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How to Invest in Water

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how to invest in water

Water is a critical resource. Without it, life as we know it would perish. Along with being a crucial commodity, water can also be an excellent addition to your portfolio. If you are wondering why you should add it to your portfolio and how to invest in water, here’s what you need to know.

Why Water Belongs in Your Portfolio

While it may not seem like water is rare, as it covers about 71 percent of the Earth’s surface, the vast majority (coming in above 96 percent) of that is saltwater. That means, by comparison, very little of the planet’s water is drinkable without desalination, which is an expensive process on a large scale.

Plus, some of the freshwater, about 2 percent, isn’t readily available. Overall, only about 1 percent of the water is potentially ready for human consumption.

By investing in water, you can benefit from the potential scarcity. If water shortages occur, there is the possibility of significant gains. Otherwise, water isn’t likely to become less valuable, barring an unprecedented breakthrough. That means, as a worst-case scenario, water could give your portfolio a degree of stability, which may be ideal for more conservative investors.

How to Invest in Water

If you are trying to figure out how to invest in water, you have a few options. Each one has its own benefits and drawbacks. As a result, you should reflect on your needs, current portfolio mix, financial goals, and risk tolerance before you choose an approach. That way, you can align your investment with your preferences, ensuring you are making the right move for your financial future.

Here is a look at the potential opportunity to invest in water.

Utility Companies

Some water utility companies are listed, allowing you to invest in them directly. American Water Works Co. is one such example, showing up with ticker symbol AWK. Aqua America (WTR) is another such option.

When you use this approach, you are buying stock in a single company. If you already have a diversified portfolio, this could allow you to invest in water while still mitigating your risk. However, if you aren’t diversified, investing in individual companies is the riskier approach, as you are essentially putting a lot of your proverbial eggs in one basket.

As with any investment, you’ll want to research the utility before you move forward. That way, you can make sure you understand its current state, allowing you to determine if it is the right option for you.

Bottled Water Companies

The bottled water market has been growing. By investing in companies that sell bottled water, you can add water to your portfolio, though in a somewhat indirect manner. Additionally, most bottled water sellers also have other beverages under their company umbrella, which may create a form of diversification, at least from the product offering standpoint.

Three of the biggest bottled water producers are the Coca-Cola Company, Nestle Group, and PepsiCo. By investing in one of the larger companies, you are technically investing in water, too.

Water Filtration and Purification Companies

Another somewhat indirect approach is to invest in water filtration companies. Like bottled water, many water filtration brands are owned by larger organizations, most of which are listed. For example, Clorox Co owns Brita. The PUR brand belongs to Helen of Troy Limited, while Everpure is part of the Pentair PLC range of products.

On the purification side, DowDuPont Inc is a big player. Mainly, the company works on nanofiltration and reverse osmosis tech, both of which can make water safer to drink. Another option in this niche is Siemens, which could also be an investment opportunity worth considering.

Water Index Funds and ETFs

There are a variety of index funds and ETFs that focus on water-related stocks. Usually, the fund holds stocks in a group of companies, though some may feature as little as two. Some of the options in this category include:

  • Bloomberg World Water Index
  • Dow Jones US Water Index
  • First Trust Water ETF
  • Invesco Water Resources ETF
  • ISE-B&S Water Index
  • MSCI World Water Index
  • PowerShares Global Water Portfolio ETF
  • S&P 1500 Water Utilities Index
  • S&P Global Water Index

Even though index funds and ETFs come with a degree of diversification automatically, you still want to research the fund’s history. Not all of them are as successful as their counterparts, so it’s worth spending some time to explore its performance before you jump in and invest.

Water Mutual Funds

There are also mutual funds that focus on water. Again, these provide a degree of diversification automatically, though the amount of which varies from one fund to the next. Here are a few potential investment opportunities that fall in this category:

  • AllainzGI Global Water Fund Class A
  • Calvert Global Water Fund Class A
  • Pax Global Environment Markets Fund Institutional Class

Broad Index Funds, Mutual Funds, and ETFs

Some broader index funds, mutual funds, and ETFs also have water-related stocks among their holdings. The difference with these is that they also feature a mix of other companies, potentially across numerous sectors.

