Anyone who can save a little money each month may have reason to think about how to prioritise. The children, the pension or the buffer?
It's pretty clear to me, the buffer is most important, says Sharon Lavie, private economist at Lendo.
Two or three months' expenses are needed to get by if something happens, such as becoming ill or unemployed.
Christina Sahlberg, private economist at Skandia, agrees.
Buffer first
It is proven that our health is based on being in control. That is why having a buffer is absolutely priority one, she says.
First save up for your emergency fund, then other savings. And think of yourself first, economists say.
It's like on a plane. First you put the oxygen mask on yourself, then help others, says Christina Sahlberg.
For those who are young, retirement is a long way off, but a small amount each month can do the trick with compound interest, explains Sharon Lavie.
If you don't have an occupational pension, I think it's priority number two to save a little for your pension, says Christina Sahlberg.
Paying off loans is a form of saving, but she doesn't think you need to pay more on your mortgage than today's amortization requirements require. At the same time, Sharon Lavie points out that it can be smart to reduce your loan-to-value ratio to avoid amortization requirements, and also get a better interest rate.
The children last
But saving for your children should come last.
Saving in the children's names can be a big mistake, says Sharon Lavie.
If you have money left over, it's best to put it away in your own name, she thinks. That way you can save without earmarking it for specific purposes. If you want to give some of that money to your children, you can do that, or use it for retirement or something else.
The horror scenario is that you might need the money. But the system doesn't allow you to access it if it's saved in the child's name, she says.
Christina Sahlberg thinks it has become the norm that you have to save for your children. But she thinks you should ignore that.
"You're not a bad parent just because you don't save for your children. The most important thing is to teach them about money," she says.
Teach them how to put money aside each month, says Sharon Lavie.
The child's assets are to be managed by the child's guardian, usually the parents. In some cases, the parents' management is under the control of the chief guardian.
The parents must take care of the assets in a caring manner, with the child's best interests in mind. In most cases, this is done without any special supervision, so-called free parental management, although not for assets of greater value (maximum eight price base amounts, SEK 59,200 x 8 = SEK 473,600 for 2026).
But parents are not allowed to do whatever they want with the child's money. Money should be invested safely, with an emphasis on security.
The assets may be used to a certain extent for the child's maintenance, education and benefit. The child's money may not be mixed with the parents', for example, they may not be kept in the same account.
Source: Konsumenternas.se
