Two in ten young people save nothing at all
The Funcas 2026 Survey measured saving between January and June: two in ten young people saved nothing.
Two in ten young people don't save a single euro in six months. That's the figure left by the Funcas 2026 Survey, reported by Antena 3 Noticias. Which group are you in?
The numbers for the semester
The report is titled Funcas 2026 Survey on financial culture and behaviors and measured what happened between January and June. 20% of young people aged 16 to 35 saved nothing.
23% put away between 1 and 300 euros; another 26% reached between 301 and 1000 euros. Only 13% went over 3000 euros.
«Saving isn't a punishment: it's managing what God gives you.»
What do the others save for? Of those who manage to do it, 33% set that money aside to buy a house. 25% split it between emergencies and vacations. The goal sounds sensible until the price shows up: in Madrid, buying a home would require income above 4500 euros, according to Antena 3 Noticias.
Salary doesn't explain everything
Education changes the result. Women with a degree save an average of 2265 euros; those without higher education, 243. Among men the gap runs from 2573 to 723 euros. More income helps, of course. But if two in ten didn't save a single euro from January to June, the habit weighs as much as the salary.
The first paycheck is a school. Nobody teaches you how to divide it, and the temptation is to spend it all, because it's finally yours. A simple budget—what comes in, what goes out fixed, what you set aside—tells you something no app gives away: whether the month fits or doesn't fit.
Think about ant expenses: the daily coffee, the subscription you no longer notice, the extra shipping to hit the free minimum. None of them hurts alone; the whole month does.
Installment purchases now live on your phone screen. Three payments with no interest feel like nothing, until the March payment competes with April's. "Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it" (Proverbs 21:20, ESV).
On payday, set something aside
Jesus told a construction story: "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" (Luke 14:28, ESV). Before building, count; before spending, decide what part won't be touched.
The rule is simple: the same day your paycheck comes in, move a fixed amount to another account. It can be 20 dollars, 500 pesos, or 5% if the month is tight. The important thing is to decide it before hunger, going out with friends, and the flash sale arrive.
Saving isn't a punishment. It's managing what God gives you, and that includes the lean months. If the amount is small, it's still a habit; if one month falls short, adjust and start again.
This week do an exercise: open your bank app and review where last month went. Write down the three biggest leaks and schedule the transfer for your next payday. Do you dare to share in the comments how much you set aside and how long it lasted?
