The bucket plan helps you structure your savings to handle today’s uncertain market conditions and business challenges. It allows you to meet your short and long-term goals and ambitions with a financially secure and stable mind.
Saving Buckets—A Catalyst for Financial Security and Stability
We learn that if we expect to fulfill our dreams and overcome hard times, we need to spend less and save more. This cardinal rule has become the norm of every household and business, making it a top concern for people and companies. There is no denying that living your post-retirement life under severe financial crises causes a great deal of anxiety. Even in your working life, the thought of it gives you mental trauma and stress. To avoid future problems and financial concerns, you need to visualize saving buckets and taking things seriously now or risk having a hard post-retirement life.
A saving bucket sometimes referred to as the golden bucket of savings, is ideal for obtaining a perfect post-retirement life. However, the size of your savings buckets largely depends on your income level. The more you earn, the more you can save. But that’s not all. Your motivation to save money also plays a significant role in determining how large your saving bucket needs to be.
Some people confuse the terms investment and saving buckets, as they seem similar and are evaluated in the same context. However, there is a slight difference between the two. The purpose of an investment is to grow. In contrast, the use of a saving bucket means having a stable and healthy financial life cycle and meeting emergencies like medical conditions, debts, mortgages, insurance, and other similar aspects. Whether you have millions in your bank account or are just starting to create a financial plan, you need to build three key saving buckets.
Bucket 1: Emergency Funds
In today’s uncertain economy, you need to build emergency funds for both your business and household as you never know when an emergency will spring up, causing real financial troubles. According to studies, 70% of Americans fail to create emergency funds, resulting in significant bank loans and debt. Unfortunately, events can occur anytime. Therefore, maintain an emergency saving bucket for those hard times. Saving buckets can get you out of a financial crisis without dipping into your regular savings account, or worse, getting stuck in debt.
Ideally, you should have the capacity to bear the expenses of your household and business for six months with no income. For small to medium-sized organizations, you should have at least $10k or more in your saving bucket.
Bucket 2: Planned Savings
It’s ok to think and plan for financial emergencies, but you can also enjoy the perks of saving buckets to reach your goals. Some argue that ‘life is uncertain and, besides saving all your working life, you need to enjoy it by regularly saving a tiny portion of profits.’ This indicates that you can also save money for fulfilling your dreams and desires, such as buying a car, home, going on vacation, etc.
Bucket 3: Retirement Fund
Regardless of the size of your income and expenses, you need to contribute 3-5% of your income to your 401k account. To make the most of your post-retirement life, the more you add to your retirement account, the more you’ll enjoy your working years. This is one of the essential saving buckets as it provides financial security in your post-retirement life. If you find it hard to make a business plan on your own, you have the option to hire the expertise of a financial planner who will create a plan by reviewing your bookkeeping and financial records and trends.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the bucket plan is a valuable tool for managing your finances, allowing you to navigate uncertain market conditions and business challenges. Building and maintaining saving buckets can secure your financial future, achieve your goals, and enjoy peace of mind. Whether preparing for emergencies, planning for your dreams, or saving for retirement, these savings buckets are essential for a stable and financially secure life. Start now to avoid post-retirement financial worries and ensure a comfortable future.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.