Much of the reason we have trouble saving money isn’t mathematical, it’s psychological. We enjoy shopping. To help make that desire more productive, take a “shopping” trip on investments.
Photo by Trading Academy
Shopping allows us the hunt of finding something worthwhile to spend our money on, or simply the thrill of getting some cool new toy. While investing can often seem boring, it’s not so complicated that the average person can’t get started. And, as personal finance blog First Quarter Finance points out, “investing” doesn’t just mean buying stocks or contributing to your 401(k). It can also mean buying things that can help make you money:
Well most of my money still gets tucked away into index funds. That’s probably never going to change. It’s safe and easy. But I’ve taken on a few more interests. One of mine is buying websites and making them profitable (if you want to sell yours, DM me). Maybe you like makeup. Then why not start a YouTube channel? Those beauty bloggers are making a huge splash over there. Zoella, MakeupbyMandy24, Tonya Burr, Michelle Phan… You can invest your money in filming equipment, products to feature, editing software, a new computer, etc. If you like buying expensive foods, why not build an online couponing platform that’s more user-friendly than what currently exists? Hire programmers and web designers to help make your vision a reality. And don’t worry, you don’t have to make a ton of money to make this stuff happen. Heck, you can have a killer website for <$1,000!
Even if you don’t go the extreme route of starting a business, the filter of focusing on purchases that net you a return is key. Most importantly, no matter what you choose to invest in — stocks, property, or your next brilliant business idea — some chance to make money back is always better than none.
How to Use Investing to Pacify Your Desire to Spend [First Quarter Finance]
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