The benefit of this approach is a higher degree of automatic diversification. Essentially, you are investing in small pieces of a wide range of companies when you purchase these funds, a move that could reduce your overall level of risk.

However, this also makes choosing an option more complex. Some funds feature dozens of companies, and it can take time to research every stock to see if the fund is right for you.

Additionally, you’ll need to track down a broader index fund, mutual fund, or ETF with a connection to a water-related company. When it comes to bottled water, that may not be a challenge. However, for utilities and other water-related stocks, that could require a bit more time to research.

Making the Water Investment

Once you know which water investments you’d like to make, you’ll need to purchase the right stock, index fund, or ETF. Usually, you’ll do this through a brokerage just as you would with every other stock. Just look up the investment and proceed with the purchase per the usual process.

If you don’t have a brokerage, you may want to explore one of the many online options. Many of them are easy to use and come with companion smartphone apps, allowing you to manage your portfolio from essentially anywhere.

Have you ever invested in water or another critical resource? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

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Top 5 Investments According to RobinHood App

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Robinhood App

As 2019 drew to a close, Robinhood had over 10 million user accounts on its books. Many people flock to the app for its commission-free trades, allowing them to get involved in stock market investing without some of the costs. With so much activity flowing through the company, Robinhood can easily track which investments are popular. Here’s a look at the top five investments, based on Robinhood user popularity (as of May 21, 2020).

1. Ford

Analysts have Ford listed as a solid buy, causing the somewhat low-cost stock to trend upward. Over 848,000 users decided to take a risk on the auto manufacturer, adding Ford to their portfolio or simply holding onto the stock.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Ford danced mainly between the $8 and $12 marks. Considering its sitting below $6, that may make it look like a bargain to new investors who think the automaker will bounce back.

2. GE

GE has been through its share of COVID-19 ups and down, but that doesn’t mean investors aren’t willing to take a chance on the company. More than 766,000 Robinhood App users have the company in their portfolio.

Currently, GE stock is available at around $6.50. Plus, it’s rated as a strong buy, according to the Robinhood analyst ratings, which may be bolstering its appeal with those who are looking for potential bargains with bounce-back potential.

3. Disney

Disney took some major hits as the COVID-19 pandemic delayed movie releases and led to park closures. However, the company is well-positioned to recover, recently reopening its Shanghai park and making significant strides in Florida. Plus, it still owns valuable properties, including Marvel, and has had success with its streaming service, Disney+.

While a price around $118 might not seem like a bargain, Disney is listed as a strong buy on Robinhood. Plus, the company was significantly higher before the pandemic, coming in near $150. Apparently, at least 550,000 investors think the company has what it takes to weather the storm.

4. American Airlines

Airlines felt the pain when the coronavirus made travel incredibly unappealing, if not completely impossible in some areas. While American Airline’s stock took a tumble (sitting near $9.90), investors seem to have faith that the industry and airline will recover as the pandemic calms.

Plus, the price reduction could make the stock seem like a bargain, suggesting that the travel industry improves in a reasonable amount of time. Over 530,000 Robinhood App users have the company in their portfolio, and the analyst rating has the airline listed as a solid buy.

5. Delta Airlines

Like American Airlines, Delta Airlines saw its stock value tumble in response to the pandemic. Today, it’s considered a strong buy, with a stock price situated near the $23 mark. In total, nearly 519,000 Robinhood App investors agree, adding or keeping the company in their portfolio.

It’s possible investors and analysts believe that the price dip won’t be long-term, and there’s a reasonable chance, though no guarantee, that they will be right in the end. However, it’s mainly dependent on the recovery of the larger travel industry, and only time will tell if or when that will ultimately occur.

