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For some workers, earning a six-figure salary can feel like clearing a major professional — and financial — hurdle. And generally speaking, $125,000 is considered a good income for a single person, especially one with no dependents.

However, your cost of living, existing debt, financial obligations, personal spending habits, and inflation could all impact how far your dollar goes. Here’s a closer look at how a $125K salary measures up.

Is $125K a Good Salary?

One way to determine whether a $125,000 salary is “good” is to compare it to what a typical worker makes. According to the latest data from the Social Security Administration, the average salary in the U.S. is around $63,795. And the national median household income is $74,580, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey data for 2022. By most people’s measure, $125,000 per year would be considered a good salary.

But no matter how much money you bring home, tools like an online money tracker can help you monitor your spending and ensure you’re making progress on financial goals.

Average Median Income in the U.S. by State in 2024

Wages differ by region, often due to varying costs of living per state (more on that in a minute). The chart below shows the median household income in every state, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau.

State	Median Household Income
Alabama	$59,609
Alaska	$86,370
Arizona	$72,581
Arkansas	$56,335
California	$91,905
Colorado	$87,598
Connecticut	$90,213
Delaware	$79,325
Florida	$67,917
Georgia	$71,355
Hawaii	$94,814
Idaho	$70,214
Illinois	$78,433
Indiana	$67,173
Iowa	$70,571
Kansas	$69,747
Kentucky	$60,183
Louisiana	$57,852
Maine	$68,251
Maryland	$98,461
Massachusetts	$96,505
Michigan	$68,505
Minnesota	$84,313
Mississippi	$52,985
Missouri	$65,920
Montana	$66,341
Nebraska	$71,772
Nevada	$71,646
New Hampshire	$90,845
New Jersey	$97,126
New Mexico	$58,722
New York	$81,386
North Carolina	$66,186
North Dakota	$73,959
Ohio	$66,990
Oklahoma	$61,364
Oregon	$76,362
Pennsylvania	$73,170
Rhode Island	$81,370
South Carolina	$63,623
South Dakota	$69,457
Tennessee	$64,035
Texas	$73,035
Utah	$86,833
Vermont	$74,014
Virginia	$87,249
Washington	$90,325
West Virginia	$55,217
Wisconsin	$72,458
Wyoming	$72,495

Recommended: Highest Paying Jobs by State

Average Cost of Living in the U.S. by State in 2024

Want to see how the cost of living in your state compares to other places in the nation? The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis’ (BEA) list of personal consumption expenditures — which looks at how much residents in each state spend on necessities like housing, utilities, food, and health care — can be a helpful place to start. The latest data from BEA is in the chart below.

State	Personal Consumption Expenditure
Alabama	$42,391
Alaska	$59,179
Arizona	$50,123
Arkansas	$42,245
California	$60,272
Colorado	$59,371
Connecticut	$60,413
Delaware	$54,532
Florida	$55,516
Georgia	$47,406
Hawaii	$54,655
Idaho	$43,508
Illinois	$54,341
Indiana	$46,579
Iowa	$45,455
Kansas	$46,069
Kentucky	$44,193
Louisiana	$45,178
Maine	$55,789
Maryland	$52,651
Massachusetts	$64,214
Michigan	$49,482
Minnesota	$52,849
Mississippi	$39,678
Missouri	$48,613
Montana	$51,913
Nebraska	$37,519
Nevada	$49,522
New Hampshire	$60,828
New Jersey	$60,082
New Mexico	$43,336
New York	$58,571
North Carolina	$47,834
North Dakota	$52,631
Ohio	$47,768
Oklahoma	$42,046
Oregon	$52,159
Pennsylvania	$53,703
Rhode Island	$52,820
South Carolina	$46,220
South Dakota	$48,997
Tennessee	$46,280
Texas	$49,082
Utah	$48,189
Vermont	$55,743
Virginia	$52,057
Washington	$56,567
West Virginia	$44,460
Wisconsin	$49,284
Wyoming	$52,403

How to Budget for a $125K Salary

Since $125,000 is double or triple the cost of living in most states, you may find that the salary provides more than enough for what you need. Still, it’s a good idea to have a spending plan in place to help with things like starting an emergency fund, paying down debt, or making progress on short- and long-term financial goals.

One approach is the 50/30/20 budget, which suggests using 50% of your earnings to pay for your needs, such as housing, utilities, groceries, and healthcare costs. You would then spend another 30% on discretionary items such as entertainment, hobbies and travel, with the final 20% going toward savings and debt repayment.

