What's the 10% rule, and should you use it? - Brigit Blog (2024)

The 10% rule, often mentioned in personal finance discussions, recommends putting (yep, you guessed it) 10% of your income toward savings and investments. It’s a simple way to encourage financial responsibility and help you build a solid financial future. In this article, we’ll explore how the rule works and help you decide whether it’s a suitable approach for your financial goals.

Understanding the 10% rule

The 10% rule is straightforward: it recommends that you put 10% of your income toward savings and investments ahead of other expenses or goals. That way, you can make sure you keep savings and build a strong base for your long-term financial security.

The 10% rule can be applied in different ways:

1. Emergency savings

You can put part of the 10% toward creating or building an emergency fund, to make sure you have a safety net for unexpected expenses.

2. Retirement savings

Another part of the 10% can be designated for retirement savings—which might include a 401(k) or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

3. General savings

The remaining portion can be used for general savings or investments to meet various financial goals, such as buying a home, starting a business, or funding your children’s education.

Should You Use the 10% Rule?

The 10% rule is a useful guideline for several reasons, but whether it’s right for you depends on your specific financial situation and goals.

Pros of the 10% rule

1. Consistency

The rule encourages consistent savings, which is key to building wealth over time.

2. Automated savings

Following this rule often involves setting up automated transfers to your savings or investment accounts, making it easier to stick to the plan.

3. Financial security

Saving at least 10% of your income can provide financial security by ensuring you’re prepared for emergencies and have a solid foundation for retirement.

4. Long-term growth

Consistently saving 10% of your income can lead to major growth in your savings and investments over time.

5. Mindful spending

By prioritizing savings, you are encouraged to be more conscious of your spending habits and make choices that align with your financial goals.

Cons of the 10% rule

1. One size doesn’t fit all

Always saving 10% may not work for everyone, because it doesn’t account for variations in income levels, debt, or other financial goals.

2. Limited flexibility

Some months may require larger savings contributions, while others might allow for smaller ones. The rule doesn’t easily accommodate these fluctuations.

3. Debt management

If you have high-interest debt, it may be more beneficial to allocate a larger portion of your income to paying down debt instead of strictly following the 10% rule.

4. Lower savings rate

Depending on your financial goals, income, and existing savings, limiting your savings to only 10% of your income might not be sufficient.

5. Short-term sacrifice

The rule might require you to make sacrifices in the short term to meet the 10% savings goal, which may not be feasible for everyone.

The bottom line: the 10% rule can help you build financial stability

The 10% rule can be a valuable starting point for those looking to establish good savings habits and prioritize financial security. It encourages consistency, mindful spending, and long-term growth of savings and investments, which are all a part of building a strong financial future.

What's the 10% rule, and should you use it? - Brigit Blog (2024)

FAQs

What's the 10% rule, and should you use it? - Brigit Blog? ›

The 10% rule is straightforward: it recommends that you put 10% of your income toward savings and investments ahead of other expenses or goals. That way, you can make sure you keep savings and build a strong base for your long-term financial security.

What is the 10% rule money? ›

The 10% rule is a savings tip that suggests you set aside 10% of your gross monthly income for retirement or emergencies. If you still need to start a savings account, this is a great way to build up your savings. You should create a monthly budget before starting your savings journey.

What is the 10% rule? ›

The 10% rule in a food chain is a law that explains that each trophic level transfers 10% of its energy to the level above them in the food chain. The other 90% of their energy is lost as heat or used for growth and reproduction.

What is the rule of 10 for large purchases? ›

Due to the time value of money, and the opportunity cost, the ten rule is this: Anything you buy today, your future self is paying 10x as much for. So add a zero onto the price tag, and ask yourself if it's still worth it. If it is, buy it and enjoy it.

What is the 10 payment rule? ›

More often than not, an installment loan (i.e. car loan or student loan) can be excluded during the approval process so long as you only have 10 payment or less to make. While some lenders have their own restrictions, most conventional and unconventional mortgage products allow you to exclude this debt.

What is the 70/20/10 rule for money? ›

The 70-20-10 budget formula divides your after-tax income into three buckets: 70% for living expenses, 20% for savings and debt, and 10% for additional savings and donations. By allocating your available income into these three distinct categories, you can better manage your money on a daily basis.

How do you use the 10 rule? ›

Step 1: Identify the population size, , and calculate 10% of the population size, . Step 2: Identify the sample size, . Step 3: Compare the sample size to 10% of the population size. If n ≤ 0.1 N then the 10% rule is satisfied.

Why is the 10 rule important? ›

10 Percent Rule: The 10 percent rule is used to approximate the independence of trials where sampling is taken without replacement. If the sample size is less than 10% of the population size, then the trials can be treated as if they are independent, even if they are not.

What is the 10 percent rule in investing? ›

So, let's talk about taking on risk responsibly. So, when you're ready to invest, you want to implement something I call the 10% Risk Rule. And this basically is just limiting your risky investments to no more than 10% of the total money you have invested.

What is the 10% rule for buying things? ›

Spending more than 10% of your income on a car means you'll have less money for other things, assets can grow your wealth. By making a modest investment in a vehicle, you can redirect funds towards savings or investments that could potentially grow over time, ultimately improving your financial future.

What is the 10% rule in business? ›

The 10% rule is a business growth strategy centred on creating year-on-year growth by increasing different areas of your business by just 10%, using different marketing tactics and techniques. The key to this strategy is consistency.

What is the 10% rule bank? ›

The 10% rule is straightforward: it recommends that you put 10% of your income toward savings and investments ahead of other expenses or goals. That way, you can make sure you keep savings and build a strong base for your long-term financial security.

What is the 10X rule in money? ›

The 10X Rule says that 1) you should set targets for yourself that are 10X greater than what you believe you can achieve and 2) you should take actions that are 10X greater than what you believe are necessary to achieve your goals.

What is the 10 rule for wealth? ›

For every bump in pay, bonus, or unexpected money that you receive: 10% of the money goes towards lifestyle creep and the other 90% goes towards building wealth.

What is the 75 15 10 rule of money? ›

The 75/15/10 rule suggests devoting 75% of your income to living expenses, 15% to investing, and 10% to savings. This guideline can be a flexible way to prioritize your long-term financial future when deciding how to budget and allocate your income, which you can adapt based on your situation.

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