncommon for people to live pay cheque to pay cheque and spend everything they earn each pay cycle, this is incredibly risky financial behaviour.

“The reality is you cannot predict unforeseen events, such as losing your job, an unexpected medical emergency, or sudden and large bills.

“From time to time, unexpected expenses will rear their ugly head and Australians really need to have a financial buffer in place to pay for these expenses. Otherwise, they may find themselves having to take out a personal loan or use a credit card and this can result in added financial hardship.

“Where possible, it is critical that you consistently save a portion of your regular income if you aren’t doing so already.

“You can break the cycle of living pay cheque to pay cheque by having a plan in place. When you receive your regular salary, don’t save what’s left over, but rather, set up an automatic transfer and send some of your money into a separate savings account. Depending on your situation, you should start with a realistic portion that you can commit to, such as 10% of your regular income.

“Moreover, you should track your spending by having a budget in place. Take note of where your money is going and consider cutting out purchases that you no longer need or use, such as gym memberships and eating out. Be purposeful with your spending, so instead of purchasing items as soon as they arise, hold back and wait.

“That said, while it is good to be frugal in certain areas, you should still allow for discretionary spending by giving yourself a set allowance. Make sure it is a realistic figure that is in a range that allows you to save, while still enjoying your money.”