Need help tracking your progress? Consider using a budget planner app, which allows you to create a budget, review spending, and monitor your credit score.

Maximizing a $125K Salary

Since someone earning $125,000 per year is receiving double or even triple the average income in most states, it’s quite possible to have a high quality of life at that income level. After all, it’s far more than what’s considered to be a good entry-level salary.

But there are ways for a single person to get even more from a six-figure salary. Here are a few strategies to consider:

•   Build up an emergency fund. Not sure you have enough saved for a rainy day? A general rule of thumb is to have at least three to six months’ worth of basic living expenses socked away in the bank.

•   Pay down your debt. If you’re carrying a lot of credit card debt — and you’ve already built up a comfortable emergency fund — focus on paying off your debt.

•   Step up your retirement savings. If you have a 401(k) retirement plan with your employer, crunch the numbers and see if you can bump up your monthly contributions. You could possibly get an employer match as well, if one is available.

Is $125,000 a Year Considered Rich?

A single person with no dependents who earns $125,000 a year may find that they’re well on their way to affording the life they want. That said, people who live in an area with a high cost of living may find that $125,000 per year doesn’t go as far as they had hoped.

One way to consider if someone is rich is by looking at their net worth. Calculating net worth is fairly straightforward: It’s the value of all your combined assets minus any outstanding debts or liabilities. If your assets are worth more than your liabilities, you have a positive net worth. If your liabilities outweigh your assets, you have a negative net worth.

Recommended: Net Worth Calculator by Age

Is $125K a Year Considered Middle Class?

Middle class is defined as households with a salary that’s two-thirds to double the national median income. That means a middle-class household has an income that falls between $47,189 and $141,568. A $125,000 salary falls squarely in that range.

Example Jobs that Make About $125,000 a Year

There are many jobs that pay about $125,000 per year, including several in information technology (IT) such as senior Java developers, which are computer programmers, as well as data scientists and data architects. Other jobs include pharmacist, optometrists, sales managers, lawyers, and marketing managers. Some of the positions that offer $125,000 per year also would be ideal jobs for introverts.

The Takeaway

Is $125k a good salary? To help you answer that question, it can help to look at the average pay in the United States and in each state. Cost of living, personal spending habits, inflation, and individual debt load are also factors you may want to consider. However, by and large, a single person with no dependents who earns $125K per year should be able to afford the basics with enough left over for enjoyment and saving.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

See exactly how your money comes and goes at a glance.

FAQ

Can I live comfortably making $125K a year?

A single person with no dependents should be able to live comfortably on a salary of $125,000 a year. However, just how well they can live on that income depends on a number of factors, including their cost of living and existing debt.

What can I afford with a $125K salary?

A salary of $125,000 should be enough to cover necessities, like housing, transportation, food, and healthcare, with discretionary funds potentially left over.

How much is $125K a year hourly?

If you work 40 hours a week for 50 weeks, and earn $62.50 per hour, then that will add up to $125,000 per year.

How much is $125K a year monthly?

A $125,000 annual salary works out to around $10,417 per month.

How much is $125K a year daily?

Generally speaking, a person who earns $500 per day and works 250 days per year can earn around $125,000 per year.

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Photo credit: iStock/South_agency

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

*Terms and conditions apply. This offer is only available to new SoFi users without existing SoFi accounts. It is non-transferable. One offer per person. To receive the rewards points offer, you must successfully complete setting up Credit Score Monitoring. Rewards points may only be redeemed towards active SoFi accounts, such as your SoFi Checking or Savings account, subject to program terms that may be found here: SoFi Member Rewards Terms and Conditions. SoFi reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time without notice.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SORL-Q224-1906721-V1

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You just got a new job offer and are wondering if $110,000 is a good salary. The truth is that in many parts of the U.S., it can be, especially for a single person. In most cases, you can probably cover your basic expenses and have some left over for savings.

Of course, there are many factors to consider when thinking about whether $110,000 is a good salary for you. Let’s dive in.

Is $110K a Good Salary?

In most cases, $110,000 is a good six-figure salary for a single person. Even when you factor in the rising costs of housing, food, and transportation, you can still comfortably afford to live in most parts of the country.

However, if you’re in an area where the cost of living is higher, you may find that you can afford the basics but not have much left over for other goals like retirement or travel. That’s why it’s crucial to look at your current spending patterns and the cost of living in your area to discern whether earning $110,000 is enough for your needs. A money tracker can give you a snapshot of your finances and provide insights into your spending and budgeting.

