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A photo of gold piggy bank in an article about saving your money

The Basics of Financial Literacy: Saving and Investing

If you have the means, make sure you're not putting it off.
February 25, 2020
5 mins read

Learning how to control one’s financial situation is essential for all of us. Regardless of how little or much money you have, it’s crucial that you have insight into your finances. It’s also recommended, for everyone that can afford it, to save and invest. Even just a few dollars a week can make a huge difference in the long run.

Despite this, the majority of us feel like we don’t have control over our finances and a growing number of people are struggling to save money regularly. Hopefully, this post can help you rethink that and provide you with tools you need to regain control.

Luckily, chances are high that you, with a few easy tweaks in life, can start saving up and investing, even if you feel like you can’t afford it. Better yet, with the following three simple tips, you will be able to start implementing changes already today.

Before we get into this guide, we want to clarify that the following tips might not be for everyone. Online trading and investing is associated with certain risk and is only an option when you can actually afford it. For more information on the risks of trading, we suggest you visit BullMarketz.com, one of the most extensive trading resources online.

1. Set A Budget

Budgeting is the only way to gain and keep control of your economic situation, regardless of how much money you make. It’s also essential to have a solid budget before you start saving or investing. So, if you feel like you’re not in control or that you can’t afford to start saving, the solution might be as easy as a simple budget.

The idea of having a budget is easy and there is no reason to make things complicated. All you have to do is figure out what you’re spending your money on. Once you have a clear idea of that, you can start cutting away unnecessary expenditures with the goal of redirecting those funds to saving efforts or investments. Even if you already have extra money to save, it’s advisable to keep a budget.

There are many practical tools that will simplify the process of setting up and following a budget. Many of the tools are automatic and some can even be connected directly to your bank account balance.

2. Start Saving

After setting up a budget, you should have a clear idea of how much money you have to set aside every month. It’s important to understand that the amount of money you can save doesn’t really matter; even a few dollars every week can have a major impact on your life further down the road.

It’s also important that you’re saving money for a purpose. Maybe you have debt that you need to pay off or you want to buy your first property. Deciding on why you’re saving will help you determine how you should save as well.

For example, saving up for your retirement is often done with low-risk, low-pay off funds that will grow steadily over many years to come. However, if you’re saving up to pay off debt, a regular savings account can be more than enough.

We suggest you contact your bank to find out what the best options are for you and your situation.

3. Start Investing

The last basic rule of personal finance is investments. In fact, even if you’re already saving money and feel comfortable with that, we think you should consider investments.

Now, we’re not asking you to become a professional investor with a portfolio containing hundreds of company stocks and other securities. Instead, it’s better to start small. Buy a couple of stocks, cryptocurrencies, or something similar when you feel like you can afford it.

Just remember that all forms of investments are associated with risk and you must do proper research before you get started.

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