There’s no time like the present to start becoming more financially productive. If you’re not happy with your current financial situation, make a change now.
Why Being Financially Productive is Important
We all want to be wealthy and have financial security. It’s important to have money so that we can live the lifestyle we want and not have to worry about how we’re going to pay our bills. Being financially productive gives you the ability to make more money and grow your wealth.
Here are five ways you can start being more financially productive today:
Open a High Yield Savings Account
A high yield savings account is a great way to grow your money without taking on any risk. You can open an account with a bank or an online lender. Look for an account that offers a high-interest rate and no fees. Typically, the higher the interest rate, the better.
If you’re interested in opening a high yield savings account, but are not sure where to start, here are a few banks that offer great rates:
- Ally Bank: 0.50% APY
- Barclays: 0.45% APY
- CIT Bank: 0.50% APY
- Discover: 0.40% APY
- Goldman Sachs: 0.60% APY
Invest in Stocks or Cryptocurrency
If you’re looking to make your money work for you, investing is a great option. You can invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs through a brokerage account. Or, you can invest in cryptocurrency through a digital exchange.
Stocks
Stocks are a good option if you’re looking to grow your money over the long term. When you invest in stocks, you’re buying a piece of a company that will be worth more in the future.
Bonds
Bonds are a good option if you’re looking for stability and income. When you invest in bonds, you are lending money to a government or corporation. In return, they agree to pay you interest payments until the bond matures.
Mutual Funds
Mutual funds are a good option if you want to diversify your portfolio. When you invest in a mutual fund, you’re pooling your money with other investors. The fund is then used to buy a variety of stocks and bonds.
ETFs
ETFs are a good option if you want to diversify your portfolio and trade stocks like a commodity. ETFs are similar to mutual funds, but they’re traded on an exchange like stocks.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency is a good option if you’re looking for short-term growth. Cryptocurrencies are volatile, so they can go up or down in value. But, if you invest when the prices are low, you could see a big return on your investment. An easy way to get into crypto is through Robinhood.
If you’re new to investing, start with small amounts of money and gradually increase your investment as you become more comfortable. Stocks and cryptocurrency can be a volatile investment, so it’s important to do your research before investing. You should also only invest money that you’re comfortable losing.
Track Your Income and Expenses
It’s important to know where your money is going. Track your income and expenses so you can see where you can cut back or save more. There are a variety of apps and software programs that can help you track your finances.
Mint is a popular app that’s free to use. You can link your bank account, credit cards, and investment accounts to Mint. The app then categorizes your transactions and shows you how much money you’re spending each month.
You Need a Budget (YNAB) is another popular app that costs $11.99 per month. With YNAB, you enter your income and expenses into the app. The app then gives you a set amount of money to spend each month.
Create Buckets for Goals
When you have financial goals, it’s important to create a plan to reach them. One way to do this is to create buckets for different goals.
For example, you could have a bucket for a down payment on a house, a bucket for retirement, and a bucket for a vacation. Each month, you would contribute money to each bucket. This would help you save money and reach your goals faster.
Open an IRA or Roth IRA
If you’re looking for a way to save for retirement, consider opening an IRA or Roth IRA. An IRA is an individual retirement account. A Roth IRA is a retirement account that you fund with after-tax dollars.
Both IRAs offer tax benefits and can help you reach your retirement goals. If you’re not sure which IRA is right for you, talk to a financial advisor.
You don’t have to wait until retirement to start being financially productive. There are a number of things you can do now to start saving and investing for the future. Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to financial success.
Do you have any tips for becoming more financially productive? Share them in the comments below!
