What percentage do you give to TSP?

[Pill]

I am curious to see what the majority give? I have read several times to cover the basics give 10% and to retire comfortable give 15% and to retire early give 20%. Of course giving $15,500 the max is the goal but most like me can't afford. I currently give 11% but aim for 15%. Circumstances have prevented me from giving 15% but will be back on track by January 1st. Thanks for your input.

[FUTURESTRADER]

Obviously everyone should put in 5% to get the matching regardless of one's situations. As one's account grows, an increased return will overshadow the few hundred dollars every two tweeks. Of course, every percentage increase, reduces you adjusted gross income, so it helps there as well.

[GGal]

I do the $15,500 plus the $5,000, but then I only have 6 more years theoretically.

I've made the decision not to withdraw from TSP, though, until the mandatory age.

GGAL

[ATCJeff]

For some of us the max (15,500) is only about 11%. Poll will be inaccurate.

[weatherweenie]

I contribute a fixed dollar amount per pay period, $500.

[budnipper1]

For some of us the max (15,500) is only about 11%. Poll will be inaccurate.

Well, that definitely wouldn't apply to ME! I bring in a "tad short" of 141K/yr.

[weatherweenie]

Well, that definitely wouldn't apply to ME! I bring in a "tad short" of 141K/yr.

You must not be an air traffic controller.

[fabijo]

Of course, every percentage increase, reduces you adjusted gross income, so it helps there as well.

I made a spreadsheet for that exact purpose. It calculates all my deductions - TSP, health, Fed Tax, NY State Tax, NYC Tax, Social Security, Medicare, misc deductions, etc. It also calculates all the pay (Night Dif, Sunday pay, overtime, holiday). I used the spreadsheet to see how much my paycheck would change when I adjusted my TSP allocation (I can put in a dollar amount or a percentage) or if I changed my marital status or deductions. It's become a little popular spreadsheet at work. It gets our paycheck almost perfectly correct. It gets screwed up by a few cents or dollars when we get overtime. For some reason, overtime pay is at least time and a half, but always a little more.

I made the spreadsheet for New York residents, but I guess it could easily be adjusted for any state. I'll have to upload it and share it here if anybody cares.

[fabijo]

Well, that definitely wouldn't apply to ME! I bring in a "tad short" of 141K/yr.

I hear ya!! Man, I could only dream of such a paycheck.

[Callme_CO]

Well my check is sad in comparison. I'm was putting 9 percent but do to a decent raise i'm putting all of it in there so that bumped up my percentage to 18% But unfortunately it doesn't get me the 15,500 a year. Maybe one day.

[ChemEng]

Earlier this year I was contributing $15,500. But when my wife lost her job and we found out she is pregnant with our first, I rolled it back to 5%. This upcoming paycheck is my first at GS13 and Im looking to increase my contributions again, although Im leaning towards going to a Roth instead of TSP. Ive run the numbers and the Roth makes more sense to me since Ive got 30 years until retirement.

[CorMaGa34]

I max the $15,500 limit plus the $5,000 catch up.