The Power of Compounding and Why It Pays To Start Saving Now

Did you know, the earlier you start to save money, the less it actually costs you? The reason? It’s all in the math… the power of compounding.

You’ve no doubt heard the rule of investment that suggests that the longer you can invest for, the better. But why? What is it about ‘time’ that makes it such a valuable element in securing your financial future?

What is The Power of Compounding?

Compounding. The principle that, as your money begins to grow in value, that growth will begin to earn money on itself. Which will then earn even more money on that additional growth.

And the longer you remain invested, the more valuable this compounding becomes.

How Interest Rates Adds Up

An example…

Let’s consider that you have £10,000 and you find a lovely plan that earns your money a very attractive 4% per year. So you take the plunge.

At the end of the first year, that 4% will have given you £400 – which means that, in total, your money will now be worth £10,400.

You could, of course, withdraw that £400 and spend it. But what if you don’t? What if you leave it where it is?

Well, by the end of year two, that £10,400 will have earned you another 4%. This time, though, that 4% is worth £416. And that additional £16 will have nothing to do with your original £10,000. It was earned by the interest you decided to leave untouched.

In other words, it’s money for doing absolutely nothing – simply for leaving your previous year’s income where it was. This astounding outcome is completely due to the power of compounding.

This can really add up.

Let’s jump forward a bit and look at the situation after ten years. Using that £10,000 example and 4% a year, if you had left the money untouched, you would now have a grand total of £14,802 – your £10,000 original investment, £4,000 of interest paid on that original investment and a clear £802 of interest earned by the interest.

Sounds good, but are you really impressed yet? Well, this is only ten years. Perhaps we should jump forward again and take a look at the situation after 20 years.

That £14,802 would, by then, have turned into £21,910. You are still expecting 4% p.a., so, during that second decade, you will have earned another £4,000 of interest on the original investment.

But the interest earned on the interest now totals £3,910, a full £3,108 of which was earned only because you left the money untouched for that second decade.

Sounding better?

Well, the point of this is to show why starting saving in your 20s and 30s is so powerful, as opposed to leaving it to your late 40s or even 50s. Because at 30 years, that’s when the value and the power of compounding really begins to show.

Leaving your money invested for a full 30 years, still assuming that average of 4% p.a., your original £10,000 would now be worth £32,432. That would be made up of your £10,000 original investment, £12,000 in interest earned on that investment – and a whopping £10,432 of interest earned by interest.

Which equates to almost a third of the value and half your total growth. (We won’t go on to 40 years – but as you can probably imagine, it gets even better!)

Costing You Less

The reason all this matters is because the principle can be used to save you money. Reverse the above thought process for a second and let’s consider you have a target figure in mind – retirement, say.

The power of compound interest means that if you start saving with 30 years to go, the amount of your own money it will cost you will be less than if you start saving with 20 years to go.

In fact, there is a rule of thumb that suggests that, for every ten years you delay starting saving, you will need to put away double the amount each month to achieve the same outcome.

Start Early to Build a Healthy Future

Retirement is one of the most expensive things you will face. Like buying a house, anything that can be done to reduce the burden on your finances should be done. Which is why you are constantly told to start saving early in life. And even small amounts can make a difference.

Your Turn

So make it your New Year’s resolution to uncover as much spare money as you can. Even just your spare change. And save it. What about you? Are you saving? If not, what is your reason for not saving?

And if you are READY to start investing, stocks and shares ISA is the simplest route to get started.

I highly recommend Fidelity Stocks and Shares ISA. Fidelity ISA is an easy-to-manage, tax-efficient Stocks and Shares ISA.

They offer the flexibility of investing lump sums or starting a regular savings plan to help you reach your goals. You can start a regular savings plan from as little as £25 or make a lump sum contribution from £1,000.

It’s a great way to invest your ISA allowance this tax year, and you can start investing in a wide range of investment options in just a few easy steps.

And the best part is, it is easy to get started – and no fancy investment knowledge is required!

Click here to start investing with Fidelity Stocks and Shares ISA!

Please note: the 4% example above is an example for illustrative purposes only. The value of investments can go up as well as down and future returns are not guaranteed.

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