Most workers who aren’t saving for retirement through their employers aren’t saving at all, the study found

New data suggests the average American worker has under $1,000 saved for retirement.

A report from the National Institute on Retirement Security found that the median savings for all employed adults between the ages of 21 and 64 were approximately $955. The study includes workers with 401(k) and other retirement savings plans, as well as the approximately 56 million workers who do not have access to employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Workers with retirement savings plans have a median balance of approximately $40,000 saved, according to the report. That figure is nowhere near the $1.5 million that Americans say they need to feel comfortable fully retiring.

    • Stiffneckedppl@lemmy.world
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      26 days ago

      You can invest in international markets if you think the US market is doomed. Still not a reason not to save. The bigger problem is that so many people simply can’t afford living expenses AND saving for retirement.

    • T00l_shed@lemmy.world
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      26 days ago

      Well you see, dr oz has an answer for that. Just start working earlier, and dont retire. No need to save

      • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz
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        26 days ago

        Life is a Crudite and we are merely sliced vegetables to be browsed over distractedly by the ultrawealthy.

    • redlemace@lemmy.world
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      26 days ago

      Even though i’m not an a american I thought it’s a very negative thing to say and considered to argue. I found I have no augment to offer.

      • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
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        26 days ago

        You money/investments/wealth isn’t necessarily limited to just the US. Someone could take their assets and move to a different country and put those assets towards retirement.

        The idea that you can’t save because it’s collapsing is just doubling down on sinking with the ship.

        • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz
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          26 days ago

          The idea that you can’t save because it’s collapsing is just doubling down on sinking with the ship.

          What a stupid, dismissive thing to say.

          If you can save and get out, good for you.

          • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
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            26 days ago

            Your orginal comment asks

            why would you save as someone in the US?

            implying it isn’t worth it to save anything if you live there.

            • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz
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              26 days ago

              In the US economically the rich here will not allow the poor to have the breathing room to save, they can’t or else the system of extraction here loses its essential domineering grip.

              • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
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                26 days ago

                I would rather flee the country with $955 to my name than with nothing. I’m not saying its easy or a fair system but not even attempting to save because of how fucked things are is just a terrible strategy.

                • TimmyDeanSausage @lemmy.world
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                  26 days ago

                  I don’t think you understand the crushing reality of living in poverty in the US. Over 60% of the US lives paycheck to paycheck. That should make it clear that it’s a systemic issue. Some people live above their means by choice, or lack of thoughtful planning. Many people live above their means because the means they have access to don’t cover the cheapest of basics, so we go without. I lived off of one meal a day, all through my 20’s, because that’s what I could afford. Ignorant people lectured me on the importance of saving that whole time. We don’t have a problem understanding the importance of saving. You have a problem understanding the class system in the US.

                • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz
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                  26 days ago

                  Past a certain point believing you can beat a horrendously rigged game designed to be as cruel as possible just blinds you to a starker reality, it is neither helpful for inducing positive systematic reform nor helpful for understanding yourself and your piled up failures in a loving light.

                  • Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                    26 days ago

                    I don’t know why this person thinks you can leave the States for a grand. Thank you for trying to explain…

    • Perspectivist@feddit.uk
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      26 days ago

      Invest everything you can into highly diversified, low-cost index funds and continue doing that for multiple decades. That’s the how.

      The why should be pretty obvious.

    • eli@lemmy.world
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      26 days ago

      Why wouldn’t someone save in the US?

      The country is burning down? Sure. We don’t know what things will look like in a year? Me neither!

      But I’d rather save and invest because in 40 years things may or may not have turned out fine. And I’d have a couple million and you will have zero because “why would you save!?!?” mentality.

      If you get started early enough, you don’t even have to save a lot over time or even month to month. But if you wait until the last second(40s, 50s?) you’ll need to be dumping thousands per month just to catch up.

      This is a math problem, not an emotional one.

      • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz
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        26 days ago

        If you think we have 40 years before general collapse you are in for an enormous amount of unprocessed heartbreak.

        • eli@lemmy.world
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          26 days ago

          Ah, you’re right. I’m going to go sell everything I have then go to Mexico and buy as much hookers and blow that I can and then commit suicide because everything is going to shit and nothing even matters anymore! There is no future! REEEEEEEEE!

          /s