Median Income in the U.S. by State in 2024

According to the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, here is the median household income for all 50 U.S. states:

State	Median Household Income
Alabama	$59,609
Alaska	$86,370
Arizona	$72,581
Arkansas	$56,335
California	$91,905
Colorado	$87,598
Connecticut	$90,213
Delaware	$79,325
Florida	$67,917
Georgia	$71,355
Hawaii	$94,814
Idaho	$70,214
Illinois	$78,433
Indiana	$67,173
Iowa	$70,571
Kansas	$69,747
Kentucky	$60,183
Louisiana	$57,852
Maine	$68,251
Maryland	$98,461
Massachusetts	$96,505
Michigan	$68,505
Minnesota	$84,313
Mississippi	$52,985
Missouri	$65,920
Montana	$66,341
Nebraska	$71,772
Nevada	$71,646
New Hampshire	$90,845
New Jersey	$97,126
New Mexico	$58,722
New York	$81,386
North Carolina	$66,186
North Dakota	$73,959
Ohio	$66,990
Oklahoma	$61,364
Oregon	$76,362
Pennsylvania	$73,170
Rhode Island	$81,370
South Carolina	$63,623
South Dakota	$69,457
Tennessee	$64,035
Texas	$73,035
Utah	$86,833
Vermont	$74,014
Virginia	$87,249
Washington	$90,325
West Virginia	$55,217
Wisconsin	$72,458
Wyoming	$72,495

Recommended: Average Income by Age

Average Cost of Living in the U.S. by State in 2024

As anyone who’s ever received a paycheck knows, your salary and the amount you actually take home after taxes differ. After deducting for federal income taxes, Social Security tax, and Medicare, the average take-home pay on a $110,000 salary is around $85,544 — and that doesn’t include state taxes.

With that in mind, looking at the average cost of living in different states can help you decide whether $110,000 is a good salary. In the chart below, you can see how much a typical resident of each state spends on basics like food, transportation, utilities, and housing.

State	Personal Consumption Expenditure
Alabama	$42,391
Alaska	$59,179
Arizona	$50,123/td>
Arkansas	$42,245
California	$60,272
Colorado	$59,371
Connecticut	$60,413
Delaware	$54,532
Florida	$55,516
Georgia	$47,406
Hawaii	$54,655
Idaho	$43,508
Illinois	$54,341
Indiana	$46,579
Iowa	$45,455
Kansas	$46,069
Kentucky	$44,193
Louisiana	$45,178
Maine	$55,789
Maryland	$52,651
Massachusetts	$64,214
Michigan	$49,482
Minnesota	$52,849
Mississippi	$39,678
Missouri	$48,613
Montana	$51,913
Nebraska	$37,519
Nevada	$49,522
New Hampshire	$60,828
New Jersey	$60,082
New Mexico	$43,336
New York	$58,571
North Carolina	$47,834
North Dakota	$52,631
Ohio	$47,768
Oklahoma	$42,046
Oregon	$52,159
Pennsylvania	$53,703
Rhode Island	$52,820
South Carolina	$46,220
South Dakota	$48,997
Tennessee	$46,280
Texas	$49,082
Utah	$48,189
Vermont	$55,743
Virginia	$52,057
Washington	$56,567
West Virginia	$44,460
Wisconsin	$49,284
Wyoming	$52,403

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

How to Live on $110K a Year

You can live relatively well on $110,000 a year as a single person — as long as you manage your expenses carefully. First, consider what your short- and long-term goals are. Do you want to have enough money set aside for a week-long vacation each year? Are you eager to be debt-free within a certain timeframe? Or do you want to max out your contributions to your employer-sponsored 401(k)?

Balancing these goals with your everyday expenses will help ensure you can afford the necessities while taking care of your future self.

How to Budget for a $110K Salary

Budgeting on a $110,000 salary is similar to how you would budget for other income thresholds. Consider the following strategies:

Determine Your Take-Home Pay

Assuming you make $110,000 gross, you’ll need to account for how much you’ll receive after taxes and other deductions are taken into consideration. For example, you may have to pay health insurance premiums (an average of $1,401 a year for an individual plan) or pretax retirement contributions (up to $23,000 per year). Let’s say you pay federal taxes and deductions, contribute the maximum to your 401(k), and pay the average amount for your health care, you’d be left with a take-home pay of around $61,143.

