Savings rate versus future needs

[ziggy29]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Yes, a good Exercise, but I do MORE Buying in times like these.. I search for Replacing my Cars, Home Products and everything else I can at -25% differences in most cases..Just got a 2008' Car for $6k less than just 6 mos ago and got full price value for my 2005...but the 08' was a Repo... Got thru my bank..

Just goes to show -- if you have a secure and reliable income stream, there's no better time to go shopping for big ticket items than now. I know that if I felt better about job security, I'd be doing a lot of stuff we've been deferring for the last few months and booking some travel bargains. We've been getting bombarded with offerings from the cruise lines with deals I've simply never seen before. I hate that I don't feel confident enough to burn cash to go after some of what I've seen recently.

Personally, 2008 was our best year ever for saving, and if I keep my job 2009 will likely be as good or better.

[pinetree64]

That is one heck of a savings rate. I guess my ratio is 2y saving to 1y living. I am double paying my 15 mortgage and have no other debt. Currently I match my salary through investment income, which gets reinvested and is not included in the ratio. I do include a sizable health insurance expenditure in the future - roughly equal to my mortgage.

In my planning annual expenses in retirement equal current levels - I don't see me saving 33% a month.