Smart Money Matters: Where to Invest Your Hard-Earned Money in 2021

Life is expensive. This is a fact that almost everyone can agree on throughout the United States. No matter your political affiliation, your social class, or your sense of humor, the prices of goods around the country have risen, and it affects us all. So, what do you do when prices keep going up and wages sit idle? In a word, invest.

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Investments come in all forms, and they all have different returns and different associated risks. But, taking on investment is more about what prospects speak to you, how much you’re willing to spend, and how involved you want to be in your investment.

Whether you want to take a passive role and be a silent partner in a restaurant, or if you want some hands-on time developing new products, you have to have a little money saved to invest in anything today.

Here, we’ll explore a few simple investments that promise the best returns in 2021 and into the foreseeable future.

Real Estate

One of the last sound investments that have stood the test of time is real estate. The real estate market has gone through plenty of ups and downs over the last couple of decades, but for the most part, this remains a sound investment for many reasons.

You can invest in a second property and not only develop this property for a future sale, but you can also monetize it by becoming an Airbnb host.

Airbnb hosts earn money when guests stay at their homes. Though this business is seasonal in many parts of the country, with the rise of COVID-19, more people are avoiding crowds and hotels and staying in an Airbnb instead.

The income you can make from an Airbnb listing varies considerably depending largely on location, along with the features and amenities you offer. If you’re interested in learning more about how much profit an Airbnb rental can earn you, consider using an Airbnb income calculator to see your earning potential.

High-Yield Online Savings Accounts

A high-yield savings account is known for paying interest on your cash balance. These online accounts, however, offer much higher interest rates than you’ll typically find at a brick-and-mortar bank.

High-yield savings accounts also offer lower overhead costs, while some have no overhead at all. This is a great investment for those who dislike investing in risky markets such as stocks and the like.

The only “risk” involved with high-yield online savings accounts is that as inflation rises, interest rates may fluctuate along with the ebb and flow of inflation. This means that sometimes you’ll have less of a return. But, for simply keeping money in the bank and earning interest off of it being there, you have nothing to lose.

Cryptocurrency

Ok, let’s not worry about every word that Elon Musk utters regarding the crypto world. Though some influential entrepreneurs do exert some influence over how the markets are balancing themselves out, the crypto market is still in its infancy.

Within the last decade, cryptocurrency has offered those in business the option of a digital currency to be used as a form of exchange. But, for most people, the crypto space is thoroughly confusing.

However, despite its confusion, cryptocurrency has become more valuable and popular. Consider Bitcoin, for example. In 2020, Bitcoin was under $10,000 a share. That price skyrocketed to $30,000 a share at the beginning of 2021. Though Bitcoin has doubled and then fallen back again all in the same year, it remains an intriguing investment for those who don’t worry too much about risk.

The downside of cryptocurrency is the huge risk potential involved. Literally, your investment could go down to absolute zero overnight in some markets. And, the potential for outlawing cryptocurrency is still on the table for economic lawmakers.

No matter what you’re investing in, as prices of goods continue to rise across the globe, having a sound investment portfolio can help you keep your head above water if you find yourself in rough financial straits.


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