 

Have you invested in any of the stocks above? Do you think focusing on the top 5 is a smart move for new investors? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

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How to Make Money While Decluttering

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make money while decluttering

I love decluttering. I don’t actually know how I end up with so much extra stuff, but it seems to regularly creep up on me. I find it invigorating to clean it up, organize it, and get rid of what no longer serves me. In addition to improving my mental and physical space, sometimes I even make money while decluttering. It’s not usually the goal for me, but it’s a nice side benefit. And during times of financial strain, it can actually help a lot to make money while decluttering.

Benefits of Decluttering

There are so many benefits of decluttering. Personally, when I have a clear space, it clears my mind. This is true for many people. Sometimes when I can’t get a project done or focus on my work, I’ll take a few minutes to declutter the space. Afterwards, I feel better. Then I’m able to proceed with less mental clutter.

Additional benefits of decluttering include:

  • Gaining a clear picture of what you have in your space, so you don’t purchase extra items unnecessarily
  • Reducing costs of storage fees and/or more living space at home
  • Improved health due to less dust and other hygiene concerns
  • Better heating and cooling efficiency in the home because of improved air flow
  • Stress-reduction and lower rates of anxiety
  • Cleaning becomes easier since you have less stuff to work around
  • Easier to find what you need and enjoy the things you love the most

Of course, if you can also make money while decluttering then that’s another benefit.

Methods of Decluttering

There are many different approaches to decluttering. You might have to try a few different methods before you find the one that works best for you. That’s totally okay. The relationships we have with our stuff and our spaces are just that – relationships. Not all relationships work the same. Figure out what works for you.

Some of the most popular decluttering methods include:

  • Marie Kondo’s KonMari method, in which you strategically go room by room, keeping only what “sparks joy”
  • Swedish Death Cleaning, in which you clear out your home as if you were about to die and don’t want to leave your mess to others
  • Dana K. White’s Container Method, in which you see each room – and each smaller space within that room – as a container designed to hold one type of object
  • Do you love it? Need it? Use it regularly? If not, perhaps you should declutter it.

Find the approach that works for you so that you can have the level of clutter (or lack thereof) that feels right in your home without the decluttering process becoming a chore.

Tips for Decluttering With An Eye Towards Making Money

Regardless of which method of decluttering you choose to use, you can approach it with an eye towards making money in the process. Here are some key tips to keep in mind if you want to make money while you declutter:

  • As you declutter, organize the things that you don’t intend to keep. Place books with books, clothing with clothing, etc. This will make it easier to figure out what to sell where when the time comes.
  • Focus especially on finding high-ticket items that you can declutter. If you have two iPads, you may come up with reasons that you can use both. However, if you focus on the items in your house that are worth the most money then you might realize that you don’t need to keep the second one after all.
  • Set aside items that are seasonal. If you want to make money while decluttering, then you have to be smart about it. Certain items only sell in certain seasons. While it’s not worth it to keep low-value items until the “right” season, it can be smart with higher-ticket items.

5 Ways to Make Money While Decluttering

Some people choose to declutter their entire homes, collecting items for sale, and then sell the items all at the same time once the cleaning is complete. Other people choose to do a little bit of decluttering at a time, selling a few things here and there as they go. There is no right or wrong way.

Whatever you choose to do, here are some of the ways that you can sell the items you’re ready to let go of:

1. Locate Great Buyers for Specialty Items

If you have unique items that you’re ready to part with then it’s worth it to take the time to find the right buyer. These would be high-value or rare items. Items that might fall into this category include:

  • Vintage items
  • High-end furniture
  • Designer clothing
  • Art
  • Vehicles

In other words, if you have anything that is valuable because it is rare or collectible, you should sell it to the right people. The individuals or institutions that purchase such items will pay the most for the things that they desire. For example, if you ave a rare piece of art, you will want If you want to make money while decluttering, this is a great place to start.

2. List High-Ticket Items For Sale Online Individually

If you aren’t able to find specific buyers for things that have good value, then you can list them for sale online. You want to think about your time investment vs. the amount of money that you will make. For example, if you have 100 books for sale but each is worth only a few pennies, then it’s probably not worth your time to list every book individually.

