The honest answer: less than the internet makes you feel. The typical 25–34 pot is about £5,000 — here is what the targets really mean, and where you sit.
A target is a number. Whether you’re actually behind is a verdict — and the crowd has one.
see the crowd’s verdict →Three numbers get thrown around for “by 30”. Here is what each actually means:
The targets can make 30 feel like a deadline you have already missed. You almost certainly have not. The useful question is not “what does a blog say I should have” — it is “am I actually doing alright for someone like me?” On The Money Verdict, real people anonymously give you that read, judgement-free.
And if saving feels impossible right now, that is not a personal failing. Free, non-judgemental help is available from StepChange and Citizens Advice.
How much should I have saved by 30? There is no single right number, but a common rule of thumb is roughly half to one year’s salary, plus a 3–6 month emergency fund. In reality the typical (median) pot for 25–34s is about £5,000, so most people are working towards it, not sitting on it.
What is the average savings at 30? Around £5,000 in cash savings is typical for the 25–34 age group — though a large share of people have far less, so being below that is very common.
Am I behind with nothing saved at 30? No — starting at 30 is completely normal. An emergency fund first, then small automatic monthly amounts, closes the gap faster than most people expect.
The Money Verdict settles every money question the honest way — anonymously, by people just like you.
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