{"id":52304,"date":"2025-09-30T15:49:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T15:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/52304\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T15:49:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T15:49:08","slug":"how-32-year-old-and-her-husband-saved-more-than-500000","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/52304\/","title":{"rendered":"How 32-year-old and her husband saved more than $500,000"},"content":{"rendered":"

Growing up, Lauren Perraut learned many money lessons from her dad, including “never spend more than you’re making” and “always pay off your credit card balance.”<\/p>\n

The 32-year-old now makes $122,000<\/a> per year as a pathologists’ assistant. She lives with her husband, Dylan, who makes $60,000 as an academic advisor, and son, Reed, in Lexington, Kentucky. The only debt the couple has is their mortgage.<\/p>\n

Among the biggest lessons Perraut’s father taught her was the importance of saving<\/a>. “If I got money for birthdays or holidays, he would encourage me to save it in my bank account,” she says.<\/p>\n

It’s a lesson she took to heart. These days, the Perrauts have about $524,000 put away, split across cash savings, retirement accounts and other investments.<\/p>\n

They set aside a total of $3,900 in June 2025. Here’s where it went:<\/p>\n

Dylan’s 403(b): $245Lauren’s 401(k): $1,404Dylan’s Roth IRA: $500Lauren’s Roth IRA: $500Shared brokerage account: $1,000529 college savings plan for Reed: $250<\/p>\n

Both Perraut and her husband are taking advantage of their respective employer matches on their workplace retirement accounts. They’re also maxing out their Roth IRAs.<\/p>\n

Saving up ‘enough to have the flexibility to retire when we want’<\/p>\n

In addition to saving for retirement, the couple prioritize funding their son’s college savings account. They make sure to put $250 into his 529 plan every month and had about $11,500 saved as of June.<\/p>\n

“We’re making sure to save up money for him to go to school, to go to college, if that’s what he chooses,” Perraut says.<\/p>\n

Another goal is to reach $30,000 in their high-yield savings account \u2014 enough to cover six months’ worth of expenses. As of June, the account had around $18,000 in it.<\/p>\n

Here’s the total amounts their various accounts held as of June 2025:<\/p>\n

Dylan’s 403(b): $52,960Lauren’s 401(k): $235,280Dylan’s Roth IRA: $37,570Lauren’s Roth IRA: $72,960Shared brokerage account: $95,460High-yield savings account: $18,120529 college savings plan for Reed: $11,500<\/p>\n

Ultimately, “our goal is to save up enough to have the flexibility to retire when we want,” says Perraut. <\/p>\n

But she doesn’t feel they’re making big sacrifices to do so. They’re not big spenders and are comfortable with the life they’ve built. In June, they only spent about $274 going out to eat and just $13 on entertainment, like going to the movies.<\/p>\n

“Dylan and I are both relatively frugal people,” says Perraut. “We both enjoy our jobs and we enjoy our routine.”<\/p>\n

Last chance to save: Want to be your own boss?\u00a0Final days to get 30% off Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course,\u00a0How To Start A Business: For First-Time Founders<\/a>. Find step-by-step guidance for launching your first business, from testing your idea to growing your revenue. Use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount from September 16 through September 30, 2025.<\/p>\n

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter<\/a> to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn<\/a> to connect with experts and peers.<\/p>\n

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