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If saving money is hard for you these days, you aren't alone. The personal savings rate—a measure of the percentage of disposable income
Many obstacles can make it difficult for people to save money, especially in the current economic climate. Soaring inflation and high household debt (including credit card debt) are two common barriers to saving.
But even if you can't put away funds as aggressively as you wish, saving a smaller amount of money can have meaningful benefits.
On a positive note, you can be strategic about the money you save and potentially earn more interest in the process. The smartest ways to save money involve growing your cash reserves at a faster rate without putting your savings at risk. Here are three solid options to cons
High-Yield Savings Accounts
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Traditional savings accounts are a popular place to store cash. However, these types of deposit accounts aren't always the best places to earn interest on your savings. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the average annual percentage yield (APY) on a savings account was 0.42% as of July 17, 2023. Meanwhile, it's not uncommon to earn 4.00% or more with a high-yield savings account (HYSA).
The best high-yield savings accounts not only offer higher interest rates to customers, they often feature other benefits as well. You may be able to find a HYSA from a bank or credit union that charges no monthly fees and has no minimum balance requirements. Other financial institutions may offer new bank bonuses you can earn when you open a new HYSA
Featured High-Yield Savings Account
UFB Direct High Yield Savings Account
- Our Rating 5/5 How our ratings work
- APY5.25%
UFB Direct breaks balances into five tiers, but, currently, there is only one interest rate.
- Minimum
Deposit RequiredN/A - Intro Bonus N/A
The UFB High Yield Savings Account has one of the highest interest rates we’ve seen for a high-yield savings account at up to 5.25% APY. Plus, there are no monthly fees and no minimum balance to open.
Overview
With one of the strongest high-yield savings interest rates on the market, as well as no monthly fees or minimum opening deposit, UFB Direct’s High Yield Savings Account is an extremely attractive package.
Pros
- Strong interest rate
- No maintenance fees or minimum monthly balances
- Free complimentary ATM card
- Mobile app and SMS banking
Cons
- No signup bonus
- No associated checking account
Money Market Accounts
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Money market accounts are another type of deposit account with the potential to help your savings grow faster. The average APY on a money market account was 0.63% as of July 17, 2023, per the FDIC. Yet the best money market accounts feature interest rates well above this level—potentially 4.00% or higher.
On top of higher potential interest rates, the best online banks provide other valuable perks. No monthly maintenance fees (or the ability to avoid them), no minimum balance requirements and daily compounding interest are a few benefits you might want to look for if you're shopping for a new money market account.
Featured Money Market Account
Quontic Bank Money Market Account
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APY5.00%
- Minimum
Deposit Required$100
Quontic Bank's Money Market Account does a lot to keep things accessible to the average customer while maintaining one of the highest interest rates currently available. The $100 minimum opening deposit is on the low end for money market accounts, and you won't have to worry about monthly fees or overdraft charges.
Overview
Quontic Bank’s Money Market Account features a solid 5.00% APY for all balances, as well as no monthly fees and overdraft fees. The account also comes with other features, including bill pay, remote deposit, person-to-person transfers, check-writing privileges and even receipt tracking to help improve your money management.
Pros
- Strong APY
- No monthly fees
- No overdraft fees
- Low minimum opening balance
Cons
- Excess transaction fees for every transaction over six per statement cycle
Additionally, money market accounts are like a hybrid between a savings account and a checking account. As a result, you may be able to write checks and use debit cards for more convenient access to your funds when you need them. Depending on your wants and needs, these details could help you decide between a money market vs. a savings account if you can't decide which type of account to op
Explore the Best Money Market Accounts
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Certificates of Deposit
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Certificates of deposit, better known as CDs, often offer some of the highest returns on savings at many financial institutions. At present, some of the best CD rates feature APYs over 4.50%.
That said, CDs do come with a trade-off in exchange for generous interest rates. When you invest your savings in CDs, you agree to lock away your cash for a set period of time. It's not impossible to access your money early, but if you decide to do so before your CD reaches maturity, you could face expensive early withdrawal penalties that chip away at your returns.
