If you’re on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
Credit Cards
Banks
Brokers
Crypto
Mortgages
Insurances
Loans
Small Business
Knowledge
by Matt Frankel, CFP® | Published on Sept. 7, 2022
Image source: Getty Images
If you have extra cash to put to work, here are some of the best options right now.
Check out our pick for Best Cash Back Card of 2022
If you have extra cash on the sidelines, it's certainly a good problem to have, but it's still a problem. Cash that sits idle in a savings account at virtually no interest (or worse, physical cash sitting in your wallet or desk drawer) is a nice financial buffer but doesn't do anything to add to your future wealth.
With that in mind, here are seven things in no particular order that you could consider doing with your excess cash as we head into the fall season.
Interest rates have risen considerably in 2022, and it could be a great time to lock in an interest rate on a CD. Some of our favorite banks are currently offering 1-year CD rates in excess of 2.5%, and if you're willing to commit to a longer time period, your APY could be even better.
If you want a better yield on your savings than your local bank is willing to pay, but you also don't want to lock your money up for any specific length of time, an online-based high-yield savings account could be worth a look. Thanks to the rising-rate environment, several of the most reputable accounts pay APYs of 2% or more.
Series I savings bonds, also known as inflation-protected bonds or simply “I bonds,” have interest rates tied to inflation that are designed to preserve your purchasing power over time. And thanks to the high inflation rate in 2022, new I bonds have an initial interest rate of 9.62%. This rate applies for the first six months, and will adjust to then-current inflation rates, but this can be a great place for money you want to save, but without letting inflation erode the value of your savings account.
Have you been thinking of investing in stocks, mutual funds, or ETFs, but haven't started yet? With the market down significantly in 2022, it could be a great time to get started. So, one excellent way to put cash to work in September is to start a new brokerage account.
Based on the stock market's historical rate of return, a $1,000 addition to your IRA or 401(k) made at age 30 could grow into an additional $28,000 of retirement savings by the time you reach age 65. And the math works out nicely at other ages as well. So, if you're sitting on some extra cash and want to give yourself a bit more financial security later in life, increasing your retirement contributions could be a smart way to go.
If you have children (or nieces, nephews, grandchildren, etc.) it could be a smart idea to contribute to a 529 Savings Plan to invest and save for college expenses, or to open a new account if you haven't done so yet. 529 plans are run by each individual state, and depending on where you live, you might be able to get some nice state tax benefits for contributing.
If you have credit card debt, or other forms of high-interest debt, using your extra cash to pay it down can give you the best return on investment available anywhere. Think of it this way – if you have credit card debt at 18% interest and an investment account that generates 8%-10% annualized returns, you're actually setting yourself up to lose money over time. And if you can't pay it off, it could be worth considering a balance transfer to a card with a 0% intro APR.
It's important to emphasize that I'm not saying you should do any of these things with your money. Obviously, things like saving for college expenses don't apply to everyone reading this, and other options, like CDs, aren't right for many people either. The takeaway here is that there are quite a few options when it comes to putting your cash to work, but the best choice(s) are dependent on which makes the most sense for your personal situation.
If you're using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our expert loves this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR until nearly 2024, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.
In fact, this card is so good that our expert even uses it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
Read our free review
Matt is a Certified Financial Planner® and investment advisor based in Columbia, South Carolina. He writes personal finance and investment advice, and in 2017 he received the SABEW Best in Business Award.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
Related Articles
Best Budget Apps
Best Cash Back Apps
The Ascent’s Definitive Credit Score Guide
Best Debt Payoff Apps
Best Budget Apps
Best Cash Back Apps
The Ascent's Definitive Credit Score Guide
Best Debt Payoff Apps
The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters.
Copyright © 2018 – 2022 The Ascent. All rights reserved.
About Author
