https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:20:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k/page/2#post-291600 Wed, 12 Sep 2012 07:51:48 +0000 edelweiss 291600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>about 24-25% in order to max out my contribution. my employer matches 3%. it's a big hit on my take home pay but hopefully it will be worth it in the long run. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k/page/2#post-291578 Wed, 12 Sep 2012 07:29:58 +0000 mediagirl 291578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put 15% in my 401k and max out my IRA. My company does not match and the options in our 401k are limited, unfortunately. What I can't put in my IRA each year, I invest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k/page/2#post-291549 Wed, 12 Sep 2012 06:57:29 +0000 blackbird 291549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>8%, which my company matches. Our Roth is also maxed out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k/page/2#post-291539 Wed, 12 Sep 2012 06:41:14 +0000 dagret 291539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: re Roth - diversification (more investment options w Roth than w my 401k), taxes and you can take money out of a Rith - you should never, ever borrow from a 401k. From kiplinger:<br /> The idea of saving on your taxes may seem a tad obscure, but it really can pay off big. If a 25-year-old contributes $5,000 each year until she retires and makes an average annual return of 8% on her investment, she'll have $1.4 million saved by the time she retires at age 65. And the money is all hers -- she won't have to give the IRS a cent of it if she waits until retirement to withdraw the money. (Use this calculator to see how far your savings can take you. Enter "0" in the tax rate boxes to simulate the tax-exempt status of a Roth IRA.)<br /> If that same 25-year-old invested that same $5,000 a year in a taxable account earning the same 8% return, she'd only have about $1 million after 40 years if her earnings were taxed at 15% federal. That's more than one-fourth less money than if she'd gone with the Roth. If she owed state taxes on the money, too, she'd be down even more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k/page/2#post-291532 Wed, 12 Sep 2012 06:29:24 +0000 MamaG 291532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>15%, which is our maximum allowed, my company matches 6%.</p> <p>For the folks that are fans of the Roth, why do you suggest Roth before 401K? Roth only allows 5K and it is a post-tax contribution. 401K max for 2012 is 17K and is pre-tax. I suppose it depends on your thoughts on taxes? If your belief is you will be at a lower tax bracket when you withdraw funds in the future than you are when you contribute, I'm not sure the Roth is such a great deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-291514 Wed, 12 Sep 2012 05:15:27 +0000 dagret 291514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>6%, for a 3% match (and usually a year end bonus in there too.) My husband isn't eligible for a match till next July so we are focusing on a Roth IRA for him right now. </p> <p>We are doing what @sunny refers to. We are each contributing $250/mo to our Roths; I started mine 6 years ago contributing $100/mo and have slowly increased the contribution each year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-261924 Fri, 17 Aug 2012 01:05:29 +0000 BSB 261924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Only 5 percent. I really need to up it every couple months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-261920 Fri, 17 Aug 2012 00:56:36 +0000 808love 261920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About 8 percent </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-260926 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:15:04 +0000 oliviaoblivia 260926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We save about 20% per year. I took a few years off from saving because of school and loan repayment, but now that we've paid of my substantial student loan (100k - feels good that that's done) we're saving my loan payment and whatever holiday bonuses we get. It will work out to be about 20%. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-260916 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:10:01 +0000 kml636 260916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put 4%, because like yours, my company also matches 4%. Ideally, I would also put the max into my ROTH IRA ($5,000), but since I got married, I haven't qualified because of the income restrictions. I would definitely recommend a Roth rather than adding more than the match to your 401k. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-260892 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:54:35 +0000 kirstkat 260892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>6% and my company adds another 4.5% (in company stock, that I have to keep manually diversifying. sigh). I was super lucky when I started and didn't know or care about retirement savings because I got a decent-sized lump sum due to an ESOP plan which I was able to diversify a few years later (when it vested), so I'd consider myself ahead on my retirement savings goals. yaaaaay. Then again, if I follow through on my plan to become a SAHM when the LO arrives then I'm going to have to budget pretty tight so I can keep up with my goals with an IRA... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-260809 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 12:42:20 +0000 BananaPancakes 260809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put in 10%, and my husband puts in max. Our employer doesn't match anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-260498 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 09:31:06 +0000 Dr. Pepper 260498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put 4% into my 401k, my employer matches 2%. I also put 6% into a 403b Roth through work. That totals about $11,000 for this year. My employer puts 5.5% into a "cash balance" plan (pension) for me. (Total of 17.5% towards retirement). I've been out of school for 1 year. I think it is really important to start investing in retirement immediately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259983 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:22:01 +0000 matador84 259983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a teacher in Texas so I pay into Teacher Retirement System-I don't get a choice in how much I put in-it is about 8% of my check. They match it later. I do contribute towards Roth IRA every year and that lowers how much we owe on taxes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259925 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:29:29 +0000 Bookish 259925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work for a state university and am required to put 6% in, which they then match, so I end up getting 12% a year. My husband is only putting 2% away because that is what they match (so, 4% total). I'm hoping with his next raise we can up his contributions. Between the two of us we are on a good track for retirement, but once we have a baby and have day care under control, we will probably start a 3rd account, just in case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259922 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:28:41 +0000 regberadaisy 259922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I really like your system of putting half a raise towards it!! It's money you never had anyways! I'm going to do that next time I get a raise.