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An IRA of Your Own

By Jean Chatzky
If you don't invest, you won't have the money you need for a long, comfortable retirement. You won't have any extra cash to give your kids a helping hand, and you won't be able to survive the burden of an ill or dependent parent. You can decide today that you don't want to be in that situation tomorrow.

Research shows that 65 percent of women say they could find an extra $20 a week to save for retirement. That pocket change—it's less than $3 a day—works out to $1,040 a year. Let's say you managed that. You put the money away and you earned an 8 percent average annual return. If you retire at age 65, how much of a difference would it make in your life?
  • If you start at 20, you'll have an extra $440,606
  • If you start at 25, you'll have an extra $291,620
  • If you start at 30, you'll have an extra $191,618
  • If you start at 35, you'll have an extra $124,496
  • If you start at 40, you'll have an extra $79,443
  • If you start at 45, you'll have an extra $49,203
  • If you start at 50, you'll have an extra $28,906
  • If you start at 55, you'll have an extra $15,282
  • If you start at 60, you'll have an extra $6,137

Map to a Million
What if you could find $10 a day to invest? That's $70 a week. It's the price of dinner for two in a moderate restaurant, the price of one pair of pants at Ann Taylor. In other words, it's very little. But when you put that money to work at 8 percent, when you shelter it in an account like an IRA or a 401(k) where you don't have to pay taxes until retirement, it can grow to be a bundle.

Invest $10 a Day = $304 a Month
In 10 years you'll have: $55,615
In 20 years you'll have: $179,062
In 30 years you'll have: $453,069
In 40 years you'll have: $1,061,266

 

Please note: This is general information and is not intended to be legal advice. You should consult with your own financial advisor before making any major financial decisions, including investments or changes to your portfolio, and a qualified legal professional before executing any legal documents or taking any legal action. Harpo Productions, Inc. and its affiliated companies and entities is not responsible for any losses, damages or claims that may result from your financial or legal decisions.

Reprinted from Make Money, Not Excuses by Jean Chatzky with permission from Crown Business, a division of Random House, Inc. Copyright © 2006 by Jean Chatzky.