Jan 21, 2020 10:30 AM EST By Ernest Hamilton, UniversityHerald Reporter

No matter your age, it is never too early to start saving for the parts of life that require significant investment. Depending on your family situation, interests, and goals, these things may look different for you, but you can always focus on saving for the basics in life that will benefit you in the future. These are things that, on average, many people will have to worry about in their lifetime.

These events or purchases may cause a lot of stress for many people who are under-prepared or completely unprepared. However, you can get out in front of these expenses and make sure that if you need to shell out cash for something important or find yourself in a bind, you can do so without a lot of stress. If you want to get a head start on life's expenses and financial burdens, here are five things you should start saving for now.

Your College Education Or Your Child's College Education

It is never too early to start saving for college, whether it is for yourself or for your current or future offspring. Consider setting aside a sum or percentage of your income each or each paycheck to go toward a worthwhile investment in either yours or your child's future. Before you go to college, you can always pursue online programs, classes, or certification programs to make sure you are always progressing and building out your résumé. Make sure you prepare for all tests and exams to get valuable certifications. AlphaPrep provides great prep programs for the CCNA exam among other courses. Having a Cisco certification can increase your pay grade and prove your seriousness about the industry. Participating in these certification courses is a surefire way to learn more about the fundamentals of IT careers and jump right in. As technologies continue to advance, IT is a field with ample and growing demand.

Home And Car Repairs

While this is unfortunate, it is more than likely that at some point you will need to pay for home or auto repairs. These could be small or these could be expensive, but they will stack up and cost you a fair chunk of money. The average American household spends around $817 a year on car repairs. And, homeowners spend an average of $1,105 a year on home maintenance. Saving up for these big costs now can reduce your headaches when they become necessary in the future.

Your Retirement

Depending on your age, it may seem crazy to start to save for retirement. However, this is one of the best and smartest things you can save for, as it will all benefit you directly in the future. Saving for retirement in any way is an investment in your quality of life when you get to retiring age. Whether you save individually through a Roth IRA or separate investment account or directly via an employer 401(k), saving for retirement at a young age is a great investment in your future.

Unexpected Medical Emergencies

It may seem morbid, but it is key to save for medical emergencies before they happen. You never know when a medical emergency will pop up, and even if you have insurance, it can create a financial dent of thousands of dollars. If you are out of work due to a medical condition or emergency, you may want to consider finding income protection, which will help you manage your expenses until you get back to work. Find the best income protection insurance with iSelect and find the plan that works most for you and your circumstances.

Vacations And Other Luxuries

While it is important to save for boring or unpleasant things in life, it is also critical to set aside some cash for the positive stuff. Treat yourself! They say that money cannot buy you happiness, but it can definitely buy you things to save you time or improve your quality of life, which is, in a way, happiness. Having the money to take yourself and your family on vacation, for instance, may seem like a luxury but is actually a great investment in your mental health and cultural enrichment.

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