Saving money requires one thing — to spend less than you take in. This is easier to do if you have a solid income (which is why investing in education is important), but it is important to remember that it is possible to save money regardless of your income, even if the amounts are small. Try to start by saving 10% of your paycheck each month. While this is a recommended goal, if this is not possible, simply save what you can, with the goal being to add something to your savings each month.
On a sheet of paper or in a word processing document, list all your income for the course of a month in one column. At the bottom, add up the sources to determine a total. In another column, do the same for expenses. Make sure to include everything. One helpful way to do this is to examine your bank statement and credit card statement. Add all the expenses in the column together to determine the total monthly expenses.
One way to do this is to examine the difference between “wants”, and “needs”. A need is essential, whereas as a want is option. Look to your “wants” each month to find reductions. For example, you may want a brand new phone with a 3GB data plan, while you only need a basic phone with a simple 1GB plan. For “wants,” practice intentional spending, and only spend in areas that really bring you joy. [1] X Expert Source Benjamin PackardFinancial Advisor Expert Interview. 11 March 2020. Consider looking at your needs as well, and examining how to reduce them. For example, rent is a need, but you may be able to find a more affordable apartment in a cheaper area of town, or downgrade from a two-bedroom to a one-bedroom, for example.
After an emergency fund is prepared, you can then focus on using your savings to build your investment portfolio.
The benefit of a 401(k) is that your money can grow tax-free (normally taxes are charged and collected annually on invested money which makes it grow slower). In addition, money you contribute is tax-deductible. This means if you contribute $5,000, you won’t pay income tax on that money. Inquire at your workplace if a 401(k) plan is available, and make sure to take advantage of it, especially if your employer offers matching contributions. This is an excellent way to get started on a path to wealth.
Generally speaking, there are a few types of options for investing. The main ones are stocks, and bonds. Stocks represent ownership in a business, and bonds represent money you lend to a business or government in exchange for regular interest payments. [3] X Expert Source Marcus RaiyatForeign Exchange Trader Expert Interview. 4 March 2021. Most investors have a combination of debt and equity in their portfolios.
ETFs offer greater flexibility and lower expense ratios compared to mutual funds. [4] X Research source ETFs are more tax efficient, but they see fewer capital gains than mutual funds. [5] X Research source ETFs trade like regular stocks and their value fluctuates throughout the day. [6] X Expert Source Marcus RaiyatForeign Exchange Trader Expert Interview. 4 March 2021. The value of a mutual fund is calculated only once a day, using the closing market prices of the securities in the fund’s portfolio. [7] X Research source ETFs offer more convenient buying and selling power when compared to traditional funds. [8] X Expert Source Marcus RaiyatForeign Exchange Trader Expert Interview. 4 March 2021. Mutual funds are managed while most ETFs are not. The holdings of a mutual fund are selected by a fund manager who seeks to make the fund as profitable as possible. The manager actively monitors the market and revises the fund’s assets accordingly.
Always be mindful of fees before opening accounts, as well as account minimums. Brokers all charge fees per trade (ranging from $4. 95 to $10 generally), and many also require a minimum initial investment (ranging from $500 to much higher). Currently, online brokers that have no minimum initial investment include Capital One Investing, TD Ameritrade, First Trade, TradeKing, and OptionsHouse. [9] X Research source If you want more help with your investing, there are a variety of ways to find financial advice: if you want someone who helps you in a non-sales environment, you can find an advisor in your area at one of the following sites: letsmakeaplan. org, www. napfa. org, garrettplanningnetwork. com. You can also go to your local bank or financial institution; however, many of these charge higher fees and require a large minimum to invest ($500,000 to $1,000,000 is common). Some advisors, (like a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™) have the ability to give advice in a number of areas, like investments, taxes and retirement planning, while others can only take direction but not give advice, Also important to know is that not all people who work at financial institutions are bound to a fiduciary duty of putting their client’s interest first. Before starting to work with someone, ask about their training and expertise, to make sure they are the right fit for you. [10] X Expert Source Benjamin PackardFinancial Advisor Expert Interview. 11 March 2020.
Let’s say you commit to investing $100 in company X once a month. This month, the shares cost $10 each, so you will buy ten shares (for $100). Next month, the shares cost $20, so you buy five shares (for $100), an so on. Always stay invested regardless of what happens to the market. There have been 11 market crashes since 1956, but every time the market has recovered to earn far more than it lost. Simply continue adding each and every month, and be comfortable with the fact that your wealth will grow over time.
For example, if you invest $100 and it earns 5% in a year, you would have $105. The next year, you would earn 5% on $105. This means you would have $110. 25. The next year, you would earn 5% on 110. 25, and so on. The results over time are incredible. If you invested $1,000 a month starting 30 years ago, you would have $1. 8 million today. This is the surest way to create wealth. Learn more here.
The study also found that salaries for individuals with just a high school diploma is dropping over time. Research has also shown that the unemployment rate for people with high school diplomas is much higher than for people with post secondary diplomas. [16] X Research source
For example, the average salary for an associate degree is $50,000, bachelor’s degree is $64,000, master’s degree is $81,000, and professional degree is $115,000. [17] X Research source
Linking your natural abilities and interests with an in-demand education is a very certain way to increase your income substantially and get yourself on a path to wealth. Ask yourself what your talents are. Consider the things you do better than other people, or that you are frequently complimented on. Ask yourself what you are passionate about, or interested in. For example, maybe a particular subject interests you, like mathematics, or a particular activity, like cooking. Look for areas of overlap between your talents, and your interests. For example, maybe you are interested in the human body, and also are good at math or science. These interests can complement each other.
Currently some of the best paying university undergraduate majors are engineering, computer science and business/economics. These majors all lead to average salaries above $75,000 per year. If you already have a university degree and want to pursue further education, careers like law, medicine or dentistry can produce salaries well over $100,000 per year. Make sure to consider skilled trades as well for a career. If you are a more “hands-on” person, there is considerable money that can be made in learning a skilled trade. Plumbers and HVAC technicians can earn over $50,000 per year, and the earning potential is unlimited if you start your own business. [19] X Research source Before you choose an educational path, research what the job prospects are currently and when you will enter the field, and what the average salary is. Remember, a popular field today may be saturated in 5 to 10 years. This will help you make sure you can get a return on your investment.
Consider spending a year or two before you start school to save some money. This will reduce the amount you need to borrow, which means you will have smaller loan repayments when you are done. Choose your base of operations wisely. Unless you very much enjoy living in a big city or have family/other obligations, choose a less expensive area in which to live and go to school. Choosing a smaller city can lead to thousands in saved living expenses. Apply for federal student loans to fund your education. These loans often have lower interest rates than bank loans, the interest rates are often fixed, and you do not need to repay until you are done with school. [20] X Research source
Consider spending a year or two before you start school to save some money. This will reduce the amount you need to borrow, which means you will have smaller loan repayments when you are done. Choose your base of operations wisely. Unless you very much enjoy living in a big city or have family/other obligations, choose a less expensive area in which to live and go to school. Choosing a smaller city can lead to thousands in saved living expenses. Apply for federal student loans to fund your education. These loans often have lower interest rates than bank loans, the interest rates are often fixed, and you do not need to repay until you are done with school. [20] X Research source
Adding to your education constantly means adding to your earning potential. Every new thing you learn increases your ability to earn.
