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
-
Savings Account
5.35% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
4.75% p.a.(for $0 to $1,000,000)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus variable rate is available for the first 4 months.
Enjoy a high interest savings account with no account keeping fees to pay. Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace. Multiple 2024 Mozo Experts Choice Award winner.
CompareCompareSavings Account
Enjoy a high interest savings account with no account keeping fees to pay. Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace. Multiple 2024 Mozo Experts Choice Award winner.
- Maximum rate
- 5.35% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 4.75% p.a.(for $0 to $1,000,000)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus variable rate is available for the first 4 months.
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must have a Macquarie Transaction Account to link with.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Macquarie Savings Account
-
High Interest Savings Account
5.75% p.a. (for $0 to $250,001)
4.40% p.a.(for $0 to $250,001)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
Reward yourself with a higher rate for your good savings habits with the Rabobank High Interest Savings Account. No Account keeping fees. No minimum balance. Support Aussie farmers with every dollar you save.
CompareCompareHigh Interest Savings Account
Reward yourself with a higher rate for your good savings habits with the Rabobank High Interest Savings Account. No Account keeping fees. No minimum balance. Support Aussie farmers with every dollar you save.
- Maximum rate
- 5.75% p.a. (for $0 to $250,001)
- standard interest rate
- 4.40% p.a.(for $0 to $250,001)
- 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, reverting to standard variable rate. Rate shown is for Personal customers and is subject to change. Different rates apply to Business/SMSF customers.
- Access
- Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must link to a transaction account
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Rabobank High Interest Savings Account
-
Savings Maximiser
5.50% p.a. (for $0 to $100,000)
0.55% 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.
Great variable rate every month when you grow your balance each month in addition to other eligibility criteria. No ING fees to pay. Save even more with ING Everyday Round Up. Mozo Experts Choice Awards Everyday & Savings Bank of the Year winner for 2024.^
CompareCompareSavings Maximiser
Great variable rate every month when you grow your balance each month in addition to other eligibility criteria. No ING fees to pay. Save even more with ING Everyday Round Up. Mozo Experts Choice Awards Everyday & Savings Bank of the Year winner for 2024.^
- Maximum rate
- 5.50% p.a. (for $0 to $100,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.55% 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 our Mozo Review to learn more about the ING Savings Maximiser
-
Growth Saver Account
5.05% p.a. (for $0 and over)
0.35% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Grow your net balance by at least $200 (excluding interest) and make no more than one withdrawal in the month.
Grow your savings goals with no monthly account keeping fees to pay. To get the bonus interest simply grow your net balance by at least $200 a month (excluding interest) and make no more than one withdrawal during the month. No debit card, ATM, eftpos or personal cheque access with this account Suncorp Bank (Norfina Limited ABN 66 010 831 722 AFSL 229882 Australian Credit Licence 229882). The SUNCORP brand and Sun Logo are used by Suncorp Bank (Norfina Limited) under licence and Suncorp Bank is not part of the Suncorp Group.
CompareCompareGrowth Saver Account
Grow your savings goals with no monthly account keeping fees to pay. To get the bonus interest simply grow your net balance by at least $200 a month (excluding interest) and make no more than one withdrawal during the month. No debit card, ATM, eftpos or personal cheque access with this account Suncorp Bank (Norfina Limited ABN 66 010 831 722 AFSL 229882 Australian Credit Licence 229882). The SUNCORP brand and Sun Logo are used by Suncorp Bank (Norfina Limited) under licence and Suncorp Bank is not part of the Suncorp Group.
- Maximum rate
- 5.05% p.a. (for $0 and over)
- standard interest rate
- 0.35% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Grow your net balance by at least $200 (excluding interest) and make no more than one withdrawal in the month.
- Access
- Branch access, Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Suncorp Growth Saver Account
-
MoneyMAX Account
No Current Offer
4.70% p.a.(for $1 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Unlimited access 24/7 via Banking App, Phone & Internet Banking. Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly. No transaction fees or monthly service fees. No minimum balance or withdrawal restrictions. Online access only.
CompareCompareMoneyMAX Account
Unlimited access 24/7 via Banking App, Phone & Internet Banking. Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly. No transaction fees or monthly service fees. No minimum balance or withdrawal restrictions. Online access only.
- Maximum rate
- No Current Offer
- standard interest rate
- 4.70% p.a.(for $1 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- n/a
- Access
- BPay, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Branch access for deposits only.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Unity Bank MoneyMAX Account
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^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Savings Account Awards
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