However, if you have popular brand clothing in good condition, gadgets and electronics, and other items that are worth a little bit more then you can list them for sale individually. Some of the places online where you can list items for sale include:

  • eBay
  • Craigslist
  • Amazon (although the rules around this have been changing recently)
  • Facebook Marketplace

3. List “Lots” of Items for Sale Online

When you have a lot of little items to declutter, it usually makes sense to try to sell them as a lot. For example, list a “box of books” for sale on any of the sites highlighted above. There are also many places where you can sell groups of the same items.

For example, you can package up a box of clothing and send it to a site like ThredUp which will list everything for sale for you then pay you the it sells. Also think about “buy back” websites. For example, there are several websites that “buy back” used textbooks at the end of each semester. There are also cell phone and electronics “buy back” websites. Look at what you have, search online for a “buy back” option, and see what choices you have available to you.

4. Sell Items to Local Stores

You don’t have to sell groups of items (or individual items for that matter) online. You can also go local. For example, I used to take boxes of books to my local used bookstore. They would sort through them and buy what they wanted. I would typically just ask them to donate the rest. After all, if you’re decluttering, you don’t want to bring the extras back home. If you’ve ever sold clothing to Buffalo Exchange or Crossroads Trading Company, then you’re already familiar with how this works. You might also be able to place some valuable items for sale on consignment with local stores.

5. Have a Yard Sale

If you have a random assortment of stuff that you want to sell, a good old fashioned yard sale is still a terrific option. You won’t get rich having a yard sale. However, you will declutter things quickly. You will make a little bit of money in the process.

3 Ways to Save Money With Decluttered Items

Sometimes you can’t sell your items, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be profitable to you. You just have to get creative. Think of ways to save money as you get rid of the things that you don’t want anymore. Here are three options:

Do a Swap with Friends or Neighbors

Finally, if you have leftover items that you haven’t been able to sell, you might want to consider swapping with others. You won’t make money while decluttering this way, per se. However, if you can get rid of something you don’t want in exchange for something that you do then you’re getting a good deal.

Donate to Charity

Another way that you can declutter is to donate items to charity. Again, you won’t make money per se. However, you can deduct your charity donations on your taxes. Therefore, it can have some financial gain.

Gift the Items

If you have items that are in good condition, start thinking about who might love them. If you can “shop your storage” for gifts instead of buying items at a store then you effectively save money.

What decluttering trick do you know that would help others? Share it in the comments below!

Working From Home Is Here to Stay (Even After COVID)

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working from home

There have been millions of people put out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re not laid off, you’re probably working from home. While many remote workers are just happy to be able to continue their jobs, many of them are still looking forward to eventually returning to the office. However, that may never happen.

The Future of the Workplace

The global coronavirus pandemic will undoubtedly have a profound impact on multiple facets of life, including the workplace. And business certainly hasn’t been as productive since all of this started. According to CNN, 71% of employers are struggling to adjust to remote workplaces. Sixty-five percent of employers said maintaining employee morale during this time has been a difficulty as well.

So, how will all of this change the future of the office?

Well, unsurprisingly, many more people will be working from home. Around 64% of Americans are already working from home in some capacity as it is, but you will begin to see more businesses allowing employees to work from home more often. Once leases are up, some companies may choose to eliminate their office spaces altogether.

Those looking to maintain a physical workspace will likely have to make huge changes to the traditional office to keep a physical distance between coworkers. Many offices will get rid of shared workspace and return to closed-off offices and cubicles.  As quickly as the coworking space was born, it may be stripped away.

Tips for Working From Home

A key component to being a productive remote worker is being able to adapt to changes as they come. In the current environment, it is safe to say most people are able to adapt to change on some level. But, many employees and employers are having a difficult time adapting to this change. Once you start working from home full-time, you should employ some of these tips to help your workload stay on track.

