Impact of Impulse spending on financial position
Impulse spending isn’t an adjective to describe economic sage and finance gurus but is actually an antonym to what they do. Impulse spenders are people who don’t know what they need to buy until they see it in the store, and have behind their closets clothes, shoes, gadgets and accessories larger in quantity than ever needed by them. They are compulsive shoppers and never stoppers! One would know of their habit if they are repeatedly told that by their family and friends about it.
Impulsive spending harms the household finance, at the same time minimizing the chances of saving funds for future, which help in get your hands on assets like house, car, planning a vacation and planning a retirement life. Impulse spending has some negative impacts on personal fronts as well. This happens when a spouse or a family member who has an inclination towards savings is not comfortable with this habit of compulsive spending.
Be wise to save more and spend less
In your lifetime, have you even witnessed deflation, though inflation has been a very vital chapter in global economics? Well, the reason for this ever creeping inflation might be our bad spending habits. Indeed, this does not have anything to do with spending weekends out, buying a luxury car or shopping on clothes, gadgets and foodstuff.
Starting from the very basics, this starts from buying groceries, mobile recharge and many other items in small quantities. If household commodities can be bought in larger packs, they not only benefit the buyer but the seller too, at the same time.
Hence, buying a larger sack of rice, bigger pack of dog food and wholesale packs of many other grocery and daily need products can help cure the financial hiccups of not only households, but at national and international levels too. Shocking, try it out, to clear the doubts!
Minting money with Online Trading
The arrival of internet has brought along a technology wave where the whole world has turned into a global village. In this new global village, everything is online; may it be education or profession, cook books or dance classes, shopping, banking, paying utility bills and even communicating with family and friends miles apart. So, eventually when everything is turning online, why not try and make some money through internet?
Well, trading in stock markets is the most popular online money making game show where traders and investors buy, keep and sell stocks on desired rates. There are banks, broking houses and other stock brokers who work through online portals where their clients trade on equities. Trading and investing in equities has been a tried-and-tested money minting tool, but its online advent has made it even more popular.
Brokers differ as per investment types
In most cases, a broker is required to manage investments. Every brokerage house appoints a broker to provide assistance to a client. One might question the need for a broker, but it is very important to have a broker in order to effectively manage an investment portfolio.Stock brokers are qualified individuals who pass through required examination and training to be able to serve at this post.
This post also requires them to have prior experience of working the field of business and finance; also they should a bachelor’s degree in the same.Brokers are not stock analysts, so they cannot be trusted for stock tips and strategies. They can only suggest in regards to an investment account, the margins and possible trades. A broker is assigned with a duty to act on behalf of a client, so a client is responsible for any continuances that arise from trades executed by a broker.
Brokers earn commissions on total turnover generated in their client base, so it can be assumed that they are more focused on increasing volumes than client’s profitability.
Financial planning based on Risk Tolerance
Risk tolerance is an important factor when dealing in investment products. This level is determined by going through an individuals profile and percentage of total investment is set as his risk amount. Let’s say, the risk tolerance level derived for an individual is 30%, now if he invests $10,000 then the amount that he is willing to put at stake is $3000. Considering the investment is made in equities and then if the value of his portfolio drops to $7000, it means the risk tolerance level has been hit and he should withdraw his investments so as to avoid further losses.
Financial planers can help an individual in determining his risk tolerance level by studying various factors such as age, annual income, savings, other investments, insurance and credit rankings.
Investors with low risk tolerance are never advised to take equity exposure as wild fluctuations in the markets can always test their tolerance levels. Such investors are recommended to construct 80% of their investment portfolio with bonds and CD’s, and the remaining may be mutual funds.
Your guide to sound investment decisions
There is no scarcity of investment options, but there are various factors that need to be considered while making investment decisions. The first step should be to conduct ample research on investment options and then one should determine the amount of risk that he is willing to take. Determining risk helps in forming an investment approach, which is most suitable for achieving financial goals.
It’s always better to learn about investments from those who have ample experience of investing and profiting. For more professional advice, one can hire services of certified financial advisor, who can make recommendations based on individual’s financial objectives and current financial circumstances.
Reading investment articles and subscribing to investment newsletters, help in better understanding investment products. Such facilities can be availed through many financial websites. If the plan is to invest in stock markets, then it is advisable to first try hands on a simulation game, so that one can test his skills before entering the markets with real investments.
Different risk profile investors
Individuals have different risk taking capabilities when it comes to their hard earned money. The most common investment types that they deal in are stocks, bonds and real estate.
Stock market investments have the potential to generate maximum amount of returns but they carry market risk at the same time. Such investments are fairly liquid in nature so investors can pull out their invested capital at any trading session. Such investments are heavily volatile as they can swing sides at a fast pace with any development in the company or the overall economy.
Those, who are not so aggressive in investing, can opt for bond investments, treasury bills, CD’s and mutual funds. These are low risk investments but the returns are a bit subdued when compared to stock market returns. The only issue with such investments is that they are not so liquid, so one cannot count on these in times of urgent requirement.
Investment options for beginners
Beginners in investing are mostly attracted towards stock market investments as these investments deliver high returns, but these investors fail to understand the amount of risk associated with investing in equities. However, stock market investments are a good medium for beginners to get a boost start but they should begin with investing in low risk stocks.Low beta blue chip company stocks are comparatively safer than small and medium cap stocks with high beta.
Low risk takers should give first preference to savings accounts and CD’s as these are fully secure investment options but these offer interest rates that are very low comparative to returns that can be made from stocks and mutual funds.
Mutual funds provide a good platform for beginners in investing as these increase exposure of investment across financial instruments like stocks, bonds and commodities. These are managed by experienced fund managers, who can be relied upon for making sound investments.
How much should you invest now?
It’s really difficult to determine the amount that needs to be invested. A common mistake that people make is that they invest their entire savings expecting higher returns. But this is not the right approach; one should keep aside sufficient savings, so that they do not withdraw investments for an urgent need.
Ideally, one should keep aside ample savings that can support for a year, even if one entirely relies on savings or loses his job. Moreover investments should be made as per individual’s affordability. There is no pint in making high investments and then struggling with daily financial requirement, doing so can add stress to life.
However, the best way to invest is to make systematic investments on monthly basis. This way, one can build a big investment portfolio over 10-15 years, and the monthly payments can be kept within affordable limits so that routine life stays on a smooth track.
Investing approach based on financial goals
Too often, people jump right in by making huge investments without attaining the required skills to make those investments and also without making investment goals. Investments other than government backed bonds are not always secure and investors can suffer losses with such instruments.
Investments should be based on needs and objectives, there is no point in making wild investment decisions as such decisions often yield unexpected results. So if the objective is to make considerable returns for a secure retirement or buying a home 5-10 years later then one should opt for secure investments such as fixed rate deposits or well diversified mutual funds.
If the financial objective is to make maximum returns on spare money in a short term, then the best approach is to look for high beta stocks. But while investing in high beta stocks, one should be well diversified as such stocks even tumble 90% in falling markets.