How To Be Financially Secure

Financial security is something I feel strongly about. Old-age pensions are small and gone are the days of generous final salary pension schemes. Recent changes in my circumstances mean I have spent time researching this area. My son is off to University in September and a change of job in the last couple of years meant a complete overhaul of our families financial affairs.  

This simple guide will give you an insight into the type of savings to make you more financially secure. I am not an expert in the field so always take advice from an independent body such as The Money Advice Service and if you use a financial advisor ensure they are independent and not tied to any bank or financial company.

Why Save?


Image Copywrite Stux Pixbay

After all the bills have gone out,  it is important to put something aside for emergencies and for your old age.  Did you know the most you can get from a state pension is only £115 a week? Not a lot to live on is it?!

The earlier you can make provisions for your old age the better. Putting aside money on a regular basis in a UK bank account can add up to a tidy sum before you know it. A mix of emergency savings, ISA's and a pension or savings for your old age cover most eventualities. 

Emergency Savings 

Things can happen in life that takes us by surprise, such as a loss of a job, unexpected repairs or the breakdown of a relationship. At times like these, you may need to draw on emergency savings.  The Money Advice Service recommend putting aside 3 months essential outgoings in an instant access savings account.  

If you set up a standing order or direct debit into a saving account, it won't be long until that money is there, for those unpredictable life events.

NISA

A New Cash Isa or NISA is a tax free way of saving. In the simplest term, it is a savings account you don't pay tax on.  A Stocks and Shares ISA is another option but with this type of ISA, you are investing in bonds, shares and funds and is a more risky type of investment. You can save just over £15000 an ISA and this can be a mix of a NISA and Stocks and Shares ISA.

A NISA savings account is especially good for medium to long term investing, such as saving for a house deposit, a wedding, or university fees.

Interest is paid on regular savings accounts after tax has been deducted, unless you are a non-taxpayer yet with a NISA interest is tax-free.

If you want to read more about NISA's including the difference between a Cash Isa and a Stocks and Shares ISA, take a trip to Money Saving Expert.com.

Pensions



Image Copywrite   Shutterstock

More than half the people in the UK are not saving for their old age, or are not saving enough for the lifestyle they aspire to on retirement.  If you do not have enough saved when you are looking to retire you may have to work for longer.

The basic state pension is based on 30 qualifying years of paying in National Insurance contributions. If you have not paid in the right amount you may not get much at all. The full amount of state pension at a little over a hundred pounds a week is not enough to live on, on its own, and because of this many people have other savings for old age. 

Opting in to your companies pension scheme or taking out a private pension on top of this is one option. Alternatively putting money aside in a long term savings account, or investing in relatively stable commodities such as gold or property is another.

Recommendations from industry experts always state a pension is worth investing in though.  Think of a pension as another savings account with the important point that you get tax relief on the savings. The money you save on a regular basis is invested so that is provides you with an income on retirement. There are also new rules about pensions including being able to take money out of your pension pot early, read up on the rules here.

Stocks and Shares 

If you have managed to save some money behind you, you could look at stocks and share but only risk what you can afford to lose. 

If you want impartial advice on pensions the Pensions Advisory Service is the place to go.

Tell me, do you have any savings or are you considering investing in a NISA, pension or other savings account?

* This is a sponsored post, all words and opinions are my own

17 comments

  1. We really need to look into pensions as we have nothing sorted to protect our future, it's hard to worry about the future sometimes but it really is necessary x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The sooner you start paying in the better so you have some security for your future.

      Delete
  2. Up until a year ago we had a fair amount of money saved up, then we bought a house and everything that could go wrong did. Now we have very little in the way of savings and we're worrying that if anything else goes wrong we'll not be able to fix it. Fingers crossed we'll be ok though!

    Louise x

    With love from Lou

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Buying a house is a stressful time. At least your savings would have helped you with a deposit. When you get settled maybe start a small savings account again.

      Delete
  3. Really good post. I used to have quite a lot of money saved up but university happened and then I bought a car and now I'm panicking about not having much savings. Luckily I am young enough and earning enough to start saving up properly for the future. I have had a cash ISA since I was 18 years and always try to put bits away.
    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great news about your ISA Jessica. Savings are meant to be spent eventually so don't forget that too :)

      Delete
  4. Great advice :) we put aside a good amount each month, hopefully we'll be able to continue that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is a very good idea Becca. If you start doing this when you first start work you don't really miss the money.

      Delete
  5. This is a great post with some good advice here. Thanks for sharing x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great advice :) We save £50 a month, it may not be much but it soon adds up :) Plus we both pay into a pension too :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As you save £50 a month soon adds up. Well done on the pension too.

      Delete
  7. It's vital to have money stashed away for the future. My husband works in pensions, so we have that covered. You never know what is around the corner, so I make sure I save something each month, in between the wanting to spend it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pensions have been on my mind for a while now, I think it's because I am starting to feel my age! I really must look into it properly, this post is a good place to start!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you think the longer you leave it, the less you have when you retire, there is no time like now to start planning your pension.

      Delete
  9. We've been looking at pensions. Should really have started sooner I think but it's better to have a little than nothing

    ReplyDelete