  • Set a schedule for yourself. Having a set schedule will help you maintain productivity. Get up at the same time, get dressed, have breakfast. This will motivate you throughout the week.
  • Make sure you check-in. A daily check-in with a coworker is always a good idea, especially if you’re missing the camaraderie of the office. Set up a quick Google Chat or Skype check-in to see how things are going.
  • Use virtual tools. There is an endless number of tools to help remote workers. Do some research and see what will integrate well with your devices. Google Suite can do wonders with helping you stay organized.
  • Designate a workspace at home. Don’t just crawl out of bed and mosey to the couch. Consider setting yourself up in an office at home. If you don’t have office space, be sure you set up a space that feels like a workspace before getting started.
  • Turn off the distractions. Namely, your smartphone. When you were in an office, you could be seen messing around on your phone (or otherwise). While you’re at home, do everything you can to eliminate these distractions by turning on do not disturb or other notification silencers.

And if you need a few more, check this out…

One thing is for certain. All of this will pass with time. The job market in the United States is no stranger to crisis. Roll with the punches and keep pushing forward.

Readers, how are you handling working from home?

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Here Are 6 of the Best Roth IRA Calculators

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best roth ira calculators

Roth IRA calculators are excellent financial planning tools. They can help you estimate the value of your account and see how it can grow over time. Since knowing what your Roth IRA will be worth is critical for determining in you are on target for a comfortable retirement, having a great calculator available is important. With that in mind, here are six of the best Roth IRA calculators around and an overview of their purpose.

1. Bankrate

The Roth IRA calculator at Bankrate is a solid option for retirement planning. It can estimate the value of your account at the time you retire, using a range of factors to give a better picture. With this one, you can even examine your taxable savings by plugging in your marginal tax rate.

2. Nerdwallet

Nerdwallet also has a robust Roth IRA calculator. But unlike the Bankrate one, which simply asks you to fill in a group of fields, the Nerdwallet version walks you through the process. That makes it, comparatively, more user-friendly.

3. SoFi

Another IRA calculator that is incredibly simple to use is available through SoFi. Users answer a few basic questions and get an overview of the kinds of IRA they can use. It clearly shows the maximum allowed contribution based on the input data, which can be beneficial for retirement planning.

4. Voya

If you want to see if a traditional or Roth IRA is a better option for you, this Voya calculator can help you figure it out. After entering basic details, you can review your estimated account totals at retirement as well as an after-tax comparison. It’s a simple way to explore if one approach may suit you better than another.

5. Schwab

Another comparison calculator, the Schwab version actually has fields for both the user and their spouse. This can be helpful for married couples, as it allows both income sources and spouse ages to be factored into the equation.

6. Fidelity

If you are trying to figure out if you should convert a Roth IRA into a traditional, SEP, or Simple IRA, this calculator by Fidelity can help. After going over some simple questions, users can review an analysis that shows the tax implications of the decision. That can be incredibly important for retirement planning, giving users information that can help them avoid a net loss.

Are Roth IRA Calculators Accurate?

It’s important to understand that, while the calculations made will typically be accurate, Roth IRA calculators don’t guarantee results. Some of the data is based on assumptions, such as your anticipated rate of return or expected contributions overtime. No one can be 100 percent certain when it comes to those factors. It always involves a guess.

However, that doesn’t mean a Roth IRA calculator isn’t a great planning tool. It gives you some insight into how much you could have set aside for retirement, and that is helpful. It’s just important to remember that no one knows what the future holds. Your account may end up higher or lower in the end, depending on unforeseen factors.

If you want to make sure you can meet your goal, be conservative when performing the calculations. Assume a slightly lower rate of return, for example. That way, you incidentally create a buffer in your plan, increasing the odds that you’ll hit your target before you retire.

 

Do you know of another amazing Roth IRA Calculator? If so, tell us about it in the comments below.

 

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Money Tips: 8 Easy Ways To Earn Cash With Little Effort

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ways to make money
Guy looking at a laptop making a lot of money.

Whether you’re a part-time or full-time employee, it doesn’t hurt to make extra money. There are many ways to generate cash, and some of them require less time and effort, while others demand your full attention and commitment.

It’s possible to still earn some cash with little to no effort at all. Thanks to savvy shopping strategies, investment tools, and some apps, you can get cash fast without doing much. Some may take some time and effort, but they’ll set you up to earn passive income for the long term.