Bottom line: Once you have a clearer picture of what’s coming in, you can then budget appropriately for it. Tools like a budget planner app can help make the job easier.

Set Aside Money for Long-Term Savings

It’s fun to live in the moment, but it’s also important to think about the future. Consider using part of your income to start an emergency fund, and set aside money for larger expenses and goals. You may also want to look into savings vehicles like a high-yield savings account, which typically offers a higher interest rate than a traditional savings account.

Plan to Get Out of Debt

Using part of your salary to tackle your high-interest debt faster can be a good idea to free up funds for other pursuits. You can also consider options like refinancing or debt consolidation loans to help you reduce interest costs.

Maximizing a $110K Salary

Getting smart with your money means knowing how you can maximize the salary you earn. In general, you can aim to do so by spending only what’s necessary, investing so you can have a comfortable retirement, and saving.

You may want to consider moves like:

•   Boosting your credit score to increase your chances of getting competitive interest rates

•   Investing in securities that charge minimal fees

•   Shopping around for loans to find the best rates and terms

•   Finding a home that fits your budget

•   Taking public transit when you can instead of driving a car

Quality of Life with a $110K Salary

You can have a good quality of life on a $110,000 salary depending on how you allocate your money. Even if you live in a higher cost of living area, there are ways to maximize the amount you earn to live well. Take the time to compare larger expenses like housing, insurance, and healthcare costs.

Recommended: Average Pay in the United States

Is $110,000 a Year Considered Rich?

Does earning $110,000 mean you’re considered “rich”? Well, the term is relative. It all depends on where you live and how you spend your money. For example, if you invest a good chunk of your income to help you increase your overall net worth and live in a safe area, some would consider that being rich. However, if you’re the only income earner in your family of six, then $110,000 per year is likely not enough to make you feel wealthy.

Is $110K a Year Considered Middle Class?

According to the Pew Research Center, middle-class workers earn a salary that’s two-thirds to double the national median income. By that definition, a middle-class household makes between $47,189 and $141,568, and $110k falls within that range. However, where you live will also factor into whether you’re considered middle class. That’s because different states have their own median household earnings.

Example Jobs That Make About $110,000 a Year

high-paying jobs that earn a median wage of $110,000 or more:

•   Architectural and engineering managers

•   Financial analysts

•   Software developers

•   Math and science postsecondary teachers

•   Dentists and doctors

•   Nuclear power reactor operators

The Takeaway

Earning $110,000 can mean you have the ability to live a good quality of life. Plus, it’s higher than the average salary in the U.S. That being said, you’ll still want to be mindful about where your money goes so you can achieve your financial goals and more.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

SoFi helps you stay on top of your finances.

FAQ

Can I live comfortably making $110k a year?

It is possible to live comfortably making $110,000 per year. However, doing so largely depends on factors like whether you have dependents, where you live, and what types of necessities and luxuries you want.

How much is $110k a year hourly?

Assuming you work 40 hours per week, you’ll earn around $52.88 each hour.

How much is $110k a year monthly?

You will earn about $9,166.66 each month on a $110,000 annual salary.

How much is $110k a year daily?

Assuming you work five days a week, $110,000 per year salary equates to roughly $423.07 per day.

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Photo credit: iStock/Jacob Wackerhausen

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

*Terms and conditions apply. This offer is only available to new SoFi users without existing SoFi accounts. It is non-transferable. One offer per person. To receive the rewards points offer, you must successfully complete setting up Credit Score Monitoring. Rewards points may only be redeemed towards active SoFi accounts, such as your SoFi Checking or Savings account, subject to program terms that may be found here: SoFi Member Rewards Terms and Conditions. SoFi reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time without notice.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SORL-Q224-1906951-V1

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The biweekly money-saving challenge requires putting away cash for 26 weeks or every other week for one year. The amount you choose to save can vary based on your goals and comfort level. This method not only helps you accumulate savings, it also encourages you to develop consistent savings habits over time.

Types of Biweekly Money-Saving Challenges

If you’re paid bi-weekly, the biweekly money-savings challenge might suit your lifestyle best. It’s budget friendly, too. So if you have a little or a lot of change after bills, you can adjust this plan to meet your needs.

26-Week or Biweekly Savings Challenge

There are many versions of this challenge. You can start with a small savings amount, like $3 or $4. If you choose the first amount, put $3 away in savings the first week. Every two weeks, add an extra $3 to the last amount you put away. So, the first week, you’ll put away $3. The second week, $6. The third week, $9. At the end of the 26-week challenge, starting with $3, you’ll have $1,053 in savings.

