Saving Isn’t the Problem. What You Do With It Is. 

Why saving alone isn’t enough

If you’re saving regularly, you’re already doing something right. 

In fact, UK households are saving more than they did before the pandemic. Around £870 billion more, according to new research from J.P. Morgan Asset Management  

The UK’s savings opportunity…. 

The problem is this: a huge chunk of that money is sitting in cash, doing very little. 

And over time, that can quietly undermine your future choices. 

Why cash feels safe (and why it isn’t always) 

Let’s be clear. Cash has a job. 

You need it for emergencies, short-term plans and peace of mind. No argument there. 

But many women are keeping long-term savings in cash because: 

• they’re worried about losing money, 

• they want easy access, 

• they don’t feel confident investing, 

• or no one has ever explained it properly. 

All completely understandable. 

Saving vs investing: what often gets missed

What often gets missed is that cash isn’t risk-free over the long term. Inflation eats away at its value. Slowly, quietly, but relentlessly. 

The report found that while money kept in cash has effectively gone backwards in real terms over recent years, money invested globally would have grown meaningfully. That gap matters. 

“My house will take care of it” – why property can’t do everything” 

Property plays a big role in UK wealth. Nearly half of household assets are tied up in housing. 

But relying on your home to do all the heavy lifting comes with risks: 

• you can’t easily access the money, 

• prices don’t rise forever, 

• and your home can’t pay your bills unless you sell it, downsize or borrow against it. 

Housing can be part of the picture. It shouldn’t be the whole plan. 

The real cost of waiting to invest 

Another big finding in the research is how late many people start thinking about retirement. 

The logic is familiar. 
“I’ve got time.” 
“I’ll deal with that later.” 
“I’m not planning to retire for years.” 

Here’s the reality. Time is one of the most powerful tools you have when it comes to investing. 

The report showed that someone who starts investing earlier needs to put in far less money overall to reach the same end goal than someone who starts later. That’s compounding doing its job. 

For women, this really matters. Career breaks, part-time work and caring responsibilities often mean we already have less room for error. 

Can you rely on the state pension? 

Many people expect the state to provide a comfortable safety net in later life. 

The uncomfortable truth is that government finances are already under pressure, and an ageing population will only add to that strain. 

Relying entirely on the state limits your choices. Building your own financial resilience gives you flexibility, control and options. 

So what actually helps? Practical steps that make a difference

This isn’t about taking wild risks or becoming a stock market expert. 

It’s about a few sensible shifts: 

• keeping cash for emergencies, not long-term growth, 

• understanding the difference between saving and investing, 

• starting earlier than feels strictly necessary, 

• getting clear, trustworthy guidance instead of guessing or relying on social media. 

You don’t need to do everything at once. You do need to stop leaving your future entirely on autopilot. 

Saving is a great habit – investing builds long-term security

Saving is a brilliant habit. But saving alone isn’t always enough. 

Making your money work harder, in a way that suits your life and your tolerance for risk, is how you turn savings into real long-term security. 

If investing still feels intimidating, you’re not behind and you’re not alone. It’s a skill. And like any skill, it can be learned. 

If you’d like help taking that first step, start with our Are You Financially Fit? quiz or explore How to Start Investing inside the Women’s Wealth Enable Membership. 

Source: J.P. Morgan Asset Management, The UK’s savings opportunity (June 2025). 

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