One of the most important questions you can ask yourself as a working professional is “how much PTO should I save?” Your PTO balance is like a savings account; you want to make sure you have enough set aside for a rainy day, but you also don’t want to have too much that it’s just sitting there gathering dust. So how do you strike the perfect balance?
How Much PTO Is Too Much?
The answer to this question varies from person to person, and also depends on your company’s PTO policy. For example, if your company has a “use it or lose it” policy, then it’s probably not wise to save up more than a week or two of PTO, as anything beyond that will just expire at the end of the year. On the other hand, if your company is more lenient with its PTO policy, then you might want to consider saving up more so that you have a cushion in case of emergencies or unexpected life events.
How Much PTO Is Too Little?
This is a trickier question to answer, as there is no definitive answer. It really depends on your personal circumstances and how much vacation time you feel you need in order to stay sane. If you find that you’re always stressed out and taking work home with you, then it might be worth it to build up your PTO balance so that you can take some time off to relax and rejuvenate. Conversely, if you’re the type of person who never takes vacation and never feels the need for a break, then saving up PTO might not be as important to you.
Conclusion:
Only you can answer the question of how much PTO you should save. It depends on factors such as your company’s PTO policy and how much vacation time you feel you need in order to stay sane. If you’re not sure where to start, a good rule of thumb is to save up enough for one week of vacation. This way, you’ll have enough set aside for emergencies or unexpected life events, but won’t have so much that it goes unused.