</p> <p>@sunny: Totally agree on the Roth. Half of mine is regular and the other is a Roth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259907 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:09:48 +0000 sunny 259907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this guy gives out solid advice:<br /> <a href="http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/should-you-contribute-to-your-401k-if-your-employer-doesn%E2%80%99t-match-contributions/" rel="nofollow">http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/should-you-contribute-to-your-401k-if-your-employer-doesn%E2%80%99t-match-contributions/</a></p> <p>The gist of it is:<br /> 1. Contribute up to the match amount in your 401k<br /> 2. Pay off your high interest debt (if you have any)<br /> 3. Max out your Roth IRA<br /> 4. Max out your 401k<br /> 5. If you still have money left over, invest in taxable accounts (e.g. regular plain investment accounts)</p> <p>If your company doesn't offer a 401k matching benefit, you should open up a Roth IRA rather than open a 401k. There are enormous tax benefits to a Roth IRA that a 401k doesn't provide. </p> <p>In terms of how much you should put into a 401k -- that depends on how much you think you'll need for retirement. I save about 20% of my income towards retirement across all of these investment vehicles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259905 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:08:59 +0000 yoursilverlining 259905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put in 6% and company matches 6% (max match amount), so 12% total. We also have other retirement geared accounts that we contribute into monthly, outside of our 401k's </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259807 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:26:58 +0000 erwoo 259807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was working, my old company used to match so I maxed it out at 15%. I mean, if they match why not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259740 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:53:24 +0000 MrsTiz 259740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>0%, company doesn't offer/match and I haven't opened up my own separate one yet. </p> <p>I wish I could afford to put 17k a year into savings, ha. Nevverr going to happen at this rate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259733 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:51:30 +0000 purrpletulips 259733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am required to put in 10% (I work for a state university so I don't contribute to social security). My University puts in an automatic 13% on top of that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259729 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:49:22 +0000 skipra 259729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I normally put in 10-12% but I raised it up to maybe 16% since I'll be out on maternity leave and will not be getting regular paychecks. My company also matches 4%. I have a Roth IRA as well but don't contribute to it regularly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259720 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:43:43 +0000 looch 259720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only put in 6% but did a second investment in a share and options program on top of that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259692 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:29:06 +0000 regberadaisy 259692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>5% and my employer matches 5%.<br /> I'm hoping next year to bump it up. 12% sounds like a good goal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259663 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:19:20 +0000 kayakgirl73 259663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put in 15%. Company puts in 7% a year after you've worked two complete years, but you must be employed on December 31st. If you leave the company during the year before that point you get nothing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259662 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:18:43 +0000 MrsLMA 259662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do 10% and DH does max. contributions. We do 10% of household income into a liquid savings as well (we hide it online so it's like it isn't avaialbe) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259658 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:17:18 +0000 Pipers Mommy 259658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>6%, my company matches 1.5x so they are contributing 9% for a total of 15%. (9% is their max match)<br /> DH puts in 5% and I believe his company matches with 5% </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259653 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:14:10 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 259653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>only 6% right now, 8% for DH </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259617 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:00:00 +0000 DillonLion 259617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>None. Company doesn't offer it. Always talk about opening an IRA but haven't done it yet. DH has a good one though, with a good chunk of money in it and company matching. Not sure on the exact details off hand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-of-your-paycheck-goes-towards-your-401k#post-259575 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:46:40 +0000 PrincessBaby 259575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>15%, company matches 6% </p>