13 Really Common Money "Facts" That Actually Aren't Facts At All

Mon, November 22, 2021,

A lot of us don't get a great financial education from our families or in school, which can make figuring out all our money stuff pretty tricky. And as if it's not already hard enough, there's also a lot of misinformation out there.  To help you sort out the actual facts from the fiction, I rounded up 13 common money myths, plus what you actually need to know:

1."You Don't Need To Worry About Investing For Retirement Until Your 40s."

Nope, nope, nope. In fact, the earlier you can start putting money away for retirement, the better, thanks to the magic of compound interest. This is when you earn interest on your investments and then earn more interest on top of that interest. And the sooner you start investing for retirement, the more time your money has to grow.

So if your workplace offers a tax-advantaged retirement plan like a 401(k), it's a good idea to take advantage. If your employer doesn't offer this benefit, you can always open an IRA (individual retirement account) on your own to get your nest egg started. Even if you're only able to contribute a little bit at first, it can really add up over time.

2."Saving Small Amounts Of Money Isn't Really Worth It."

I get it. It can be really discouraging to compare experts' recommended savings amounts with your own low (or nonexistent) balance. But having even $100 saved can help a little bit in an emergency. Every dollar that you're able to put away is another dollar that you won't have to pay back with interest when an unexpected car repair or vet bill comes along.

One way to help yourself save is by putting your savings in an account that helps you grow your fund. Many experts recommend high-yield savings accounts because they'll pay you more in interest than the typical savings account. But my personal favorite place to keep my emergency fund is Yotta. It's a prize-linked savings account where you can win money every week from their lottery-style drawing.

So far this year, I've won about $100 from my Yotta account (and that's a whole lot more than the 10 cents or so that I'd get from a regular savings account). Plus, they make it really easy to start and stop recurring deposits so you can automate your saving habit and make adjustments when life happens.

To continue reading, please go to the original article here:

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/13-called-money-facts-totally-041602944.html