How much should a 20 year old have in savings in Australia?

There's no set amount. Situations at 20 are wildly different. Focus on having an Emergency Fund building, a regular investing habit, and a net worth that's heading up over time.

Is it bad to have a negative net worth at 25?

No. It's really common, especially with HECS. What matters is that it's moving in the right direction, month by month.

Should I include Super in my net worth?

Yes, if you have it. It's your money, just locked away until you're older. Some people track it separately so they can see their accessible money too. Pick one way and stick with it.

How do I catch up if I feel behind?

Start a small automatic Emergency Fund trickle, start investing (aim for at least 10% of your pay, or step up to it), and avoid new consumer debt. Consistency beats a big catch-up plan that you drop in week three.

Where do I start if I've got nothing?

One pot. One automatic transfer. Even $10 a week. Once it's running, add the next. How do I even automate savings from each pay?

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Am I behind? Savings and net worth at 20 and 25

One person at their own starting line, chart trending up. Direction, not a stranger's number.

Age charts compare you to strangers. Direction and habits tell you if you're on track.

If you've ever googled "how much savings is a 22 year old supposed to have?" at 1am, you're in good company. Here's the honest answer: there's no number you're supposed to have. What tells you you're on track isn't your balance next to someone else's. It's which way your own numbers are heading, and whether your habits keep them heading there.

You're not behind. You're at your starting line. Everyone's is in a different spot.

How much savings is a 22 year old supposed to have?

There isn't a "supposed to". At 22, some people are three years into a full-time trade. Some are finishing uni with HECS. Some have been supporting family. Some got a head start from parents. One number can't compare those lives.

A better question: "Is my money moving in the right direction, and is it set up to keep going?" That one you can actually answer.

What is a good net worth at 25?

A good net worth at 25 is one that's higher than it was at 24. Seriously.

Net worth is what you own minus what you owe: savings, investments and Super (if you have it), minus things like a card balance or HECS. A low or even negative number early on is really common, especially with study debt. What matters is the trend. The basics: What even is net worth?

Why "net worth by age" charts mess with your head

Those charts and Reddit threads can make you feel awful, and they're not built for you.

Averages get dragged up. A few people with a lot of money can pull an average way above what most people actually have.
You don't see the backstory. Family help, an inheritance, a property bought years ago, or someone counting their car at full price.
People who post are a skewed bunch. People tend to share their numbers when they're proud of them.
They don't know your costs. Living at home in a regional town and renting alone in a big city are different games.

Take them with a big grain of salt. Or just close the tab.

What actually tells you you're on track

Here are the signs you're doing well at 20, 25 or any age:

You know where your pay goes. A simple budget with pots, not a mystery.
You've got an Emergency Fund building. Even $500 that's just for surprises is a big deal.
You're investing at least 10% of your pay, or stepping up toward it. That's the DoshHero line, and it's how your money starts working for you.
You're not adding new consumer debt. No new card balances, no stacked buy now, pay later.
Your net worth is trending up, month by month, even slowly.
You're still living. Friends, trips, the stuff that makes life good, planned in on purpose.

If you've got most of those, you're doing great. If you've got two, you're on your way. If you've got none yet, today's a perfectly good day to start the first one.

"I'm 25 and I've got nothing saved"

That's okay. Truly. Plenty of people start late because nobody explained this stuff. You're reading this, so you're already changing that.

Start small and make it automatic:

An Emergency Fund trickle of $20 a week
An Investing slice, even 5% to begin, stepping up to 10% with your next pay rise
Everything set for the day after payday, so you don't have to think about it

Time is the one thing you can't buy back, so the best move is starting now, not starting perfect. See it for yourself: Compound growth.

A five-minute monthly check-in

Once a month, same day if you can:

Write down what you own and what you owe
Compare it with last month
Ask one question: "Is the trend going up?"

If yes, keep going. If no, look for the one pot that's leaking and fix that. Don't redo your whole life on a Tuesday night.

The free First Pay Playbook has a module on tracking your net worth, step by step.

FAQ

How much should a 20 year old have in savings in Australia?: There's no set amount. Situations at 20 are wildly different. Focus on having an Emergency Fund building, a regular investing habit, and a net worth that's heading up over time.
Is it bad to have a negative net worth at 25?: No. It's really common, especially with HECS. What matters is that it's moving in the right direction, month by month.
Should I include Super in my net worth?: Yes, if you have it. It's your money, just locked away until you're older. Some people track it separately so they can see their accessible money too. Pick one way and stick with it.
How do I catch up if I feel behind?: Start a small automatic Emergency Fund trickle, start investing (aim for at least 10% of your pay, or step up to it), and avoid new consumer debt. Consistency beats a big catch-up plan that you drop in week three.
Where do I start if I've got nothing?: One pot. One automatic transfer. Even $10 a week. Once it's running, add the next. How do I even automate savings from each pay?