过去一年，股市和其他金融市场的走势可谓跌宕起伏。对于那些不太能承受投资组合波动的投资者来说，存款账户虽不高但稳定的回报或许能带来些许慰藉。例如，部分优质高收益储蓄账户的利率甚至可能跑赢通胀。而支票账户的利率通常较低，但其优势在于资金支取最为灵活。
那么，具体而言，与投资相比，你在支票账户和储蓄账户中应分别存放多少资金呢？
支票账户中应存放多少资金？
支票账户的设计初衷是可频繁动用资金。你可能用它支付房租/房贷、学生贷款、信用卡账单等日常开支。
大多数支票账户都能让你轻松支取资金，例如可通过借记卡消费、在ATM机取现，或通过自动清算系统（ACH）转账至其他账户或直接支付给供应商等。
不想支付账户管理费？
除了少数例外，支票账户通常并非长期存放资金的理想选择，因为它们大多不付息或利率低于其他类型的存款工具。根据美国联邦存款保险公司（Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.，FDIC）的数据，截至本文发表时，全美计息支票账户的存款利率为0.07% APY（平均年化收益率）。相比之下，储蓄账户的平均利率为0.38% APY，货币市场账户的平均利率则为0.59% APY。
注册财务规划师（CFP®）兼播客节目《未来致富》（Future Rich）主持人芭芭拉·金蒂指出：“支票账户通常不会带来太高收益。我建议仅保留少量缓冲资金用于支付月度账单。如果你的月账单为3,000美元，建议额外保留1,500或2,000美元。”
换言之，支票账户中最好预留足以支付一至两个月开销的资金。如果账户余额不足时进行交易，你可能会被收取透支手续费。部分金融机构还设有最低余额要求——若账户余额低于特定门槛，你可能需要支付月度账户管理费或最低余额手续费。
储蓄账户中应存放多少资金？
一般情况下，建议将相当于三至六个月生活开支的资金作为应急储备金存入储蓄账户。确定符合你需求的金额后，即可努力实现该目标。若你已备好现金但存放于支票账户中，可考虑将其转入高收益储蓄账户，让资金更高效地增值。
金蒂强调：“你应该将大部分现金存入应急基金。目前这类账户能提供可观的实际利率——高收益储蓄账户或货币市场账户的利率大约在4%至5%之间。”
你的储蓄账户不必与支票账户开在同一家机构。多方比较选择一家提供高收益率且符合需求和偏好的账户是明智之举。通常而言，网上银行能提供最高收益率，因其运营成本低于实体银行机构，并能通过降低费用和提高利率的形式将节省的成本回馈给客户。
如何最大化储蓄收益
如果你还没有在储蓄账户中建立财务缓冲资金，第一步就是着手储备。你应该从每笔薪水中至少拨出小额资金存入高收益储蓄账户或货币市场账户。开通自动转账储蓄功能可确保这笔钱不会进入支票账户，从而避免被花掉。你可以从小额开始，再逐步增加储蓄金额。
选择合适的账户对资金增值也至关重要。高收益账户能让你的储蓄比低利率账户增值更快。部分优质高收益储蓄账户的年化收益率可达4%或更高，是全美储蓄账户平均利率的十倍以上。
尽管建立或储备应急基金是明智的理财措施，但不应将所有资金都存放于此。部分银行会限制每月提款次数，因此储蓄账户不适用于支付日常账单。此外，储蓄账户（以及货币市场和支票账户）属于浮动利率账户，因此其年化收益率会随时间波动，通常与联邦基金利率的调整同步。
若将过多现金存入储蓄账户，而非投入收益率更高（且风险更高）的投资（如指数基金），最终可能会错失未来股市可观的上涨收益。建议咨询理财顾问，根据个人需求确定投资与储蓄的最佳平衡点。
确保应急基金充足
专家通常建议在应急基金中储备相当于三至六个月的生活开支。但金蒂指出，有子女或需抚养亲属的人士应尽力储蓄更多资金。
金蒂解释道：“如果你是单亲家长，我建议至少储备六个月的资金，最好在六到十二个月之间。但如果你是单身且无人需要抚养，三个月可能足够，这实际取决于你的被抚养人情况。若你是家庭经济支柱且配偶居家，我会倾向于储备十二个月的资金。”
如果无法立刻存足目标金额，即使少量储蓄也能在紧急关头发挥重要作用。若无应急储备，意外的大额支出或失业可能导致债务缠身。
核心要点
储蓄账户是稳健财务基础的组成部分，应纳入每个人的财务规划蓝图。储蓄目标金额需根据生活开支、被抚养人数量和风险承受能力而定。一个合理的规划是：在支票账户中预留一至两个月的生活费，在储蓄账户中额外储备二至四个月的生活费。
支票账户和储蓄账户无需开在同一家银行，多方比较选择高利率、低费用且便捷性俱佳的账户是明智选择。为不同目标开设多个储蓄账户，甚至为无需随时动用的资金配置存单（CD）或阶梯式存单，也不失为明智之举。 （*）
译者：刘进龙
审校：汪皓
过去一年，股市和其他金融市场的走势可谓跌宕起伏。对于那些不太能承受投资组合波动的投资者来说，存款账户虽不高但稳定的回报或许能带来些许慰藉。例如，部分优质高收益储蓄账户的利率甚至可能跑赢通胀。而支票账户的利率通常较低，但其优势在于资金支取最为灵活。
那么，具体而言，与投资相比，你在支票账户和储蓄账户中应分别存放多少资金呢？
支票账户中应存放多少资金？
支票账户的设计初衷是可频繁动用资金。你可能用它支付房租/房贷、学生贷款、信用卡账单等日常开支。
