There isn’t a person alive who doesn’t want to take control of their finances once and for all. Nothing is quite so slippery as money! We may all vary in how much we earn, and our spending priorities, but we do have that constant struggle in common. Another thing we often have in common is how we choose to increase our earnings. On our quest for more, we look to the money we have yet to make. We come up with money making schemes galore and push ourselves ever harder in an attempt to reach financial stability.

But, what if the way we try to make to make money is all wrong? The fact that most of us continue to struggle would suggest that something’s not working out, wouldn’t it? That’s why we’re here with an innovative idea. Instead of looking to money you have yet to make, we think you should focus on the money you already have. If you look at many successful figures, they got where they are by investing the money they already had. They didn’t reach for the ever elusive money tree in the sky. Instead, they worked out how best to use what they’d earnt.

For the novices among us, the idea of investment makes us weak at the knees. It brings about images of high-flying business people, making big money in Wall Street. But, investment may much simpler than many of us realize. We’re going to look at a few of the main investments you might want to consider and when it’s worth making them.

STOCKS AND SHARES

If the Wall Street reference above struck home, this is not what you were hoping to see on this list. But, we couldn’t talk investment without some reference to stocks and shares. The good news is, things get easier from here on out, so bear with us!

Stocks and shares are one of the riskiest, but potentially lucrative investments you can make. The concept is simple; you buy a set amount of shares in a company and sell them on if they become more valuable. It can seem daunting if you’ve never done it before, but starting small is the best way forward. We’ve all seen films in which characters invest in companies just before they gain huge success. And, reading the market in that way is the best way to make money. In an ideal world, you want to buy shares cheap and sell them at a massive profit. But, don’t put pressure on yourself to achieve that goal straight away.

Start slow, by investing relatively small amounts of money in many companies. A little internet research can also help you see which options are most viable. Then, once you’ve gained some confidence, you can start taking bigger risks. Unless you get extremely unlucky, you’ll either break-even or make a little money in the early stages. And, once you’ve got the hang of things, you stand to make big.

INVEST IN YOURSELF

See, didn’t we tell you things would get easier? When we think of investment, few of us consider investing in ourselves. It doesn’t even cross our minds. But, it should. Your future is one of the most solid investments you can make. You know yourself, and your work ethic. You aren’t piling money into uncertain sources which stand to collapse at any moment. Putting money into your education, or into training courses, is a step well worth taking. It may seem painful at the time, but it’s a sure way to promotions at work. It could even lead to more lucrative career options down the line.

Of course, going back into education isn’t all plain sailing. While the investment into education itself is worthwhile, it’s important to consider any time out you’d need to take while completing a course. To return to full-time education, you would have to make the initial investment, and subsidise your living. If that’s the case, it may not be a doable option. Instead, look for evening courses, or part-time options. Talk to your boss about what you’re doing. You may find that they’re more flexible than you’re expecting. A more educated colleague can only benefit them, after all. If it’s not possible at the moment, make plans to achieve the goal in the future. The best thing about this option is that it’s a sure way to enrich your life, and your pockets.

PROPERTY

Back into slightly more daunting territory now, we had to give a mention to property. Much like stocks and shares, this strikes fear into many hearts. But, it needn’t be as daunting as you think. Of course, you could delve far into the world of property investments if you wanted to. You could become a landlord, or do up houses to sell on. You can become a property guru if you so desire.

But, that’s not what we’re looking at. Instead, we’re going to look at the more simple steps you can take to invest in property. For the most part, we all buy a home at some point. It’s an ultimate life goal, isn’t it? A real ‘I have arrived’ moment. Seeing as it’s on your cards anyway, it’s worth looking at this from an investment point of view. And, investing in property is as simple as buying a home. You don’t have to rent it out, or anything like that. You simply have to buy it.

But, there are a few further steps you could take to enhance your investment. For one, don’t jump into buying a house before you’re ready. You need to make sure you have as large a deposit payment as possible. That way, you can take out a smaller mortgage, and own the house outright in a much shorter time. Wait as long as humanly possible before making the leap to homeownership.

It’s also worth noting that buying with investment in mind is worthwhile. Of course, you want a home that speaks to you in an area you love. But, it’s well worth finding a property in an up and coming area. Or, you could take the leap of buying a property that needs improvement. The more you do to your house, the more money you stand to earn back in the future.

SAVINGS

Another investment you may never have considered making is that of savings. We all try to have a money pot behind us, don’t we? There’s nothing more reassuring than knowing you have a rainy day fund should you need it. So, the chances are you’re saving already. All you need to do is reconsider the way you save to add investment into the mix.

In essence, the easiest way to earn from your savings is to set up a high-interest savings account. Savings in themselves are an investment into your future, but you should make all the money you can off of them. High-interest accounts offer the best chance of seeing a sizable return on your money. In all honesty, you won’t earn riches this way. But, something is better than nothing. And, the savings themselves are what will take you far!

If you wanted to see a much larger return, you could invest your life savings into a pension fund. Many employers offer a scheme where they pay in a set amount for each dollar you save. So, the more money you spend, the more you’ll see back in later life. It’s worth stretching the budget here to ensure you get a healthy return. Paying $100 or more each month is your best bet. You may need to tighten the purse strings to achieve the goal, but it’s worth doing. The only downside is that you won’t be able to access the money until old age. But, your future self will thank you.

INSURANCE POLICIES

Last but by no means least, we need to talk insurance policies. Most of us see these as money gobbling machines, rather than investments. And, there’s no denying that they often are. But, should anything happen, these will save you money in a huge way. As such, we consider that they deserve their place in the investment hall of fame.

You can get insurance policies for just about anything – from your mobile phone to your health. It’s not always practical to pay insurance for everything. It’s important to make some smart decisions about which investments you’re willing to make. That way, you’ll have more money to play with for policies you do decide to go for. If you broke or lost your mobile phone, you’d have to fork out a few hundred dollars on repairs or a new one. If, however, you were in an accident, you could end up paying hundreds of thousands in operations. It’s fairly obvious which should be your top priority, isn’t it? Of course, if you have the spare money to pay for various insurance policies, sign up for any you can. The more financial protection you afford yourself, the better.