Why Saving Is Not Enough

Our view on pensions, inflation, and the need to invest

If you’re under 35 and living in 2025, relying on a public pension alone is like betting on a system that wasn’t designed for you.

Let’s be clear: the pension model that supported our grandparents — and to some extent, our parents — is no longer sustainable.

Retirement at 60 with a decent pension? Not for us.

We’re looking at retiring at 70+, with a pension that will likely not cover basic living costs.

The numbers don’t lie

Just look around.

Compare the pensions our grandparents receive with what’s projected for our generation.
Consider the rising cost of living, housing, and healthcare.
Then factor in inflation — your savings today will be worth far less 30 years from now.

This isn’t fear-mongering. It’s just math.

Why saving alone won’t save you

Putting money aside is important. It’s the first step.

But saving is not enough.

Why?

Because:

Inflation erodes your money’s value year after year.
You probably don’t earn enough to save your way to financial security — unless you have an unusually high income.
And most importantly: your savings need to grow, not just sit there.

So… what can you do?

You don’t need to become a finance expert overnight.

But you do need to start learning the basics of long-term investing.

We’ll talk more about this in future articles, but here are some core principles:

Start early: time is your greatest asset.
Diversify: a mix of ETFs, bonds, and other vehicles helps spread risk.
Invest in what you understand — and understand what you invest in.
Use automated, low-cost tools that don’t require you to time the market.

You don’t need to “play the stock market.” You need a long-term plan.

Minimalism ≠ passivity

Just like minimalism in food or lifestyle, financial minimalism is about intention.

It’s about making clear, honest decisions with your money — not leaving it idle and hoping for the best.

Investing is not optional anymore.

If we want even a minimal level of freedom later in life, we have to take responsibility now.

In the next articles, we’ll go deeper into how to build a simple, diversified portfolio — and how to do it even with small amounts of money.

Want to suggest topics or ask questions?

We’re not experts, just two people who decided to understand how money works — and share what we learn.

The Minimal Diet