Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia \u2014 Many people only realize the importance of\nsaving when their financial situation starts to become difficult. This\nphenomenon is also happening in the United States, where most people\nadmit to having regrets about their money management.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest problems that many regret is not having enough\nsavings. From emergency funds to retirement savings and children\u2019s\neducation costs, these are all sources of financial concern for US\ncitizens.<\/p>\n
This condition was revealed in a Bankrate survey of 2,078 respondents\nin the US. The results showed that insufficient saving is the biggest\nfinancial regret among Americans this year.<\/p>\n
The survey shows that 3 out of 4 Americans have financial regrets,\nand about 40% cite savings as their main source of concern. Meanwhile,\nanother 20% regret taking on too much debt, especially from credit cards\nand student loans.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegret about not saving enough for retirement comes up every year,\nand the number is getting bigger with age,\u201d said Bankrate financial\nanalyst Stephen Kates, quoted by CNBC International, Sunday\n(16\/5\/2026).<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 43% of respondents admitted that they have not done\nanything to improve their financial regrets in the past year. When asked\nwhat could help their financial situation the most, US citizens cited\nlower basic needs costs, better job opportunities, lower rental rates,\nand a recovering stock market.<\/p>\n
This condition is actually quite similar to Indonesia. Data from the\nFinancial Services Authority (OJK) shows that only 76.3% of Indonesians\nhave bank accounts in formal financial institutions.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, according to the latest data from OJK, there are about 29\nmillion workers registered as participants in pension funds. Meanwhile,\nthe number of working-age people based on the National Labor Force\nSurvey (Sakernas) in August 2025 reached 154 million people.<\/p>\n
If you currently do not have adequate savings for emergency funds and\nretirement funds, three financial experts provide advice on how to\nimprove this financial situation. \u201cStarting late is better than never\nstarting,\u201d said Jake Martin.<\/p>\n
How to Overcome Financial Regret<\/p>\n
Several US financial experts provided strategies that are also\nrelevant for Indonesians:<\/p>\n
Prioritize paying off high-interest debt such as credit cards or\nonline loans. Accumulated interest can eat away at savings.<\/p>\n
Another way to increase savings is by cutting fixed expenses, a\nstrategy called controlling what you can control by Ashton Lawrence.<\/p>\n
\u201cIdentify where money for non-essential things leaks out, whether\nit\u2019s for eating out, too many streaming services, forgotten app\nsubscriptions, delivery services, impulse shopping, or an increasingly\nexpensive lifestyle. Every penny you don\u2019t spend is money you can\nallocate to something more useful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Emergency funds prevent you from going back into debt when unexpected\nthings happen, such as losing your job or sudden health costs. Prepare\nemergency funds by calculating the cost of living for 3-6 months.<\/p>\n
Emergency funds are also crucial to help reduce dependence on\nhigh-interest debt when something unexpected happens.<\/p>\n
After the above two things can be controlled, prepare retirement\nfunds for old age.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile most people target saving 5% to 10% of their income, someone\nwho is trying to catch up should look for ways to increase that portion\nof their savings to 20% to 30%, especially if they start saving\nseriously in their 40s,\u201d said Martin.<\/p>\n
In certain conditions, you may also need to consider delaying\nretirement age if you need more time to save.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe exact amount you need to save will vary depending on a number of\nfactors, including your age and the lifestyle you want when you retire,\u201d\nhe said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-citizens-regret-their-savings-habits-how-1780702683", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }