This article appeared originally on 10 October 2018 on Destiny.com
This week is National Money Smart Week and it brings with it the perfect opportunity to start changing the way we think about investing.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that investing is only for people with money, but the truth is there are a number of affordable investment solutions out there suited for every person’s pocket.
One innovative way is by investing in the Fedgroup’s investment app, Impact Farming, which allows consumers to invest directly in a physical farming asset in sustainable farming ventures. The money that you invest in a farming venture is then invested into the business to grow it and generate a return on your investment.
There are three assets available for you to invest in: a blueberry bush for an investment of R300, a beehive for an investment of R4 000 and R5 000 to invest in a solar panel.
Fedgroup CEO Grant Field says Impact Farming was born out of the need to make investing more affordable for consumers by cutting out the middle man and offering a product with low fees.
The fee for investing in an Impact Farming asset is 1%, with a return on investment of between 10%-15%.
“In the case of the solar panels, at the end of the 20-year period, they could take physical ownership of the panel should they not wish to take advantage of our buy-back offer. With our beehives, they own the hive and the bees. This completely closes the perceived separation between the ‘investment’ and the ‘impact’ being made,” says Field.
Another way to make your money work smarter is by opening a high-yield savings account. African Bank offers a good savings account in the form of its fixed deposit account where you can earn 8,78% interest per month over a period of a year and 10,5% on a savings account over a five-year period.
“When you invest, you need to be aware of the interest rate that you are offered and the return on investment being offered. As a rule, a return between 6%-10% is safe. If you’re being offered 3%, you’re being ripped off,” Field advises.