大多数支票账户都能让你轻松支取资金，例如可通过借记卡消费、在ATM机取现，或通过自动清算系统（ACH）转账至其他账户或直接支付给供应商等。
不想支付账户管理费？
除了少数例外，支票账户通常并非长期存放资金的理想选择，因为它们大多不付息或利率低于其他类型的存款工具。根据美国联邦存款保险公司（Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.，FDIC）的数据，截至本文发表时，全美计息支票账户的存款利率为0.07% APY（平均年化收益率）。相比之下，储蓄账户的平均利率为0.38% APY，货币市场账户的平均利率则为0.59% APY。
注册财务规划师（CFP®）兼播客节目《未来致富》（Future Rich）主持人芭芭拉·金蒂指出：“支票账户通常不会带来太高收益。我建议仅保留少量缓冲资金用于支付月度账单。如果你的月账单为3,000美元，建议额外保留1,500或2,000美元。”
换言之，支票账户中最好预留足以支付一至两个月开销的资金。如果账户余额不足时进行交易，你可能会被收取透支手续费。部分金融机构还设有最低余额要求——若账户余额低于特定门槛，你可能需要支付月度账户管理费或最低余额手续费。
储蓄账户中应存放多少资金？
一般情况下，建议将相当于三至六个月生活开支的资金作为应急储备金存入储蓄账户。确定符合你需求的金额后，即可努力实现该目标。若你已备好现金但存放于支票账户中，可考虑将其转入高收益储蓄账户，让资金更高效地增值。
金蒂强调：“你应该将大部分现金存入应急基金。目前这类账户能提供可观的实际利率——高收益储蓄账户或货币市场账户的利率大约在4%至5%之间。”
你的储蓄账户不必与支票账户开在同一家机构。多方比较选择一家提供高收益率且符合需求和偏好的账户是明智之举。通常而言，网上银行能提供最高收益率，因其运营成本低于实体银行机构，并能通过降低费用和提高利率的形式将节省的成本回馈给客户。
如何最大化储蓄收益
如果你还没有在储蓄账户中建立财务缓冲资金，第一步就是着手储备。你应该从每笔薪水中至少拨出小额资金存入高收益储蓄账户或货币市场账户。开通自动转账储蓄功能可确保这笔钱不会进入支票账户，从而避免被花掉。你可以从小额开始，再逐步增加储蓄金额。
选择合适的账户对资金增值也至关重要。高收益账户能让你的储蓄比低利率账户增值更快。部分优质高收益储蓄账户的年化收益率可达4%或更高，是全美储蓄账户平均利率的十倍以上。
尽管建立或储备应急基金是明智的理财措施，但不应将所有资金都存放于此。部分银行会限制每月提款次数，因此储蓄账户不适用于支付日常账单。此外，储蓄账户（以及货币市场和支票账户）属于浮动利率账户，因此其年化收益率会随时间波动，通常与联邦基金利率的调整同步。
若将过多现金存入储蓄账户，而非投入收益率更高（且风险更高）的投资（如指数基金），最终可能会错失未来股市可观的上涨收益。建议咨询理财顾问，根据个人需求确定投资与储蓄的最佳平衡点。
确保应急基金充足
专家通常建议在应急基金中储备相当于三至六个月的生活开支。但金蒂指出，有子女或需抚养亲属的人士应尽力储蓄更多资金。
金蒂解释道：“如果你是单亲家长，我建议至少储备六个月的资金，最好在六到十二个月之间。但如果你是单身且无人需要抚养，三个月可能足够，这实际取决于你的被抚养人情况。若你是家庭经济支柱且配偶居家，我会倾向于储备十二个月的资金。”
如果无法立刻存足目标金额，即使少量储蓄也能在紧急关头发挥重要作用。若无应急储备，意外的大额支出或失业可能导致债务缠身。
核心要点
储蓄账户是稳健财务基础的组成部分，应纳入每个人的财务规划蓝图。储蓄目标金额需根据生活开支、被抚养人数量和风险承受能力而定。一个合理的规划是：在支票账户中预留一至两个月的生活费，在储蓄账户中额外储备二至四个月的生活费。
支票账户和储蓄账户无需开在同一家银行，多方比较选择高利率、低费用且便捷性俱佳的账户是明智选择。为不同目标开设多个储蓄账户，甚至为无需随时动用的资金配置存单（CD）或阶梯式存单，也不失为明智之举。 （*）
译者：刘进龙
审校：汪皓
Following the stock market and other financial markets over the past year has been a wild ride. For those less inclined to tolerate the ups and downs in their investment portfolios, the modest, yet steady returns of deposit accounts may offer some relief. Some of the best high-yield savings may earn at a rate that can surpass inflation, for example. And while checking accounts typically earn interest at a lower rate, they provide maximum access to your funds.
