How much of my income should I save?
Determining the right amount of cash to save is an important financial skill. By utilising proven methods, you can strike the perfect balance in your savings strategy.
The 50/30/20 approach
The 50/30/20 approach to saving is one of the most commonly used tactics. Basically, 50% of your spending should go towards needs (rent, food, bills, etc.), 30% towards wants (entertainment, travel, dining out), and 20% towards savings.
So how does this work in practice? Say you make $4500 per month after tax—your resulting split would be:
| Needs | Wants | Savings |
| $2,250 | $1,350 | $900 |
How strict is this savings tip?
Not at all! Some people may want to swap these numbers around if they're more concerned with saving and not as bothered with wants.
This could mean a 50/20/30 make-up where you spend a month saving extra and alternating back to 50/30/20 the following month.
By moving the numbers around to a 50/20/30, your $4500 a month split would look like this:
| Needs | Wants | Savings |
| $2,250 | $900 | $1,350 |
Age based savings
Another way of determining how much of your income you should save is by age. Your savings goals are likely to evolve as you progress through different life stages and this can be a useful guideline. It could look like:
| In your 20s | In your 30s | In your 40s and 50s | 60s and beyond |
| You could aim to save 10-15% of your income. Focus on building an emergency fund and starting retirement savings. | You might save 15-20% of your income. Balance between short-term goals (like buying a home) and increasing retirement contributions. | Aim for 20-25% savings. Accelerate retirement savings or build up an offset account if your home loan allows it. | Hopefully you’ve saved a nest egg, so your % can drop. Save 10-15%, focusing on maintaining wealth and preparing for retirement expenses. |
Retirement goal focused savings
Another way you can calculate how much you should save is by setting retirement goals and trying to meet milestones by certain ages. These can look like:
- 1x your annual salary by age 30
- 3x by age 40
- 6x by age 50
- 8x by age 60
- 10x by age 67
How can you supercharge your savings?
After you’ve figured out the split that makes sense for your situation, knowing where to deposit your savings is the next step.
If you’re looking to save over the short term, then a high-interest savings account with a good introductory rate account could be the most helpful. These accounts offer some pretty high rates for 3 to 6 months. A shorter term deposit could also be advantageous.
Alternatively, if you’ve got a long term goal, a ‘conditional’ bonus rate savings account could be a good option. By fulfilling certain conditions—like regular monthly deposits or no withdrawals—you’ll get a higher bonus rate. It’s important to note that, should you fail to meet these conditions, then you’ll revert to a lower or no interest base rate.
Comparing savings accounts
Knowing whether or not the savings account you’re aiming for has an above-average rate can be difficult. That’s why the team at Mozo have crunched the numbers and found the average rates for the 274 savings accounts we track.
- All Ongoing: 3.50%
- Only Bonus: 4.61%
- Only Introductory Rates: 5.01%
- Only Unconditional Rates: 1.40%
* Personal account of $10,000, correct as of 24 July 2024
Want to compare savings accounts? You can check out our savings accounts hub, if you prefer, check out some of the providers in the table below…
Savings account comparisons on Mozo
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Hi Saver
4.75% p.a. (for $0 and over)
0.25% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
Earn bonus interest on your savings for the first four months from the date you open the account, even if you make withdrawals. Transfer or make payments using our mobile app or internet banking. No minimum balance required. Rest easy knowing total deposits up to $250,000 are protected by the Financial Claims Scheme.
CompareCompareHi Saver
Earn bonus interest on your savings for the first four months from the date you open the account, even if you make withdrawals. Transfer or make payments using our mobile app or internet banking. No minimum balance required. Rest easy knowing total deposits up to $250,000 are protected by the Financial Claims Scheme.
- Maximum rate
- 4.75% p.a. (for $0 and over)
- standard interest rate
- 0.25% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- -
Read reviews and learn more about P&N Bank savings accounts
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Bonus Saver
4.75% p.a. (for $0 and over)
0.25% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus interest for the first four months from the account opened date. No minimum balance required. No monthly or ongoing fees or withdrawal penalties. Manage your money easily via phone or online banking or via the BCU Bank app.
CompareCompareBonus Saver
Bonus interest for the first four months from the account opened date. No minimum balance required. No monthly or ongoing fees or withdrawal penalties. Manage your money easily via phone or online banking or via the BCU Bank app.
- Maximum rate
- 4.75% p.a. (for $0 and over)
- standard interest rate
- 0.25% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening.
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- -
Read reviews and learn more about BCU Bank savings accounts
-
Savings+Bonus
4.75% p.a. (for $1 to $250,000)
2.00% p.a.(for $1 to $250,000)
Yes up to $250,000
Minimum $100 monthly deposit and no withdrawals to earn bonus interest each month.
Enjoy bonus interest when you deposit $100 or more per month and make no withdrawals. Access your money at any time via internet banking or our mobile app. Maximum balance $250,000 to receive bonus interest.
CompareCompareSavings+Bonus
Enjoy bonus interest when you deposit $100 or more per month and make no withdrawals. Access your money at any time via internet banking or our mobile app. Maximum balance $250,000 to receive bonus interest.
- Maximum rate
- 4.75% p.a. (for $1 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 2.00% p.a.(for $1 to $250,000)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $5.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Minimum $100 monthly deposit and no withdrawals to earn bonus interest each month.
- Access
- -
- Minimum balance
- $1.00
- Other restrictions
- Must become a First Option Bank member to open an account.
Read reviews and learn more about First Option Bank savings accounts
-
Online Savings Account
5.00% p.a. (for $0 and over)
1.00% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus rate for the first 3 months from account opening.
Complement your banking with an introductory bonus rate offer. Earn additional bonus interest for the first 3 months. No minimum monthly deposit required to earn interest. No account keeping fees. No minimum opening balance. Manage your account 24/7 using the app.
CompareCompareOnline Savings Account
Complement your banking with an introductory bonus rate offer. Earn additional bonus interest for the first 3 months. No minimum monthly deposit required to earn interest. No account keeping fees. No minimum opening balance. Manage your account 24/7 using the app.
- Maximum rate
- 5.00% p.a. (for $0 and over)
- standard interest rate
- 1.00% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate for the first 3 months from account opening.
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Branch access is for deposits only. Must be linked to an Everyday Account, Home Loan or Credit Facility with this provider.
Read reviews and learn more about Newcastle Permanent savings accounts
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- High Interest Savings - 2024
Savings Maximiser
5.40% p.a. (for $0 to $100,000)
0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Deposit $1,000 into a personal ING account, make 5 eligible transactions with a linked Orange Everyday account and grow the balance each month.
Access a great variable rate when you grow your balance each month, in addition to other eligibility criteria. Mozo Experts Choice Awards Everyday & Savings Bank of the Year winner for 2024.^
CompareCompareSavings Maximiser
Access a great variable rate when you grow your balance each month, in addition to other eligibility criteria. Mozo Experts Choice Awards Everyday & Savings Bank of the Year winner for 2024.^
- Maximum rate
- 5.40% p.a. (for $0 to $100,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.05% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- For customers who deposit $1000 from an external source into a personal ING account (excluding Orange One and Living Super), make 5 eligible transactions and grow their nominated Savings Maximiser account each month so there is more in the account at the end of the month than there was at the start of each month (excluding interest). The total bonus interest rate is available on balances up to $100,000 on one Savings Maximiser the next month after meeting eligibility.
- Access
- Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must be linked to an Orange Everyday transaction account to receive the bonus rate. Where multiple Savings Maximiser Accounts are held, the bonus rate is only applied to one nominated account.
Read reviews and learn more about ING savings accounts
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^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Savings Account Awards
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