Or you might prefer a fixed savings goal, like $5,000 or $10,000. If that’s you, put away between $193 to $385 every two weeks. You’ll end up with $5,018 or $10,010, respectively.

Need help monitoring your finances? A money tracker can help you keep tabs on your spending and your credit score.

How to Choose a Money-Saving Challenge

Choose a financial challenge that works with your budget and meets your goals. Setting goals and starting small can be a big win in many ways. It lays the building blocks for long-term savings habits that last over time.

Find a challenge that is budget-friendly. The amount you put away can be as little as a nickel on day one. If you have more change to spare, you can put away more money. Some challenges suggest multiple savings accounts or stashing cash. If you choose to open multiple accounts, keep in mind that interest-bearing accounts typically earn some returns, are FDIC-insured, and can be accessed for emergencies or planned expenses.

You might have specific financial goals, like an emergency or wedding fund. Or you might want to build a habit of saving. Whatever your goal, a challenge can help you commit to saving $500 to $15,000 in a set amount of time — and potentially build a good habit in the process.

Common Money-Saving Challenges

Money-saving challenges are smart saving strategies or smart spending strategies, depending on the process. They can show you how to save up money fast or how to save money, period.

And there’s no shortage of creativity. Google has about hundreds of thousands of pages worth of money-saving challenges. You can even try saving $2,023 in the 2024 money-saving challenge. Below is a list of money challenges to get you started.

100 Envelope Challenge

Number 100 envelopes from 1-100. Each day, put in the amount of cash listed on the envelope. By the end of 100 days, you’ll have $5,050 stashed away.

In a variation, 100 days can be broken down into 13 weeks for easier deposits. The last week is four days. Every other week, set aside the week’s total of savings. Below’s chart lays out the amounts:

Week	Amount
1	$28
2	$92
3	$156
4	$220
5	$284
6	$348
7	$412
8	$476
9	$540
10	$604
11	$668
12	$732
13	$490

Holiday Helper Fund

The holidays sneak up on us quicker than we think. If you’re planning your annual budget, set up an account or an envelope for gifts. Setting aside an extra fund for gifts, whether holiday, wedding, or general, keeps money out of sight and mind until you need it.

On the week of January 1, set aside $20 every week, or $40 every two weeks. By December 25th, you’ll have $1,040.

52-Week Savings Challenge

The concept is simple. You set aside $1 at week one. Then $2 at week two. By the end of 52 weeks, you’ll have saved $1,378. You can also start with $2 or $10 on week one, $4 or $20 on week two, and so on. You’ll end up with $2,756 for the $2 challenge or $13,780 for the $10 challenge.

Another variation keeps the weekly savings contribution a fixed amount, which can be particularly helpful for smaller budgets. For example, you can put away $10 a week to end up with $520 at the end of the challenge.

The No Spend Challenge

Brunching on Sunday? Maybe not if you’re on this plan.

Pick a week or weekend and spend money on only necessities during that time frame. It’ll give you a chance to be creative with your time on limited resources.

Instead of eating out, try a new recipe at home. Instead of grabbing a new pair of shoes, dig deeper into your closet. You set your own time limit, so you can try it until you notice a change in your accounts!

Cash Only for a Month Challenge

A 2024 Forbes Advisor survey found that people tend to spend more with plastic, if given the option. It even stimulates the part of your brain associated with reward, pleasure, and addiction.

A cash diet can help stave overspending. Leave your cards at home when you go out and bring the amount of cash you decide to spend. You can look at the categories in your budget where you tend to overspend, like entertainment or clothes, and set aside cash for those categories. You can only spend the cash allotted for those categories.

Recommended: Does Net Worth Include Home Equity

The 365-Day Nickel-Saving Challenge

If you have a nickel to spare, you can do this challenge. On day one, put a nickel in a jar. On day two, put in 10 cents in the jar. On the third day, add 15 cents. By day 365, you’ll be adding $18.40 — to a total of $3,339.75 in your savings. You won’t have to put away more than $20 in a day and $130 in a week for the entire challenge.

30-Day Budget Preparedness Challenge

It helps to have a map for where you’re going. The same is true with spending.

Challenge yourself to a budget. First, download a budget planner like a spreadsheet template or a budget planner app. Then, go through each category and add the amount you’d like to or must spend in each (such as housing, groceries, entertainment, etc).

