Suddenly having a lot of extra money is not something many people complain about, but being suddenly flush can be stressful if you don’t know where to put your money. Many popular investment products promise high dividends but also high risk. If you’re planning on being rich one day, these safe investment tips will make sure you don’t lose your money as fast as you made it.
Visualisation
Imagine winning a few million big ones! How would you spend your fortune? While this might sound like a silly question, if you’re a business leader intent on success, you might look up one day and find yourself sitting with a lot of money to throw around. If you’ve never given the question any thought, how do you know you won’t splash out on a diamond-encrusted steering-wheel cover? Before you start Googling luxury real estate, it’s worth weighing up the various investment options out there now, so you’re in the right mindset going forward. Visualising yourself in a position to invest loads of money is also a great way to help you overcome a fear of success.
Invest in Boring Stuff, like Bonds
That’s right: bonds, like your grandpa used to buy. While bonds are a boringly safe investment, there is potential for excitement in that you can choose from a variety of bond types. You can have any bonds you like, as long as they’re savings bonds or municipal bonds. You can also invest in things like Certificates of Deposit (CDs), which pay you back at fixed interest rates, or Treasury Bills, which aren’t as exciting as they sound (no, there is no treasure). You get the picture: when choosing a safe investment, pick something that’s likely to put you to sleep. And the benefit of boring investments? You’re unlikely to come out bust.
Prudence
Many people make the mistake of thinking that investment experience is the key to investing wisely. Not so. Wisdom is. As an investment rookie, you’re more likely to make sound decisions if you use your common sense, be realistic about your prospects, and don’t get swept up in the moment. Many experienced investors come a cropper because they’re too accustomed to risk and no longer pay attention to the signs that they should be hitting the brakes rather than the accelerator.
Play the Stock Market
If you’re surprised to see the word ‘play’ on this list, don’t get too excited. The stock market is not as exciting as it’s made out to be in the movies. The risks are there, but if you’re investing sensibly, you’re unlikely to make any massively costly errors. The key to ‘playing’ the stock market successfully is to educate yourself and stay up to date one economics. Chat with a financier, scan the op-eds in the business section, and keep your ear out for trends in the business world at large. You’ll be spouting stock-market news in no time.
If you’re keen to grow your piggy bank without sticking your neck out too far, these safe investment options will help you decide what to do with your hard-earned money before you’ve blown it all on expensive champagne.