If you’re a little apprehensive about jumping head first into investing, you can start off with Acorns. Acorns is an app that lets you invest your spare change into 5 different funds, ranging from conservative to aggressive. What it does is connect to your bank account and round up your debit purchases to the full dollar amount. This is then invested in whichever account you choose.
Acorns costs $1 a month, so make sure you use your debit card enough to make it worth it. If you only round up an extra $10 each month, Acorns costs 10% of what you put into it. But it can be great for people who frequently use their card for things like coffee, food, and gas. Acorns is a great way to get your feet wet with investing. You’ll see the money grow. Even if your account is growing by a few cents at a time, it can be exciting to see the principles of investing at work. That’s why it’s on our Side Hustle Master List.
Concept | |
category | Financial |
Takeaways | Automatic investing for your every day purchases. |
complexity lowhigh | Capital Required lowhigh |
skill required lowhigh | time required lowhigh |
return potential lowhigh |
learn more |
Done-for-you Investing
Another thing to watch out for is if you start using your card more than normal just so you can invest in Acorns. If you’re using it for random things to just round up the change, you might be better off with a full investment app. The advantage of Acorns is that it is completely in the background. You don’t have to do anything to make it happen. Also, the portfolios you invest in are curated by professionals so you don’t have to worry about picking a bad stock. People pay lots of money for stock picking advice, and Acorns has it all done for you. Check out the links below for more information.