AAR27 - How do I decide how much to save?

The Investing for Beginners Podcast - Your Path to Financial Freedom

Andrew Sather & Glassbox Media

Business, Investing

4.2 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

You can download Evan’s free monthly budgeting spreadsheet here:⁠https://einvestingforbeginners.com/budget/⁠ In this episode of At Any Rate, Evan Raidt breaks down the practical process of deciding how much to save, spend, and invest—using a clear, percentage-based system that works for any income. Evan walks through the 50-30-20 rule (and how he tweaks it himself), explains why percentages matter more than dollar values, and shows how to use a real-world budget outline (grab the free sheet ⁠here⁠). You’ll learn where to start, how to handle must-have savings like 401k matches and HSAs, and how to prioritize Roth IRAs and high-yield savings accounts with any leftover funds. Topics Covered: Why percentages matter more than dollar amounts The 50-30-20 rule (and Evan’s personal tweaks) How to find your true net income for budgeting The power of maxing your 401k match and using an ⁠HSA⁠ Using credit cards only as payment vehicles (not for emergencies) Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and why this topic matters 02:00 The problem with flashy dollar amounts—percentages are what count 04:30 How to use the free ⁠budget sheet⁠ 06:00 Setting your target percentages (50-30-20 and beyond) 09:00 Calculating net income and why it matters 12:00 Breaking down “needs” and why debt payments go here 15:00 Must-have savings: 401k match, HSA, home equity 18:00 Planning for big goals (cars, houses, etc.) 20:00 Prioritizing Roth IRA and high-yield savings accounts 24:00 Tracking and adjusting your “wants” 27:00 What to do with leftover funds 29:00 Final tips: avoid regular savings accounts, use credit cards for rewards only, and keep things hands-off with index funds 31:00 Wrapping up and how to get started Resources Mentioned: Free budgeting spreadsheet: ⁠⁠https://einvestingforbeginners.com/budget/⁠⁠ ⁠Roth IRA basics⁠: ⁠https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rothira.asp⁠ ⁠High-yield savings accounts⁠: ⁠https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/banking/high-yield-online-savings-accounts⁠ ⁠Vanguard VOO ETF info⁠: ⁠https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/voo⁠ Have feedback or ideas for Evan? Comment below or email him at ⁠[email protected]⁠—your suggestions help shape future episodes. Remember, financial freedom is built one smart move at a time. Keep it simple, keep it steady, and at any rate, we’ll see you next time. Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Today’s show is sponsored by: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SHOPIFY.COM/beginners⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start selling with Shopify today. Download the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Plynk app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ today to start building your investing confidence. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠auraframes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code BEGINNERS at checkout to get $35 off Get your free quote and see how much you could save at ⁠⁠⁠⁠SelectQuote.com/beginners⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tunein⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Have you ever wondered why we call French fries French fries or why something is the greatest
0:04.9	thing since sliced bread? There are answers to those questions. Everything Everywhere Daily is a podcast
0:10.3	for curious people who want to learn more about the world around them. Every day you'll learn
0:14.9	something new about things you never knew you didn't know. Subjects include history, science, geography,
0:20.6	mathematics, and culture.
0:22.0	If you're a curious person and want to learn more about the world you live in, just subscribe
0:25.9	to everything everywhere daily wherever you cast your pod. That's because credit cards
0:32.6	must just be used as payment vehicles to get rewards. And that's it.
0:38.3	I will die on that hill.
0:40.3	Credit cards should be seen as nothing other than a payment vehicle to get rewards.
0:44.3	Because the second you see it as anything else, the second you see it as an emergency fund,
0:49.3	the second you see it as a savings account, the second you see it as, I don't know, anything outside of just a
0:55.2	payment vehicle, you are going to be incurring interest on any payments you make to that
0:59.8	account and any balance you're carrying month to month. And that is just money down the drain.
1:05.1	You should never spend any more on a... Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to at any rate, my name is Evan Ray, and we are here to help you make sustainable financial changes without breaking a sweat.
1:26.4	Although today, I should probably say I am here because today I'm actually going to be trying something new. And it's going to be a bit different for both of us. Trust me, not just you. Today is going to be my first solo episode. So give me a bit of grace on this one if it ends up being a bit shorter. And as always, I would more than value feedback on this episode and how you feel about it.
1:45.9	And for the future, I want to take everything into account.
1:48.5	But I definitely am comfortable knowing that today's topic is going to be a topic that I can
1:51.8	provide a lot of valuable information on, even if I'm just solo.
1:56.0	In a recent episode, actually, that inspired this, Andrew mentioned how do you decide how much you save in different places?
2:02.7	And this has definitely been a blind spot, I'd say, in the content, in that I've discussed
2:07.4	a ton of how much to save, what accounts are good to save for different reasons, whether
	...

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