Here are eight easy ways to earn cash with little effort:

  1. Take Advantage Of Cashback Offerings On Credit Cards

Credit cards sometimes offer cashback to clients as a reward for making purchases. That means for every purchase you’ll make, your credit card company will give a small percentage of your money back.

Of course, the percentage will differ between categories and credit cards. For instance, one type of credit card offers 1.5% cashback on all purchases. Another might offer 1% of cashback on most of your purchases, but 4% on gas and travel purchases. You can use an app to help you figure out which specific credit card offers the best cashback for one particular category.

Keep in mind, though, that you usually need to reach a specific threshold of payment to enjoy some cashback. Also, cards will often allow users to redeem their cashback as “points” and use them to buy items directly from the website of the credit card company.

  1. Rent Your House

One of the best ways to make money easily is to rent your house through Airbnb platforms. This is mainly an ideal move if you have plans to go somewhere away from home for a lengthy period. By renting your home to renting companies, you’ll have the chance to earn about $20,000 annually, depending on the rental rates of your region. While it’s true that this one’s a quick way to make cash, it would be best to check with the local authorities first since it might be illegal to rent your house for a lengthy time in your area because of occupancy contracts. Nevertheless, it’s still an excellent idea to rent your home out instead of leaving it empty when you decide to be away for a while.

  1. Do Online Surveys

One method of making money today that’s gaining traction is filling out online surveys. The good thing about it is that you can do it in your spare time. Research companies are constantly recruiting new members from around the world to answer survey questions and test new products.

It only takes a few minutes to an hour to fill out survey forms and make a few bucks, which you’ll receive as cash or rewards. For some surveys, you can get up to five dollars each!

Some apps even pay you for only watching videos, surfing the web, and playing games.

  1. Invest In Index Funds

Index funds are essentially a type of mutual fund with a portfolio constructed to match or track the components of a financial market index.  A popular index fund is the S&P 500 which has grown by more than 2,000 percent over the last 40 years. Thus, one can conclude that it’s a relatively stable and safe fund to invest in. However, you likely won’t stand to gain or lose as much money as you would when investing in individual stocks.

  1. Sell Some Stuff Online

You can set up an account on OLX, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and other popular online selling platforms to earn extra money effortlessly. You can sell household items and clothes that you no longer need as secondhand goods. Selling some stuff online isn’t only going to help you turn old clothes into cash, but it also helps the environment by eliminating the chances of stuff being dumped into waste bins even if they can still be useful to others. Online selling is something that you can handle despite engaging in other, more demanding activities.

  1. Search The Web And Get Paid

Searching the web is something that you do almost every day, but what if you could earn extra cash from it? It’s safe to say that it’s one of the quickest ways to make money since it doesn’t require a change of behavior from you. Some websites will give you rewards for searching in Yahoo, Bing, Google, and other search engines. All you have to do is to install an add-on to your browser so that when you search, a few sponsored results will come out alongside your normal search.

  1. Refer People To Apps

Referral credit is something valuable and is as good as cash, primarily if you use an application often enough. Everlane, Spier & Mackay, Proper Cloth, Seamless, Lyft, and Uber are some of the companies that have apps offering credits to each person from your referrals who make use of the app to buy something.

  1. Act As A Referral Source For Some Local Businesses

Most local, small businesses like home improvement companies, electricians, and landscapers rely on word-of-mouth to spread the news about their products and services. That said, some of them don’t mind paying referral fees for individuals to help spread positive words about their businesses. So, when your plumber comes over to fix something in your home next time, ask if they offer referral bonuses. Take advantage of the fact that they did an excellent job and recommend them to someone you know.

Conclusion

As you have seen, there are various ways to earn cash with little effort. While this list isn’t exhaustive and there are still a lot of options out there that you can explore, the ones above are some of the best methods you can try. Pick one or two now and start making extra money, even in the comfort of your own home.

For more great savingadvice articles, read these:

Thirty eight ways to make extra money

One hundred ways to make an extra $100 this month

Ways to make up to $1,000 every month