A lot of people like to save their extra money – and as a Magical Penny reader I know you do too!
It helps to have extra cash for things like emergency bills and big payments later on down the line. But instead of saving all your money, you might find investing is a better option. Investments allow you to spend money to make more. Smart investors may even be able to live off of the cash they make. And it isn’t only useful for making more money. Putting your cash into a variety of assets stops you from spending your much, and sees your money go further.
There are many ways to invest your money. There are a lot of short-term investments which can help you make money fast. Medium and longer term investments often yield the best results. Some of these things are assets which you would purchase either way. Others you may not even be aware of.
It’s best to start making investments while you’re young. Your money can grow over many years. It’s often the best way to build up a healthy fund for when you retire. But where do you start? With many options for investing, you might not know where to put your money. Here are some of the smart investments you can make with your funds.
Property
A home is usually the biggest investment people make in their lives. Buying a house takes a lot of money, but it often pays off. While the most important factor is having somewhere to live, you may later go on to sell it. If you take care of your home, you can get a high return on your investment. Sometimes factors such as neighborhoods improving can also raise property values.
You can also generate money from your home while you live in it. Some people rent out spare rooms to tenants. You can use sites like www.SpareRoom.com/roommates if you have a room for rent. Some people also rent out their homes while on holiday. As well as giving them some extra money, it also ensures your home is looked after while you’re away.
But buying your own house isn’t the only way to invest in property. Many people start investing in buy-to-rent property. In other words, they pay for a living space to rent it out to other people. Over time, you can make a profit from your investment. But it can take some effort- there are certain risks you’ll face as a landlord.
Some people also make a living by flipping houses. By buying a rundown property and turning it into something much more desirable, you can make a huge profit! Some people buy in improving neighborhoods, as property prices often rise fast in these places. If you’re buying a house with the intention of selling, learn which improvements will raise its value. You might want to look at www.MoneyCrashers.com/7-home-improvements-to-increase-its-value/ for some ideas.
Stocks
Many businesses and organizations have stocks publicly available to buy. Investing in these can often be a fantastic way to increase your money. If the value of a stock goes up, you can sell yours to make a profit.
Playing the stock market can be risky, but it often pays off. You don’t have to jump in at the deep end. You could start with small investments, and make higher ones as you gain experience. Sometimes you might get lucky and make a quick return on your stocks. Sometimes you may need to wait for them to rise in value. If you buy stocks in a rapidly improving business, you have the potential to make a massive amount of money!
Investing in stocks is simpler than ever before. There are many internet resources which can help you. The best way to get into it is to start investing in penny stocks. These are low-priced stocks, but you can invest in many of them and get a lot of profit back if you make the right investments. Sites like www.MoneyMorning.com/tag/penny-stocks-today/ can help you learn more.
Make sure you do plenty of research before investing in stocks. It can often be risky, as businesses often fail and stock values fall. It’s always best to diversify your assets and make smart choices.
Business
Businesses take a lot of investment. Sometimes they need the right employees, services, and marketing to succeed.
Some people become business investors. It entails giving money to business owners to help them improve their company. Some investors even get to own a percentage of the business. It gives them some control over how things are done, as well as a share of the profits.
Of course, you could also invest in starting your own company. More and more people are becoming entrepreneurs these days. There are plenty of web resources to help people learn and handle business operations.
You can’t just invest in any business idea. A lot of ingredients go into making a successful company. Businesses that fill a gap in the market for consumers will often yield profits. But things like pricing and smart financial management also matter. Make sure you only invest your money in companies with the potential to be lucrative.
Bonds
Many organizations and businesses often issue bonds to raise the money they need from various investors. It’s like being a lender for a corporation, or sometimes even the government. The borrower will pay you back in interest.
When you invest in bonds, there’s a fixed maturity date in which you’ll get your money repaid. As well as getting your original payment back, in the long run, the regular interest payments can add up. Bonds are often a low-risk way to make money on your investment.
Savings accounts are a type of bond. You can use a fixed-rate savings bond to get a guaranteed rate back. But there are certain risks. Bonds can often mature over a long time. If inflation rises, you may not get the best value back for your money. Sometimes the bond issuer can’t make repayments- especially if it’s a company that fails during your bond.
Education
To get a college education, you’ll need to fork out a lot of money. However, you should consider this as a smart investment. Getting a degree will yield profitable job opportunities. Recent figures show that degree holders earned on average over twice as much as those with just a high-school diploma!
If you choose to go to college, you’ll likely be paying back your loans for years. But it’s often justified. You’ll likely earn more and be eligible for more promotions. Eventually, your bills will be paid off, and you’ll be earning more thanks to greater job opportunities.
The best way to get a return on your investment is to look into degrees which give you lucrative opportunities. You might want to look into the highest paying graduate degrees at www.PayScale.com/college-salary-report/majors-that-pay-you-back/graduate-degrees. It can help you decide what to study. However, some are happy to go with a degree in a field they’re passionate about, even if it doesn’t result in the highest paychecks. It’s an investment in your happiness for the future, as well as for your finances.
Students who work hard can often make the price of education cheaper through scholarships. You could also consider studying abroad- some countries across Europe offer free university education. But you’d still have to pay a lot in living costs. Parents should also save up for their children’s college funds. Investing in their future will help them become financially stable.
Cars
A vehicle is another one of the most expensive things you’ll buy in your life. When you buy one, you should think of it as a long-term investment.
You’re likely to sell your car later on down the line. Make sure you keep it well-maintained each year to get a good price back. Although it’s unlikely you’ll ever make back more money than you paid, you can still get a decent return on your investment. You can also trade old vehicles in for credit towards a new car.
Cars are often a smart investment for the other perks they bring about. Making it easy to commute to work will help you make money each day. You’ll also be able to look into jobs from further afield if you have your own means of transportation.
You could even make money from driving in your spare time. Becoming a driver with a service like www.Lyft.com is an easy way to make some cash back from your investment. It’s something that anyone can do with just a vehicle and a smartphone app.
Some cars can gain value over time. Many people invest in classic cars and sell them to passionate collectors. According to this article, classic cars have yielded 500% returns in the past decade! But it takes some research to invest in the right car, and you never know what will be more valuable in ten years.
Collectibles
Classic cars aren’t the only collector’s item people invest in. People put their money into all kinds of collectibles which could potentially become profitable in the future.
You may have some valuable assets in collector’s items without even realizing it. Those with vintage Pokémon cards from the 90s could make a lot of money by selling on eBay! Rare ones even sell for thousands of dollars. It’s worth looking into how much your old Pokémon cards are worth.
There are many kinds of collectibles people pay good money for in the long run. Things like coins, baseball cards, and retro video games often become profitable. But investing in collectibles is volatile in the sense that you never know what will be more valuable in the future. The best collector’s items to invest in are those you’re interested in yourself. Even if they don’t get you a profit later in life, you’ll still have a nice personal collection!
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