Knowing how much to spend before you go out can help improve your planning and control your spending. For example, if you allocate $400 a month to groceries, you can plan it by spending $100 a week. If you don’t spend it all, you can put it in savings.

Money-Saving Challenge Potential Savings

Taking on one of these challenges can help you boost your savings anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000.

But goal-setting will help you determine how much you want to save. If it’s $20,000 in two years, try the bi-weekly savings challenge. If you want to have $1,000 in your account, shoot for the 52-Week Savings Challenge. It’s a fun, concrete way to start.

If spending less is your goal, a challenge can help you cut bad habits like overspending. Setting up a budget and spending cash (not plastic) can help. Some challenges can help function as a monitor if paying off debt is your goal.

Whatever your goal is, these challenges are practical journeys that can pay off.

The Takeaway

A money-saving challenge can be a fun way to build a savings account. It can motivate you to spend less and save more. It can be a concrete demonstration of how small change can add up.

One of the more popular ones is the biweekly money-saving challenge. You can put away an amount you can afford, like $4, and increase it by $4 each week. Or you can set a goal of $5,000 and aim to set aside about $193 each week. It’s an easy plan that can adapt to many situations.

Best of all, you come away with stronger budgeting skills, like saving and prioritizing debt payoffs. These skills could help you make more fiscally responsible decisions. That way, when life happens, you’ll be better prepared.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

See exactly how your money comes and goes at a glance.

FAQ

What is the 100 envelope challenge?

This is a popular 100-day challenge. Number 100 envelopes 1-100. For each day, add the amount of cash to the envelope’s number listed on it. For example, add $1 to the envelope labeled 1, $5 to the envelope labeled $5, and so forth. By the end of the challenge, you’ll end up with $5,050.

What is the most popular money-saving challenge in 2024?

There is no top biller for popular money-saving challenges, but the 52-Week Savings challenge is mentioned across many results in a Google search.

How much money do you save with the 52-week challenge?

If you follow the original plan of starting with $1 on week one, then $2 on week two, $3 on week three, and so forth, you’ll end up with $1,378. Other variations involve changing the starting amount. For instance, you can start with $5 on week one, $10 on week two, until you have $6,890 put away.

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SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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At some point, there may come a time when you need to ask the question: Does filing for unemployment benefits affect your credit score? The answer is no, fortunately.

Losing your job can be like a kick in the stomach. It can deflate you and leave you scrambling to figure out what to do next. That last thing that many people need, in addition to firing up a job search, is a hit to their credit score, too. If you do lose your job, many financial professionals will tell you that the first thing you should do, if you qualify, is to file for unemployment so that you still have some income as you revise your resume and start interviewing.

The good news, again, is that you don’t need to worry about a potential ding to your credit. More information below!

Why Your Credit Score Matters

Your credit score is, in a sense, your financial reputation. It can give lenders or creditors a quick and easy summary of your creditworthiness — or, how likely it is you are to pay back a loan on time and in full. Everyone has a credit report, and you can think of your credit score as a truncated version, or sort of like a CliffsNotes, to your credit score.

Your credit score matters because it’s used by lenders to gauge how risky you are as a borrower. It’s used to measure not only whether a lender would be willing to give you a loan, but how much they’d charge you for the privilege — or what the effective interest rate would be for borrowing.

When it comes to some of life’s bigger purchases, such as a car or a home, that can be very important. A couple of percentage points can mean that a borrower ends up paying tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars more in interest over the years. As such, when a lender sizes up your credit application and takes a look at your credit score, the higher, the better.

As for what factors affect your credit score? It’s a mixture of things: Your payment history, total debt balances, credit utilization, credit history (how long you’ve had accounts), credit mix, and inquiries from lenders.

Recommended: Should I Sell My House Now or Wait?

Unemployment Won’t Appear on Your Credit Report

Again, you may be concerned that if you lose your job, filing for unemployment may affect your credit score. And, again, there’s no cause for concern. Not only will filing for unemployment not affect your credit score, it also won’t appear on your credit report. Your credit report contains information relating to your past borrowing activity, not your employment status.

So, unless there’s been a change in your credit history — say, you apply for a new line of credit or close an old credit card — your credit report won’t change. That said, your credit report may contain information relating to past employers, but the only thing that should have an effect on your credit score will be items relating to financial accounts.

That may become an issue if, say, you were issued a company credit card at a previous job. But for most people, your employment status, or past employers, aren’t likely to have an impact on your credit report or credit score.

Remember: Your credit score is a snapshot of your financial reputation, not your employment status!

