It’s something we know we should do, but we don’t necessarily do it. Saving money is always in the back of our minds but there are so many immediate costs that we’ve got to pay for, the long-term outgoings go on the back burner. But we don’t always think about the future. Instead, we consider the here and now to be more important. We have to look to the future, and one simple way to do this is to think about the real essentials in life that we should save up for.

Debt Consolidation

We very easily can run up a lot of debt. While it’s common sense to have some form of emergency funds, we can financially chase our tail when it comes to the various types of debt we can accrue. Debt is a shadow that can stop us from getting a mortgage, a new car, or even a credit card when we really need it. And in addition to this, debt provides us with a considerable amount of stress.

An Emergency Fund

Are you insured? If not, what are you going to do if you need medical treatment, or there’s an emergency situation in life you’re not financially equipped to deal with? Something as life-threatening as a car crash is financially draining in so many ways. And while car accident victims should retain an attorney, the fact of the matter is that this is one part of a very stressful situation, financially speaking. We never know if we’re going to have to take a long time off work, or something happens to us or a loved one that we will have to take an indefinite period of leave.

Unemployment

And what if your job isn’t as secure as you think it is? So many companies are going bust now, that we need to have something spare should the unimaginable happen. Or on the other hand, you may consider leaving your job to follow your dreams, and if you are planning to have a lot of downtime to travel or set up a business, you’re going to have to change your lifestyle in so many ways and live a threadbare existence. If you save up a lot of money, it could keep you ticking over for a couple of months.

Your Retirement Years

If you work for yourself, you’re unemployed, or even, you’re employer doesn’t provide a decent pension, you need to think about saving for it now because when the time comes that you want to retire, you physically won’t be able to. Your retirement years should be a period of enjoyment, and not worrying about money. But it seems that nowadays, everybody over a certain age has financial anxieties when they should be enjoying their downtime.

When we’re young, we don’t really think about the future, because it’s so far away. But life throws so many unforeseen issues at us, if we’re not financially prepared to deal with it, we will struggle. We can’t rely on the bank of mom and dad, and what if our parents are struggling anyway? There are things in life that you have to save money for.