Did you know, the U.S. direct investment abroad portfolio increased from $244.9 billion to $6.15 trillion by the end of 2020? 

That’s a whole lot of people investing a whole lot of money. The fact is, many of those investors are real people like you and me, putting aside small investments of money where and when they can.

It just goes to show, simple changes add up to make a big impact. Bigger than you ever thought possible.

If you’re ready to take the first steps into your investment journey and learn how to invest with no money, then keep reading.

The Different Ways to Invest

When you’re throwing around some investing ideas, it’s challenging to know where to start. This is especially true in the modern age, where the options are plentiful and the choices overwhelming. 

Let’s start with the basics. 

Among the dozens of ways you can invest money, here are a few of the big ones: 

• Stocks and shares
• Bonds
• Mutual funds
• Property
• Government bonds
• Fledgling businesses

Knowing what to choose and when can be one of the more challenging parts of investing, but there are methods that suit both beginners and more experienced investors. 

Remember, investing is a long-term game, but you can start today at the level you’re comfortable with.

Investing for Beginners

Maybe you’re ready to start investing, but stocks and shares seem overwhelming. If this is the case, we have some easy ways to get started as a beginner.

Work With Your Employer

If your employer offers a savings match, then it’s wise to take them up on their offer. For every $10 you save, your company will match you. This is most pertinent if you’re looking at investing in retirement funds.

Got a Cookie Jar?

In the modern age, we’re not talking about physical jars you put your cash into. The visual imagery remains, however. Many modern banking solutions allow you to open smaller accounts in your primary account that act as pots or jars. 

A great example of this is Monzo, who launched in the USA in 2019. This allows you to name and separate different investments into your proverbial cookie jars. 

These are great for a rainy day but won’t yield any interest.

Low-Entry Investment Accounts

Now we’re looking at options that will give you returns. Investment accounts like these take the stress and hassle out of managing your stocks yourself, but do come with slightly lower interest rates. 

If you’re low on time or have the courage to invest yourself, they’re a great option that automates your investing process. Many of these accounts use robo-advisers who use your information and goals to make the smart choices for you.

Government Bonds

This is a great option if you’re interested in investing, but don’t have a lot of money. Government bonds are very low risk and are backed by the government. While bonds like this offer relatively low returns compared to stocks and shares, they’re a great way to get started in the world of investing.

Got More Experience?

If you have some experience already with setting money aside and managing the more minute details of your money, you’d likely be comfortable trying more traditional investment options, like buying and selling stocks or investing in shares and real estate.

Buying and Selling Stocks

When buying stocks, you’ll typically need the help of a stockbroker, since it isn’t possible to just call up the stock exchange and ask for stocks directly. A stockbroker, whether human or robot, will help you choose the investment you want to buy and how the trade should be handled.

Depending on the route you take, you could be on your own with managing your stocks. That being said, going the route of online brokers can save you a lot of money.

Full-time brokers are great for people willing to pay a premium to have someone look after their finances. While this is useful, there is more than enough information around to help you invest your first $100 in stocks and shares (and have you manage them yourself).

Invest in Crypto

Investing in crypto can be complicated, and we’ll preface this by saying it can be a wild card. 

It’s easy to set up an online wallet and immediately start trading in crypto like Bitcoin and Ethereum, but the market is volatile. Approach crypto with caution, but use these new opportunities to improve your investing savvy. 

Because you need to be quick on the draw when your crypto is worth a lot, you’ll learn valuable skills about money and knowing when it’s the right time to invest or pull out.

Invest in Real Estate

While you will still need a little bit of money to get involved in real estate, it’s easy to get started with minimal cash flow. Learning how to invest in real estate with no money is the ideal step towards achieving financial freedom, which we all crave. 

However, if you have no money to invest in real estate, you could opt for hard money bridge loans. These are loans that, instead of coming from a bank, come from individuals and groups. 

Because they don’t necessarily need to go through any corporate procedures, they tend to have fewer requirements for qualification. Private lenders may also be more willing to back up risky projects.

Understanding Your Investing Style

In the world of investing, we have two major camps. Both styles have their own merits, but each depends on your interests, lifestyle, and budget.

Active Investing 

Active investing is all about taking the process into your own hands. It means taking the time to research and maintain your own portfolio. To be a successful active investor, you need three things:

• Time
• Knowledge
• Desire

Active investing requires homework and the ability to research, analyze, and keep up with your investments. 

Even if you have all the time in the world, you still need to know what you’re doing. At the core of all of this, you need to know how to analyze stocks before you invest in them. 

Finally, you have to want to invest. Many people simply don’t want to spend hours and hours on their investments, and that’s absolutely fine. It’s also okay if you are interested. Your desire will see you through times of significant growth.

Passive Investing

Passive investing, on the other hand, is the equivalent of setting a plan on autopilot. You’ll still get excellent results over time and it requires less effort.

This style of investing is great because it has a hands-off approach and brings about moderate returns, which are well worth the trouble.

Understanding Your Budget: How to Invest With No Money

You don’t need a massive sum of money to start an investment portfolio. You can start with $100. The amount you’re starting with isn’t important. What’s important is knowing you are financially ready to invest and that you’re able to invest frequently.

Know how much you can invest every month is the first step. Take your net monthly income and remove all your expenses. Even if you’re left with a small sum, you can divide that into as many parts as you’d like to start saving and investing.

An important step is to first use some of that money to set up an emergency fund. If you find yourself in a tight spot, you don’t want to be pulling out of your investments, as this lowers their value significantly.

In understanding and knowing your budget, it’s important to also make every effort to rid yourself of high-interest debt. While it is possible to invest while paying your debt off, you’ll see bigger growth long-term if you clean up your accounts and set up a sound foundation to work from.

What Risks Are Involved?

Remember, when you’re investing, you’re always taking risks with your money. While we’re presenting options that limit risk, we must acknowledge they still exist.

Not all investments are going to be successful. Each investment type comes with its own risks and though this is often correlated with returns, it’s important to know where the balance lies and what’s going to work best for you.

Find something that feels comfortable for you and your level of risk. If you’re interested in high returns, then invest in high-risk stocks, but know there is always the chance you could end up losing money, especially if you’re not armed with knowledge.

In the same vein, not investing in stocks that have a higher risk could mean you don’t achieve your saving and investing goals, and this in itself is a risk if you’re relying on them for retirement, college, or buying property.

Putting Your Plan Together

There isn’t a one size fits all plan, and it’s tough to know what direction to go in, especially when you don’t know how to invest with no money.

Let us reassure you. If you follow a plan that feels comfortable for you, you will see returns, and your portfolio will grow.

Based on everything we’ve said here, you should be in a far better position than ever before to invest today. 

If you liked this article, head on over to our other posts for more like this!

Jane