| Is your list of things you wish you could do, but can't | | | | shares of stock you own. This can help result in |
| afford to do, growing longer? Many people | | | | higher income levels in later years, and while you |
| understand the value of investing, and the | | | | would probably enjoy receiving those mini-dividend |
| importance of investing in order to secure their | | | | checks now, it's better to reinvest them so they can |
| futures, but they don't have much available money | | | | grow into larger checks in a few years! |
| that can be used for investing. These people might | | | | 4. Enroll in your company's 401K plan, if offered. |
| believe that they are not able to start investing and | | | | Some companies even provide a matching |
| instead, continue to struggle with the daily living | | | | contribution- where they match a percentage or all |
| expenses and no plan for their financial future. | | | | of your deposits. If you have this available to you |
| There are actually numerous ways that people who | | | | and you aren't taking advantage of it, you're |
| don't necessarily have a lot of cash available can | | | | throwing away free money. You may miss the $15 |
| begin investing, and every penny saved can help | | | | you have automatically deducted from your pay and |
| over the longer term. The only proven way to | | | | put into your 401K each week at first, but after a |
| improve your financial situation is to reduce your | | | | few weeks you won't even notice it's gone and it will |
| expenses and increase your income, while saving for | | | | be going to a far greater cause than using it to buy |
| the future. | | | | lunch at your favorite fast food joint! |
| 7 Ways to Invest Even if You're Broke | | | | 5. Join an investment club, and pool your money with |
| 1. Save all of your change. Use cash to make as | | | | the members of the club to help build a more |
| many purchases as possible, rather than writing a | | | | comprehensive portfolio for small investments. When |
| check or swiping your debit card, and put the change | | | | you invest on your own with small amounts of |
| into a bucket at home each day. At the end of | | | | money, it can be difficult to build a diverse portfolio. |
| every month or two, deposit the change into a high | | | | By pooling your money with a group of like-minded |
| interest savings account and watch it grow! If you've | | | | people, you can build a diverse and comprehensive |
| never actually saved your change before, you will be | | | | portfolio that will perform much better financially. |
| quite surprised at how fast change can accumulate. If | | | | 6. Take advantage of compound interest and start |
| you saved $25 in change each month, you'd have | | | | investing as early as possible. If you invest $2,000 at |
| $300 at the end of the year- and more if you save it | | | | the age of 25, you will actually end up with more at |
| in a high interest savings account! | | | | retirement than a 30 year old who invests $5,000 on |
| 2. Enroll in a direct stock purchase plan that allows | | | | the same date! |
| you to start investing with as little as $25. Direct | | | | 7. If you receive money from an unexpected source, |
| stock purchase plans allow investors to purchase | | | | or you get a tax refund, you should consider it |
| fractions of stocks based on the dollar amount you | | | | money you didn't get and immediately invest it |
| invest. | | | | instead of spending it. When you invest the money, |
| 3. Reinvest your dividends to increase the number of | | | | you get a deduction on your taxes, also. |