How Unemployment Can Affect Credit Scores Indirectly

With all of that in mind, your employment status — or filing for unemployment — may have an effect on your credit score in an indirect way.

As mentioned, your employment status isn’t a part of your credit score’s calculation, and neither is whether or not you received unemployment assistance. It’s really all about paying back or down your debts, on time, and on schedule. As such, if you do lose your job and file for unemployment, you may find yourself in an income crunch. Your unemployment check is most likely going to be smaller than the paycheck you’re accustomed to receiving, and that may make it difficult to keep up with your payments.

You may also be tempted to start using your lines of credit more while unemployed as a way of making ends meet. For example, you might start using your credit card at the grocery store as a way of keeping money in your bank account, with the thought that you’ll pay off your balance once you get another job and a regular paycheck again. Some individuals may also look into personal loans for unemployed persons, too.

That logic may not be faulty, but doing so, you will increase your credit utilization and overall debt, which can lower your credit score.

Finally, if you find that you can’t keep up with your minimum payments due to the resulting cash crunch of losing your job, that, too, will ding your credit score. That’s why it’s important to maintain a line of communication with lenders. If you can’t make your payment, let them know, and they may be willing to work with you. Tools like a money tracker app may be helpful as well.

And, remember, if you do have a company credit card or some other type of financial account with an employer, and you lose your job, that credit line could be severed. That, too, could affect your credit score, as it ultimately lowers your total available credit.

Recommended: What Is The Difference Between Transunion and Equifax?

How to Protect Your Credit Score When Unemployed

As for protecting your credit score while unemployed, the most important things you can do are to try and keep your debt balances low and to keep an open line of communication with your creditors. Of course, a loss in income will probably spur you to change your spending habits by cutting back in certain areas. But in terms of maintaining your credit score, the best course of action is to keep doing what you’re doing: making your payments.

That means continuing to make your payments (at least the minimum) as scheduled. And, since it bears repeating, if you’re going to struggle to make those minimum payments, call your lender and let them know. Some will be willing to make accommodations (forbearance, extensions, etc), perhaps by deferring payments, although there’s no guarantee.

If you feel that you need more help, you can also work with a credit counselor to help you evaluate your options, and even negotiate with your lenders. You may also want to set up free credit monitoring, too, so that you can see any changes to your score.

The Takeaway

If you lose your job and file for unemployment, there shouldn’t be a direct effect on your credit score. That said, there may be indirect factors that could lower your score. The most important thing you can do to maintain a strong credit score is to keep making your payments and try to keep your debt balances (or credit utilization) to a reasonable level.

And remember that if you’re really struggling, it may be worth it to reach out to a professional for personalized advice.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

See exactly how your money comes and goes at a glance.

FAQ

Can I apply for a credit card when I’m unemployed?

It’s possible to get a credit card while unemployed, but keep in mind that a creditor’s main concern is whether or not you can make your payments. As such, your approval for a credit card may hinge on your income and other debts or financial obligations.

What if my credit score goes down?

Credit scores go up and down all the time, but if you do experience a fall in your credit score while unemployed, you’ll likely know why — and it’s probably because you missed payments or saw your credit utilization go up. The good news is that you can always work on increasing it again.

What personal information does your credit report include?

The short answer? A lot of it. That includes your name, aliases, birth date, Social Security number, address (and former addresses), phone number, and possibly your employment history, among other things.

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Photo credit: iStock/sorrapong

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Who doesn’t want to retire early? If you have $1 million stashed away by age 55, you may feel like you have enough to leave the rat race and ride out your golden years. Unfortunately, it may not be enough.

It all depends on your lifestyle and location. For some professionals, asking if $1 million is enough to retire on may be downright naive. As people live longer and prices continue to rise, many of us can end up needing much more.

If sitting on a cool million at 55 makes you feel like you’re ahead of the game, it’s probably a good idea to slow your roll and take some key factors into consideration.

How Far $1 Million in Retirement Will Realistically Take You

One million dollars sounds like a lot of money: surely enough to last the rest of your life, right? But how far will $1 million really take you in retirement? There’s no single answer that applies to everyone. The nest egg that an individual will need hinges on the following variables:

•   Where you’ll live when you retire

•   The lifestyle you want to lead

•   Whether you have dependents

•   Healthcare costs

•   Other retirement income

•   Investment risk

•   Inflation

Considered another way, the answer comes down to your withdrawal rate — how much money you regularly withdraw from your accounts to live on — and how long you end up living. A conservative withdrawal rate, for example, is 3%. So, if you’re eating up 3% of your savings per year (with inflation on top of that), you’ll want to make sure you have enough to last for a few decades. Tools like a money tracker can help you monitor your spending.

