A no nonsense guide to investing for mums

A no nonsense guide to investing for mums

*collaborative post*

Today I have a post for you all about where to start with investing. I am always interested in learning how to be better with money and I’m sure I’m not the only adult who wishes we were taught more about this kind of thing at school! Today’s guess post is full of advice and information on how to get started with investing, I hope you find it useful



Tips and advice on investing for mums

As parents, we tend to thing about legacy a lot. We think about what we’ll leave our children to remember us by and to make their lives easier when we’re no longer around to look after them. Every parent wants to leave something behind for their children, from family heirlooms to property to sage advice for when they’re raising their own kids and precious memories of the wonderful moments you’ve shared. Perhaps this is why many parents are drawn to the world of investing. After all, the idea of making passive income alongside your day job and / or parenting to feather your nest and enhance your legacy is understandably appealing. But the world of investing can seem so opaque to many of us that we give it a wide berth- preferring instead to save what we can when we can. And while there’s no doubt that every family should be saving, investments can be a great way to supplement and grow your savings so that you have more assets to leave your children in decades to come.

In this post, we’ll look at some of your investment options in no-nonsense, jargon free terms…

Apps can make investing easier – There was a time when anyone who wanted to invest would have to go through an investment broker, and would essentially have to take a leap of faith in their ability (and honesty). While there are still some advantages to going through an investment broker, the digital age has democratised investment and made it easier for anyone, even busy Mums, to invest at home or on the go through their mobiles. There are apps that allow you to invest in a wide range of commodities, set investment goals and even develop a socially responsible portfolio. Here are some of the best investment apps for beginners.

Investment properties, what you need to know – Conventional wisdom tells us that property is one of the safest and most secure investments there is. And conventional wisdom is right… broadly speaking. If you find yourself with a windfall (an inheritance, perhaps) and want to put it somewhere it will grow, property is understandably appealing. But investment property in the UK is not as advantageous from a tax perspective as it once was, which is why many Brits are, even now looking for a condo for sale in overseas territories like the far East. These kinds of properties are extremely popular with cash rich, asset poor professionals and offer more attractive rental returns than their equivalents at home. Plus, you have access to a wonderful holiday home which you can use when not being rented out. There are, however, expenses which you will incur when buying a property overseas which you’ll need to factor into your budgeting. This article by Which? has some great advice in no-nonsense terms which will be useful for savvy Mums who are interested in investing in property.

Be wary of ‘hot tips’ – Many new investors are waiting for someone to throw a “hot tip” their way which will send the value of their investments skyrocketing. But the truth is that you’ll be in for a very long wait. This is a bitter pill to swallow for many new investors, but usually by the time a tip has made its way through the grapevine to you it’s probably not so hot anymore (if it ever was). As more people flood to buy, so the value decreases. As you gain more experience, you’ll learn to spot the signs of a bad investment, and that if something looks too good to be true, that’s probably because it is.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket – However and wherever you decide to invest, it’s important to remember the value in diversification. Whether you’re investing in stocks or building a property portfolio, you increase your risk when you put all of your eggs in one basket. What happens if all your stocks nosedive overnight? What if something happens to cause the value of property in your chosen area to slump? The savvy investing Mum keeps her options open, investing cautiously in a wide range of areas from stocks and shares to foreign currencies (forex) and even cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Start small, get to know the market and then invest more in proportion to your confidence.

Play the long game – Investment isn’t a get rich scheme. It’s about learning and growing in your knowledge as your investments grow slowly but sustainably over time. Approach it with this attitude, and you’ll never be disappointed, What’s more, you’ll be creating a more secure financial future for your whole family.

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Do you invest for your future? If not, has this post helped you learn more about it and where to get started? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

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