It is tricky to decide whether you should be saving or investing, for that matter, but it solely depends on you and your preference in eventuality. This might sound cliché, but whether you should invest or save is dependent on your financial goals and what you are aiming for in the future.
Regardless it is always a difficult question that has to be answered. People are stuck with a double mind and often end up confused. So, you need to know the facts and generic bits and pieces for both savings and investing.
When we talk about savings, we think about emergency funds or saving for a goal, for that matter. Savings is a smarter route at times as you could be earning money via interest rates. However, interest rates are often low and not helpful. Your stated amount might be increasing, but its purchasing power will decrease due to a higher inflation rate.
Investments can be pretty risky, and unless you know what you are doing, you may lose money. Knowing how to invest and where is extremely important to be able to beat inflation.
Pros and Cons of Saving and Investing
Whether you choose to invest or save, for that matter, you need to know each’s advantages and disadvantages. This way, it will be easier to decide which one is more helpful towards your goal.
Investing Advantages
Investing is quite beneficial and can help you to earn significant returns of your investments compared to savings.
- Often people tend to invest long-term, which is more beneficial mostly when we talk about real estate, and your investments should compound. I guess you shall be right away after retirement.
- Regardless of where you live, investments save a ton of money on taxes. If per se, you invest money into a traditional IRA or 401k, you will not be taxed until you withdraw for retirement. This is just one example of the many loopholes in the tax code that favor investors. You could consult a financial advisor for more.
- The main advantage of investing is to stay ahead of inflation, and investing clears it by a ball mark. So, you will be earning enough so that your wealth’s purchasing power does not decrease.
Investing Disadvantages
Whoever tells you are investing is risk-free is well wholly wrong; it is risky, and you should be careful before thinking about investing.
- Investing often requires a large sum of money to get high returns. That does not mean you should not invest with little money; there are Robo-advisors such as Acorn. However, it is not going to giving you high returns. Nevertheless, try giving it a go.
- Investing is more of a long-term goal as it often takes time to receive the benefits, especially in terms of real estate, where you will receive a significant after a certain period.
Saving Advantages
Saving is a much safer route concerning investing; hence often, people opt for this route.
- When you put your money into a savings account, you have peace of mind that your money is protected or insured. Most banks provide insurance protection for your money; this can range up to $250,000 at a time.
- The best part about savings is that it is in liquid form and can be used in an emergency, hence an emergency fund. It is easier to access money, and you no longer need to worry about selling your investments.
- It is relatively easy to start a savings account, and some banks only require as little as $1. So no need to break the bank.
Saving Disadvantages
Everything has its fair share of disadvantages and savings, although it is a much safer route.
- Most banks have “maintenance fees” that have to be paid monthly or deducted monthly from your account.
- Banks often have low-interest rates, which are not helpful for inflation; thus, the purchasing power of money falls.
- Savings rates change over time which may affect your savings during the course. These changes can occur at any time and are mentioned in the bank’s terms and regulations when making your savings account.
Tools for Investing Money
Robo-advisors
Robo-advisors are the foremost and one of the best ways to start investing without hassle. Some prime examples like M1 Finance, BlockFi, Motley Fool, Titan, Public, Personal Capital, and 3commas.io, provide automated advisors to guide you through the process.
Robo-advisors use algorithms by asking you questions to build a portfolio based on risk, tolerance, and other factors. This portfolio will help you invest more efficiently without having to lift a pen. Last but not least, the service fee charges are shallow compared to traditional advisors.
Apps
I have talked about these quite a few times, and you must have seen the Acorns advertisements on my blog. I am too thorough with my research and often prefer appealing apps. Acorn is, well, a lifesaver in short.
Titan is another app that is renowned and named as one of the best investment apps. Another one to check out.
Tools for Saving Money
Bonds
Savings bonds are exceptionally dependable and are issued by a government. The way a bond works is pretty straightforward; you buy a bond and earn interest over time. Unfortunately, often people do not prefer this option as the interest rate is not pleasant and, in some cases, takes years to reach what you could have earned through a savings account.
Savings Account
Almost every bank offers a savings account where you set money aside and earn interest on that over time. This is a great way to earn money. Although interest rates can fluctuate, it is a great way to grow money.
CIT Bank and Axos Bank offer high-interest rates for online savings accounts, and it is free to open an account.
Money Market Accounts
Money Market Accounts (MMA) are quite similar to a savings account as you can also earn interest in an MMA. However, MMAs require you to have a minimum balance requirement, and the amount can vary from bank to bank.
Often in some cases, interest rates are high, but it is not always the case. CIT Bank and Axos Bank both offer MMAs.
The Framework
Are you still not entirely sure whether to invest or save? You need to set the foundation or knowing the fantastic two (which sounds weird).
Having goals is essential, and they do not have to be achievements; they can necessarily include wants. However, what should one do when they face the task of investing or saving.
- Short Term: In short, save! Investing in the short term is not profitable and is not helpful. In this case, savings is a better option, and you could start building an emergency fund (if that is your goal) or build your wealth to meet your wants or needs.
- Long-term: In long, invest. Investing is more so long term a prime example is a real estate. For example, property values that were once for $20,000 are now around $100,000. Long-term investments bring higher value for your money helping to overcome inflation.
Conclusion
Whether you want to save or invest is entirely up to you, and all I can do is help you decide which one is best for you. Knowing all of the above is essential to deciding which one is important.
However, we often ignore these points; these are the foundation of savings and investments without knowing we will be dumbfounded.