This is complicated stuff, and it may be best to consult a financial professional to help you plan it all out. At the very least, run some numbers yourself to figure out, “Am I on track for retirement?”

Recommended: Average Retirement Savings by State

Why You Need to Figure on Needing a Lot More if You Retire Early

Financial experts often say that you’ll need around 80% of your pre-retirement annual income for each year of retirement. That means that if your pre-retirement annual income is $80,000, you should plan on saving around $64,000 per year of retirement.

In that scenario, if you hope to retire at 55, you would need almost $2 million. That amount would last you for around 30 years, until you are 85. As you may have noticed, this is considerably more than $1 million.

Even then, you have to think about what happens if you live until you’re 95, or even 105. That’s 50 years of retirement — and $1 million is probably not going to last half a century. If you’re planning on retiring early, it seems, you will need a lot more than $1 million.

How Much You Should Ideally Save for Retirement

Again, the amount you should ideally save for retirement will depend on the kind of lifestyle you want to have during your retirement years. Because there are so many unknowns and variables to consider, many people simply aim to save as much as they can.

To get to a ballpark figure, though, ask yourself the following questions when crunching the numbers:

•   At what age would you like to retire?

•   What kind of lifestyle do you want to have?

•   Will you work part-time? If so, what kind of work will you do, and what is the average pay for that type of work?

•   Will you have passive income (such as rental income from a real estate property)?

•   What other sources of income will you have (Social Security, etc.)?

•   Where will you live when you retire, and what is the cost of living in that location?

•   How big of a safety net do you want for unforeseen circumstances?

Once you’ve thought about how you want to live your retirement, you can plan for that scenario. Create the budget you would like to have, then calculate the cost per year and the number of years you plan on being retired.

While we don’t know how long we will live, expecting a longer lifespan is a smart way to plan for retirement. You don’t want to outlive your savings and be too old to go back to work.

So, how much you should ideally save for retirement will vary in a big way from person to person. Perhaps the simplest answer is to save as much as you can.

Factors to Consider When Saving for Retirement

In addition to your cost of living after retirement, you should factor in inflation. Adjust your yearly cost of retirement with an inflation calculator to learn the change in value of your saved money over time. For perspective: Inflation, historically, has averaged just over 3%.

Happily, the stock market has grown faster than the inflation rate over time. So you can do some stock portfolio tracking to see whether your investments may help you stay ahead of inflation.

And another thing: Life expectancy is higher than it used to be. Americans are living, on average, until 77.5 years of age. With that in mind, plan for a longer lifespan. That way you won’t feel as though you’re running out of money later in retirement.

Recommended: Typical Retirement Expenses to Prepare For

How to Determine the Right Amount to Retire For You

If you want to keep your current cost of living and lifestyle, take your current salary and multiply it by the number of years you are planning on living off your retirement and multiply it by around 80%. Then, adjust it for inflation using an online calculator. Finally, add a cash cushion for unforeseen events.

It’s a bit of math, but this should give you a ballpark idea of your needs. You can always use a budget planner app or retirement calculator, too, of which there are many.

The Takeaway

Long story short: It is possible to retire with $1 million at 55. However, $1 million may not be enough for most people. You’ll need to create a customized financial plan based on your lifestyle goals if you want to try, though — there is no magic formula or a one-size-fits-all plan to do it. Identify what matters to you and then plan your retirement based on your ideal type of retirement.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

See exactly how your money comes and goes at a glance.

FAQ

How much money do I need to retire at 55?

The amount of money you will need to retire at 55 will depend on the kind of lifestyle you want to lead during retirement. If you’re planning on living off of $60,000 per year, and are hoping to live for another 30 or so years, you will need almost $2 million.

Can you live on $1 million in retirement?

One million dollars is not going to be enough for most people in the U.S. to retire on. Whether $1 million is enough will largely depend on the kind of lifestyle you want. If you are planning on receiving a pension and/or Social Security, that will significantly help to stretch your savings.

Can I retire with $1 million in my 401(k)?

Depending on your lifestyle, $1 million in your 401(k) may not be enough. When combined with other savings and investments, it can be. But it’s probably best to consult with a financial planner who can help you determine how to best use your 401(k) savings.

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Photo credit: iStock/LaylaBird

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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