What age did you start to save for retirement?

**disneysteve** · 10-02-2009, 08:58 AM

Well, I think I opened my first IRA in 1990 when I graduated school. I'll have to check. That would have made me 26. I also had a pension plan when I was an intern and resident 1990-93 which I later rolled over into an IRA.

**investingnoob** · 10-02-2009, 09:00 AM

18 when I started my 401k.
21 I started my roth IRA

**fruitbowlk** · 10-02-2009, 09:06 AM

I started at 21.

**MonkeyMama** · 10-02-2009, 09:13 AM

I believed I opened my first IRA in high school. My first year of "real world" working paid for my car. I must have opened an IRA my senior year in high school (age 16 or 17).

That being said, I didn't find it useful to contribute any more to my IRA until I graduated college. I don't think that struggling college years is a time to worry about retirement, unless your college is paid for, etc.

I started contributing to my first 401k out of college, the second I could! I've contributed 10% since I Was age 23.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 10-02-2009, 10:29 AM

20, when I finished college. Granted it was NOT much money, like $1k.

**Scanner** · 10-02-2009, 11:12 AM

I opened a Roth at age 28.

Out of my list of stupid things and smart things I have done, that counts as smart.

(buying $1000 of Atari stock was one of my stupid ones

)

**Caoineag** · 10-02-2009, 11:34 AM

I was 20 when I did a 401(k). Never would have cashed it out except it was under 1k and they told me to cash it or roll it within 30 days after I left there. At that time, I didn't have the money to add to it to do a rollover IRA.

I was 26 when I opened my Roth IRA and its still growing.

**kv968** · 10-02-2009, 11:41 AM

I opened my 401k when I was 19 just to stop an old-timer at work from bugging me relentlessly to do so. Thank God for that old timer!

Opened my Roth in 2005. Unfortunatley, no "old timer" around to brow beat me into that one any earlier.

**GREENBACK** · 10-02-2009, 01:28 PM

I didn't until age 32. I wasn't smart enough to start earlier.

**creditcardfree** · 10-02-2009, 01:52 PM

I began contributing to my 401K at 26. My husband started at 21!

**Snodog** · 10-02-2009, 06:02 PM

I was born at a very early age and started saving for retirement a little later at age 23.

**kgloh_23** · 10-05-2009, 04:51 AM

I start with endowment insurance

I start saving for my retirement with endowment insurance policy, but I am more interest with Unit Trust or Mutual fund as it give better return in long term basis.

**buildmybudget** · 10-05-2009, 09:41 AM

Unfortunately I didn't have anything to invest until after I had finished school. I hope that my kids will learn about compound interest and investing much younger than I did so they can try and reap the benefits of time!

**am_vanquish** · 10-05-2009, 10:43 AM

Opened my IRA using my stipend award when I started college ... age 18. I got a decent amount of crap-talk from select friends and family at the time ... they all suggested that I wait to save for retirement until I start making "real" money after graduation.

Ironically enough, the director of the career center at the university (where I worked critiquing resumes) ALSO suggested that I "live a little" and enjoy college life.

What age did you start to save for retirement?