Saving Green

By Copper Williams

Whether you’re a workaholic putting in yet another twelve-hour shift, a student striving toward your bachelor’s, or an expecting parent, the monetary investments you put into your rainy-day fund, savings account, or stock investments, that you can make by buying or selling shares with the help of this freetrade app can go a long way in securing a financially stable future for yourself and your family. The important thing is to be careful with which companies you are investing in because you don’t want to risk your money on something that is not going to amount to much or anything at all. This is why it is a good idea to start with bigger companies that are already accomplished like Amazon, where it is very possible to invest in Amazon shares (in Amazon Aktien investieren) at any point, offering you a large chance of financial profits. But how much should you be putting away, and what investments are the best options for you? We crunched the numbers and have the answers below!

  • Focus on paying off credit cards and loans first, with priority given to those with the highest interest rates. If you are struggling, you might want to look into debt settlement. Paying off this debt allows you to instead utilize those interest payments toward investment and savings opportunities. However, if you’re struggling to make ends meet, you could always consider applying for an Opensky card. These cards don’t require applicants to have a credit history, which means that they’re accessible to most people. If you find yourself struggling to pay off your credit card debt whilst also trying to live off your money, you might end up having to take out another credit card or loan. However, it’s always best to try and avoid this.
  • Take inventory of your current income and expenditures. What bills can be lowered? What can be removed entirely? While that $10 gym membership you hardly use may not seem like a large monthly cost, over the course of a year, that membership adds up to $120. Over a ten-year span, that adds up to $1,200. Are you really making the membership work for you?
  • Once you have completed your list of income and expenditures, schedule an appointment with a local investment firm to discuss what percentage of your remaining balance should be utilized for savings and investments, and how much you should be funding into your 401k if the opportunity is available with your current employer. Even if that saving is only $50 per month, put it away the moment you cash out. In 25 years, that $50 will have grown to $15,000.
  • When preparing your taxes, consider whether you should take a standard or itemized deduction. Compared to your standard deduction, an itemized one benefits those who have made significant contributions to charities, have rather large, unreimbursed expenses as an employee, or paid mortgage interest and real estate taxes on their house. Uninsured flood, fire, or theft losses can also be covered in an itemized deduction.
  • After you’ve received your tax return, invest your return in a savings account, to ensure that you have money left over for any emergencies that might occur down the road. With a “rainy day” fund, a tire blowout, or midnight trip to the E.R. won’t break the bank, forcing you to rely on your credit cards.

By focusing on removing credit card debt, taking inventory of expenditures, properly investing with professional assistance, and making your tax return work for you, your wallet and family will stay in top form!