Featured Certificate of Deposit
CIT Bank Term Certificates of Deposit
- Our Rating 3.5/5 How our ratings work
- Minimum
Deposit Required$1,000 - 1 Year APY0.30%
Annual Percentage Yield is accurate as of March 31, 2023. Interest rates for CIT Bank's term CDs are variable and subject to change at any time without notice
- 3 Year APY0.40%
Annual Percentage Yield is accurate as of March 31, 2023. Interest rates for CIT Bank's term CDs are variable and subject to change at any time without notice
- 6-Month APY5.00%
Annual Percentage Yield is accurate as of March 31, 2023. Interest rates for CIT Bank's term CDs are variable and subject to change at any time without notice
Many banks that offer CDs require customers to commit to lengthy terms of several years or more in order to earn the highest interest rates available. However, with CIT Bank's term CDs, the opposite is true. To get the best rates at CIT, you'll need to open one of its shorter-term CDs, such as its 6-month CD that pays 5.00% APY. If you want an easy way to save more money without having to wait years, CIT Bank's term CDs are a solid option.
Overview
If you’re looking for a dependable way to earn interest on your money in the short term, CIT Bank’s certificates of deposits may be an excellent choice for you. However, those looking to open a long-term CD may be better off looking elsewhere.
Pros
- Strong rates for 13- and 18-month terms
- FDIC insured
Cons
- Rates for longer terms unimpressive
It's also important to note that the amount of money you can earn on a CD may vary based on several factors. The financial institution you choose plays an important role in your financial returns. The type of CD you open also matters since each option below could have an impact on your earni
Risky Ways to Invest Your Savings
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The three options above represent low-risk ways to grow your cash reserves. Yet, it's understandable that you might want to seek higher returns as well.
In an effort to earn more, many people invest in stocks, bonds or mutual funds. Over the long term, a diversified investment portfolio in the stock market has provided historical annual returns of around 10% according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). That said, not every investor will experience average returns, and not every period in the market is average either. As a result, there's a measure of risk when you invest your money in the stock market.
Some investments, however, are considered high risk. Such opportunities have the potential to help you earn big returns if all goes well. But there's a higher chance you could lose money too—perhaps every dollar you invest.
Below are two common high-risk investments. Unless you have a high tolerance for unpredictability and potential loss of savings, you may want to steer clear of these riskier investment opportunities.
1. Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency enthusiasts believe digital currency, like Bitcoin and
Consider Bitcoin as an example. The price of the popular cryptocurrency increased to over $68,000 in November 2021. By the following November, Bitcoin had lost around 75% of its value and was worth less than $18,0
In addition to the frequent fluctuation in cryptocurrency value, the investment vehicle is largely unregulated compared with other types of securities. This lack of regulation leaves the door open for bad actors to take advantage of unsuspecting investors.
If you decide to invest in cryptocurrency, it's important to understand the risks involved.
2. Individual Stocks
As mentioned above, a diversified investment in the stock market has provided investors with historical annual returns that average around 10%. There's no guarantee you'll experience the same type of return in your investment portfolio (or even that you won't lose money). But the SEC does note that diversification can improve the chances you won't lose money if the market drops or at least reduce your losses compared to what you might have experienced if your investments weren't diversified.
On the other hand, putting your savings toward the purchase of individual stocks can be a lot more dangerous. There's a much higher chance you could lose a large amount of savings (or even all of the money you invest) in this scenario. Trying to predict which stocks will win and outperform others is a gamble, and you should only consider putting money that you wouldn't mind possibly losing toward this st
11 Ways to Invest $100 for Beginners (and Grow It to 6 Figures)
Bottom Line
Financial pressures are mounting for many American families and the majority of households found the past year to be economically difficult. One potential way to reduce this financial pressure is to find ways to grow your savings in 2023. Yet it's important to understand the risks and rewards involved with savings and investing strategies and to choose the options that make the most sense for you.
Whether you're working to build a recession-proof emergency fund or you're saving cash for something else, consider whether CDs, high-yield savings accounts or money market accounts could benefit you. Depending on your situation, a combination of these options might make more se
Michelle Lambright Black
Michelle Black is founder of CreditWriter.com and HerCreditMatters.com. Michelle is a leading credit card journalist with over a decade and a half of experience in the financial industry. She’s an expert on credit reporting, credit scoring, identity theft, budgeting, small business, and debt eradication. Michelle is also a certified credit expert witness and personal finance writer.