But how much money should you have in your checking and savings accounts, particularly in comparison to your investments?
How much money should you keep in your checking account?
Checking accounts are designed for frequent use. You might use your checking account to pay for expenses such as rent and mortgage payments, student loans, credit card bills, and more.
Most checking accounts offer easy access to your money, allowing you to spend with a debit card, withdraw cash from an ATM, or send money via automated clearing house (ACH) transfer to other accounts or for direct payment to a vendor.
Don’t want to pay a maintenance fee?
But with few exceptions, checking accounts are not the best place to store funds long term as they generally offer either no interest or lower yields than other types of deposit vehicles. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), the national deposit rate on interest-bearing checking accounts is 0.07% APY. By contrast, the average interest rate on a savings account is 0.38% APY and 0.59% APY on a money market account, as of this writing.
“Often, your checking account isn’t going to pay you very much. I’d only keep a little bit of a buffer for your monthly bills,” says Barbara Ginty, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and host of the Future Rich Podcast. “If your monthly bills are $3,000, I’d recommend keeping an extra $1,500 or $2,000.”
In other words, it’s a good idea to have at least one to two months’ worth of expenses in your checking account. If you make a transaction when there isn’t enough money in your account to cover it, you could be charged an overdraft fee. Some financial institutions also have minimum balance requirements—when you drop below a certain threshold, you might incur a monthly maintenance or minimum balance fee.
How much money should you have in a savings account?
It’s generally recommended to have at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses set aside as an emergency fund. After you determine the right amount for your needs, work toward achieving that goal. If you already have the cash, but it’s in your checking account, consider transferring it to a high-yield savings account to make that money work harder for you.
“Your emergency fund is where you should be keeping the bulk of your cash,” says Ginty. “At this point, you’re getting paid real interest on those accounts—somewhere between 4% and 5% on either high-yield savings or money market [accounts].”
You don’t have to have your savings account at the same institution as your checking account. It makes sense to shop around for an account that offers a top yield and suits your needs and preferences. Most of the time you’ll find the highest yields with an online bank as they have lower overhead than brick-and-mortar institutions and can pass those savings on the customers in the form of lower fees and higher interest rates.
How to maximize your savings
If you don’t already have a financial cushion in a savings account, the first step is to start building one. Aim to put aside at least a small amount of money from each paycheck towards a high-yield savings account (HYSA) or money market account (MMA). By putting your savings on auto-pay, the money doesn’t hit your checking account, so you don’t have the opportunity to spend it. You can start small and increase the amount over time.
Choosing the right account is also important to get the most out of your money. An account that earns a high-yield will help your savings grow faster than one with a lower interest rate. Some of the best high-yield savings accounts earn at rates of 4% APY and higher, more than 10 times the national average for a savings account.
Although it’s a smart money move to have or to build towards an emergency fund, you also don’t want to keep all of your money in one. Some banks will limit the number of withdrawals you can make each month, making them an impractical choice for bill-paying. Additionally, savings accounts (and money market and checking accounts) are variable-rate accounts so your APYs will fluctuate over time, often in tandem with changes to the federal funds rate.
If you put too much of your cash into a savings account versus a higher-yielding (and riskier) investment—such as an index fund—you could end up missing out on some substantial stock market gains down the line. It’s worth consulting with a financial advisor to determine the right balance of investments vs. savings for your individual needs.
Make sure your emergency fund is big enough
Generally, experts recommend saving three to six months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency fund. Ginty, however, suggests that people with children or dependents aim to save more than that amount as they’re able.
“If you’re a single parent, I’d recommend at least six months, but somewhere between six and 12 months. But if you’re a single individual and nobody is relying on you, you can probably get away with three months, but it really depends on your dependents,” says Ginty. “If you’re the breadwinner of your family and you have a spouse that’s staying at home, I would err on the side of having 12 months.”
If you can’t save that much right off the bat, saving even a small amount of money can make a big difference in an emergency. Without one, an unexpected big expense or job loss could lead to debt.
The takeaway
A savings account is part of a strong financial foundation and should be part of anyone’s roadmap. The amount you should aim to save will vary based on your living expenses, the number of dependents you have, and risk tolerance. A good goal is to put away at least one to two months’ worth of living expenses in a checking account and an additional two to four months in a savings account.
You don’t have to keep your checking and savings accounts with the same bank, and it can pay to shop around and choose accounts that combine high yields with other factors like low fees and accessibility. It may even be wise to have multiple savings accounts for different goals, as well as a CD or CD ladder for funds you don’t think you’ll need quick access to.