We all want to ensure some security for the future and with a whole different series of methods of investment it is sometimes difficult to decide which methods of saving are the best for your needs. So let's look at a few different ways of investing your money and see what the advantages of each tend to be.
Traditional Savings Accounts
It's the obvious choice that most of think of with savings as we were most likely taught as children to stick some money away into a savings account for a rainy day so this could be the default option for many of us. Unfortunately banks don't generally give the same amount of generosity that they used to on their savings accounts but if you search around with some help from online search engines you can get a better rate than money in your current account, I found through this search I could earn 2.53% interest compared to less than the 1% my current account offers.
Invest In Small Businesses
Another avenue of investment is to lend money to small businesses or even buy shares in them. One easy way of doing this I've found is through peer to peer lending organisations such as Funding Circle where you invest savings which are then lent to various small businesses and depending on the level of risk you're willing to accept you can earn up to 6.5% in interest. If you decide to invest directly into a business in way of buying shares you should really do your research on the business, read the business plan and look into the company directors as although there is the possibility of much higher returns if you make the wrong investment you could lose it all.
Put It Into Property Development
In some ways property can always be considered a safe bet you hear people say, but it's not without risk and property development takes a lot of planning and research to make sure you get the costs correct. But I've found that many have found good returns in property development in up and coming areas, so if you can get just ahead of the trends you can capitalise very easily, if you find the right plot and get the construction at a reasonable rate and ensure the job doesn't run over too much then you could have a fairly sound investment there.
The Stock Market
Investing in the market is another way of securing a return on your money but much like investing in shares in a small business there is a risk/reward balance here. Investing in shares can be risky or safe depending on your approach, it's best to find a good reputable stock broker to advise you on the best strategy.
Look At Improving Your Earning Potential
As well as maximising returns on investment you can always look at self improvement to increase your earning potential as well. Look at extra learning or training or supplementary avenues of income generation.
