Saving vs. Investing: When to Choose and How to Do It

Knowing when to save and when to invest isn’t a clear choice, there are difficulties doing both. Sometimes you have to take a risk in order to maximize either task, but if you combine both, you may not have to take any risks. Below we will describe Saving vs. Investing: When to Choose and How to Do It.

Normally, people will save 3 to 6 months worth of living expenses, but that alone is difficult when there are so many expenses to take into account. Many companies are now offering to help you with both, but how do you know which ones to choose? In the post below, we’ll give you some suggestions on how to balance saving and investing.

When To Save

Many financial advisers will tell you that the most important thing to have is a financial cushion in case of emergencies. Saving is a smart move if:

• You don’t yet have emergency savings. Professionals will recommend you set aside at least one month worth of living expenses before trying to invest. Saving as little as $500 will help give you a cushion in case you have to make any vehicle repairs or see doctors.
• You need the cash within five years. If you already have emergency savings and want to look to put a down payment on a house or an annual car insurance premium, then keep those types of short term savings in your savings account. Those returns are guaranteed.

How To Pick A Good Savings Account

Most financial institutions offer some form of a savings account, but if you want the best type make sure they have these attributes:

• FDIC Insurance: This type of insurance protects you from any bank failure, so your money is covered up to $250,000 per depositor in both the bank and ownership category. Although most banks have this insurance, it doesn’t hurt to make sure your new bank offers this.
• High Annual Percentage Yield: Many banks actually pay an extremely low rate on deposits, such as 0.01%. However, interest rates are rising, so you can get more for the money you put in.
• No Monthly Fee: Some banks waive their monthly fees if you have a large enough of a balance or meet certain criteria. Others won’t charge a monthly fee at all, so find a bank that suits you.

When To Invest

Generally, people will invest money for the long term, such as retirement, and this happens during the same time as saving. Sometimes investing stops becoming the priority with one exception:

• You’re eligible for a 401(k) match. If your employer offers a 401(k) or some other type of workplace retirement plan, there’s a chance it’ll match a percentage of your salary (i.e. 4% or 6% of your salary). This is kind of like free money, but the only way to take advantage of it is to sign up and contribute to the account. Unless someone can’t pay their own bills, then they should save enough to get the full match.

You can actually start saving for your 401(k) while starting an emergency fund. Whatever amount you decide to save a month, it’s best if you can split that amount 50-50 between your 401(k) and savings accounts.

Consider investing more money if:

• You have a topped-up emergency fund or you’re making good progress. People should generally have their emergency fund fully funded within the next two to three years or making excellent progress before making any efforts in investing. Three to six months of living expenses is only a recommendation but if you’re able to save more, then do it.
• You’ve paid off high-interest debt. Student loans and mortgages normally have low interest rates, so it’s okay to pay the minimum payments in most situations. However, the high-interest debts, such as credit card balances, should be your priority and should be paid off as soon as possible before trying to invest.
• You have long-term goals that will require a lot of cash. If you have certain expenses, such as retirement or a college fund for younger kids, that won’t come for at least five years, then you’re in the clear to invest.

How To Pick A Good Brokerage Account

First and foremost, figure out how much you want to be hands on regarding your investing. For beginners, they should use robo-advisors that use algorithms to manage your investments based on your risk tolerance, goals and other factors. This means you won’t pay very much to vary your investments, and the robo-advisors will help you keep the right mix of investments.

How Much Should I Save Vs. Invest? 

As a general rule of thumb, you should always save money before you even try to invest it. Saving money can act as your foundation for any of your future endeavors. Your savings will be your capital as you embark on your journey towards investing. Here are the two types of savings programs you should follow:

• Your savings should be sufficient to cover all of your personal expenses, such as your mortgage, loan payments, insurance costs, utility bills, food, and clothing expenses for at least six months. This is a great rule because if you lose your job, you are covered for six months, giving you enough time to find another.
• If you any any specific goal that requires a large amount of money in five years or less should be put towards savings and not investments.

Once these two things are set, you can start worrying about health insurance. The only reason you would put money into a 401(k) plan is if your employer matches it. You will get a huge tax break for putting money into your retirement account, and your job is essentially giving you free money towards your future.

Bottom Line

Saving and investing doesn’t have to be confusing with the tips we’ve written above. Learn how to manage your saving to make sure you have enough for you future as well as start investing to make money for your present. Wondering which bank you should use? For a variety of options, see our list of the Best Brokerage Bonuses and Best Bank Rates.

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