We're living in a time where simply putting some money in savings accounts isn't enough. Many of us have been brought up to know the importance of saving, to put money away for emergencies, for later, for peace of mind. While savings do matter and are a base for any serious undertaking, the reality is that saving is not the best way to build wealth any longer or to grow in life.
The point is: money changes value over time. With inflation going up close to every year, the money you save today could lose its value tomorrow. So, while savings can protect for a little period of time, it doesn't always build a better future. That is why we invest. But this is the problem: All of us hear people say make smart investments, but where is the right investment?
Making investments is often the toughest part, which is one of the reasons that people get stuck with savings. The fear of losing money, not knowing where to start or being overwhelmed by options can scare off anybody. It feels good to put your money in the bank and hope for the best. This is because the banks provide a few investment opportunities such as fixed deposits, high-interest savings accounts and bonds.
They might be safer than other options and easier to exit, which is typically why the average person will go with a bank investment. But let's be real, most of the options don't really give a good rate of return. They might protect your dollars, but they rarely multiply them. For myself, I have redefined what investing means. I think one of the best ways to invest is to invest in yourself.
Whether that is learning something new every day, developing a skillset like forex trading or digital marketing or upgrading in your profession or area you are passionate about, that to me is investing. It is not just about sitting in front of stock charts all day watching your money go up and down, it is about becoming a more valuable person.
I also believe in investing in people. Supporting someone who demonstrates potential, whether it is a friend with a small business or young person with talent and ambition, is a valuable investment. Not everything has to be about money - sometimes your return is the impact you have.
So yes, while making a financial investment is important, we can only hope we find the perfect platform or opportunity, I think what is more important is to broaden the idea of investing beyond chasing profits. Investing is about building, learning, growing and lifting other people.
At the end of the day, I'd love to hear from you. What do you think are the best ways to invest money? How do you invest your time? What is one thing you are learning right now that is changing your life? You can share so we grow together.