Food waste
Grandma’s tips against food waste
Every year, 330 kilograms of food per person ends up in the bin. By following key advice from our grandparents’ times, you can avoid waste and save money, too.
Pension
Should I have multiple 3a accounts?
Investing in a private pension makes sense. And spreading money across multiple accounts is an even better idea. Our pension expert will tell you why.
Question: I’ve contributed to my 3a pension account for years. The balance has grown to CHF 50,000. Should I contribute everything to the same account or open a second account?
Answer: For larger sums, two or more 3a accounts are recommended. Multiple accounts allow you to optimise your pension and save on taxes. That’s because the disbursement of pension funds from pillars 2 and 3 results in taxes. The higher the amount disbursed in a given year, the higher the applicable tax rate. This is known as progressive taxation. To prevent this increase and avoid higher taxes, you should spread the disbursement of 3a funds across several tax years. However, to qualify for staggered withdrawals, you must have contributed to several accounts. You cannot withdraw partial amounts from a single account.
The amount of taxes you can save by staggering depends on your place of residence. Tax rates are dependent on the canton. For example, if a person who is single, not affiliated with any religion, and lives in the city of Basel liquidated their 3a account with a balance of CHF 100,000, they would have to pay CHF 5,310 in capital withdrawal taxes. On the other hand, if the person withdraws CHF 50,000 from two different accounts, they would only owe CHF 1,836 per account, or CHF 3,672 in total. In that case, they would save a total of CHF 1,638.
If you have CHF 50,000 in saved assets, you’ve reached a level where opening a second 3a account makes sense. There are no legal restrictions that would prevent you from opening additional accounts. However, some cantons limit staggered withdrawals to a certain number of accounts and impose taxes for additional withdrawals.
It’s easy to open multiple 3a accounts at most banks. In most cases, you will not incur any costs. Most providers charge fees only for early withdrawals or when you liquidate the account.
Tip
You can increase your return on investment over the long term by investing your 3a assets in retirement funds. To do so, you can use MiFuturo, Migros Bank’s online pension solution.
Our expert tips to answer your questions
Whether you’re interested in science, sustainability, health or saving money – our team of experts is on hand with practical tips and tricks.
Migros Bank
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You receive money for your child each month. By investing it wisely, you’ll generate a better return for your children’s education or to help them get their career off to a flying start.
Food waste
Correct portioning by hand
Do you often cook too much and then end up with leftovers? Simply use your hands to work out portions.
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Do I need cash on holiday abroad?
Having cash in the local currency is always generally a good idea. We explain how much cash you’ll need to carry and which bank card you should always take on holiday.
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Sustainability
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Sustainability
The worst composting offences
From cheese rind and chicken bones to cat litter – we explain exactly what can’t go in the compost heap.
Pillar 3a savings
Who will actually inherit my pillar 3a money?
What happens to the money you have saved in pillar 3 if you die before retirement?
Foodwaste Lettuce
How do you keep lettuce fresh for longer?
Lettuce consists of 95% water and wilts quickly. Use these tricks to keep it nice and fresh for several days.
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Selling at the wrong time or losing your nerve – there are lots of things that can go wrong when investing. Here are some of the pitfalls to watch out for.
Pillar 3a
Fund or account? The best way to invest pillar 3a assets
You make regular payments into a pillar 3a account. Is it worth investing the money in a retirement fund?