Is your money working for you?

Tough economic times require we save money and find smart uses for our finances. But knowing the best ways to save, and even make your money work for you, can be difficult.

Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Read on for 5 ways how to invest money wisely and save.

1. Budget

Do you budget? Don’t worry if you don’t, you’re not alone. In fact, 70% of all Americans don’t.

Budgeting is important. Think of it as a spending plan that prioritizes what you do and don’t spend it on.

This gives you control over your money and will help you save. It also stops the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck and helps avoid debt and money worries. You’ll also be able to save for your investments.

2. Save

Before investing, you want to make sure you’re contributing to retirement savings.

A 401(k) allows you to invest through your employer and defer the tax payments until you withdraw it at retirement. Your employer may match those contributions up to a certain value.

You can also set up a Roth IRA. Any earnings made on the account are tax-free and you can withdraw it when you retire after the age of 59 and a half.

3. Don’t Get-Rich-Quick

Get rich schemes really are too good to be true, and you should avoid them. It’s better to stick to the tried and tested investments like bonds and stocks. A little investment in speculative returns is fine but you don’t want to replace true investments with it.

Look out for and be aware of best-selling books about investment techniques. Many of these relate to new get-rich-quick fads. If the book is promising to magic up double or triple what other investors earn, it’s one of these fads.

4. Do Your Research

You shouldn’t buy into anything that you don’t understand. This will save you a lot of trouble down the line.

It’s tempting to see people making large profits and to want to chase those for yourself. Take your time to learn more about these opportunities, they will still be there tomorrow.

Jumping in head first when you’re not ready and you don’t have all the facts isn’t going to end well. Invest will skill and don’t leave it to chance.

5. Index Funds

Indexes are a sample of the market. For example, the S&P 500, is a sample of around 500 large stocks.

An index fund buys most of the securities in a particular index. Investing is one makes up a form of passive investment. They can outperform many of the more active mutual funds even.

You need to consider the annual fees when looking at choosing an index fund to invest in. According to Investormint, paying 0.50% fees will mean you save $300,000 more than if paying 2.0% over 30 years.

How To Invest Money Wisely

If you follow our tips on how to invest money wisely, you will be on the track to making your money work for you.

Budgeting and saving will not only put you in a position to start investing but will protect your from financial shocks. Careful and sensible investing will also make sure your investments are likely to see real returns.

If you found this article useful, check out our other articles on making the most of your money.