So IRA limits just went up again for 2026 and honestly it's getting harder to max these things out. If you're under 50, you're looking at $7,500 now instead of $7,000. People 50+ get hit even harder with an $8,600 limit after the $600 bump. That's a lot to save.

If you want to actually hit the max without stressing about it, breaking it into monthly chunks helps. Under 50? You need about $625 a month. If you're 50 or older, closer to $717 monthly. Sounds doable when you frame it that way. The trick is setting up automatic transfers so you're not manually moving money around every month and tempted to spend it instead.

Now the real question is whether you go traditional or Roth. Traditional gives you the tax break upfront, which feels good, but you pay taxes later when you withdraw. Roth is the opposite - no immediate deduction but your money grows tax-free. The catch with Roth? There are income limits in 2026, so if you're making decent money, you might not even qualify to contribute directly. Higher earners especially need to check whether those income limits affect them.

Honestly, even if you can't hit the full $7,500 or $8,600, putting in whatever you can is still worth it. Your future self will appreciate it. Just set it and forget it with those automatic transfers.