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You’re sitting on $50,000 that you may have saved, earned from a bonus, or gotten from a windfall. When you have $50,000, making smart investment decisions helps maximize your potential returns.
There are many ways to invest or use this money, from investing in the stock market to alternative investments like P2P lending and art or investing in yourself.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the different ways to use $50,000 and help you decide which investment strategy might be right for you. Whether you’re looking to build long-term wealth, generate passive income, or pay off debt, many options can help you achieve your financial goals.
Let’s jump right in.
1. Take Care of the Basics: Open an Emergency Fund
An emergency fund is a savings account specifically dedicated to covering unforeseen costs, such as medical bills, car repairs, or job loss.
By setting aside money specifically for emergencies, you can avoid swiping your credit card and sinking into debt or taking out a loan to cover unexpected expenses.
Additionally, an emergency fund allows you to have immediately available money if you need it instead of having to sell off assets. For example, if you have to cover a $5,000 emergency and have the $5,000 readily available in your emergency fund, you can simply use the money from your savings account. Otherwise, you might have to sell off $5,000 worth of stock or another asset from an investment account.
When opening an emergency fund, consider the amount you need to save and the type of account you choose. Financial experts recommend saving at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency fund, although the exact amount you need may vary based on your personal circumstances.
You’ll also want to choose an account that offers easy access to your funds, such as a high-yield savings or money market account. These types of accounts typically offer higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts while allowing you to withdraw your money quickly in an emergency.
Use Clean Cut Finance’s emergency fund calculator to help determine how much you may need to save in your emergency fund.
2. Pay Off High-Interest Debt
If you have high-interest debt, such as credit card debt or personal loans, using your $50,000 to pay off this debt can be a smart way to save money in the long run. High-interest debt can quickly accumulate and become unmanageable, leading to financial stress and potentially damaging your credit score.
By using your $50,000 to pay off high-interest debt, you can reduce or eliminate how much you owe and potentially save thousands of dollars in interest payments.
Start by making a list of your outstanding debts and their interest rates, and prioritize paying off the debts with the highest interest rates first. This will help you save the most money in the long run.
If you have multiple high-interest debts, consider consolidating them into a single loan with a lower interest rate. This can simplify your debt payments and reduce your overall interest costs.
3. Invest in the Stock Market
Investing in the stock market is possibly one of the most popular and straightforward ways to put your $50,000 to work. The stock market offers potentially high returns over many years, but it’s not without risks.
One option to consider when investing in the stock market is to purchase individual stocks. This can be a time-consuming and risky strategy, as individual stocks can be volatile and subject to sudden price changes. With this in mind, one strategy is to buy stocks when the market is down, such that you get stocks when they’re effectively on sale. This will help you earn a greater return.
Another option for investing in the stock market is to buy exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs are similar to mutual funds but are traded on stock exchanges like individual stocks. As a result, they offer exposure to a diversified portfolio of stocks, which can help reduce your overall investment risk.
If you don’t want to pick individual stocks or are looking for a more hands-off approach, investing in ETFs may be more favorable to you.
You can use this investing calculator to see how your $50,000 might grow over time. In this example, put your initial investment as $50,000, the years for as long as you’d like to see it grow, and what ROI you expect to see each year on average.
The stock market grows at approximately 9-10% per year on average when extended over many decades.
4. Look Into Real Estate
Another option for investing your $50,000 is to invest in real estate. Real estate investing offers you the potential to increase your wealth and earn passive income gained through rental properties, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and crowdfunding platforms.
For example, you could use your $50,000 to put a down payment on a rental property.
Having rental properties can be a lucrative way to earn money if you can find properties that generate positive cash flow and appreciate in value over time.
However, owning rental properties also comes with risks, such as the potential for vacancy, property damage, and problematic tenants. Therefore, it’s important to carefully research and analyze potential properties before investing and to have a solid plan for managing your rental properties.
You can also consider hiring a property management company to manage your properties. This will reduce your annual rental income, as some will be paid to the company. Still, it could significantly reduce the time you put into managing your property and the tenant or tenants in it.
Another option for investing in real estate is to buy shares of a REIT. A REIT is a company that owns and manages income-producing real estate properties, such as apartments, office buildings, and shopping centers. By investing in a REIT, you can gain exposure to the real estate market without having to manage properties yourself. Additionally, many REITs offer attractive dividends that can provide a source of passive income.
A third option for investing in real estate is to use crowdfunding platforms. Crowdfunding real estate platforms allow individual investors to pool their money together to invest in real estate projects. These platforms typically offer investments in commercial or residential properties. Investors can choose which projects to invest in based on their own risk tolerance and investment goals. Crowdfunding real estate platforms can offer the potential for high returns and diversification, but they also come with risks, such as the potential for project delays or losses.
Here are five popular real estate crowdfunding platforms, rated by Investopedia.
- Best Overall: CrowdStreet
- Best for Institutional Commercial Real Estate: https://equitymultiple.com
- Best for Beginners: Fundrise
- Best for Investing in Loans: PeerStreet
- Best Property Research: RealtyMogul
5. Consider Alternative Investments Such as P2P Lending
In addition to traditional investment options like the stock market and real estate, alternative investments can offer unique advantages for investors. One such alternative investment is peer-to-peer (P2P) lending.
P2P lending involves lending money to individuals or businesses through online platforms. These platforms act as intermediaries between borrowers and lenders, facilitating loans and managing the associated risks. You can choose which borrowers to lend money to as a lender based on their credit scores, loan purpose, and other criteria. In return, you earn interest on your loans, potentially generating higher returns than traditional fixed-income investments like bonds.
One advantage of P2P lending is that it can diversify your investment portfolio. P2P loans are typically uncorrelated with the stock market and other traditional investments, which means that they can potentially provide stability during market downturns. Additionally, P2P lending can offer higher returns than traditional fixed-income investments, making it an attractive option for investors looking to generate income.
Be aware that the government does not guarantee P2P loans, and there is the potential for borrowers to default on their loans. Additionally, P2P lending platforms may charge fees and have liquidity restrictions, which can impact your ability to access your funds.
Here are six P2P lending companies rated by Money Under 30
- Best for those with high credit scores: Prosper
- Best for crypto-backed loans: BlockFi
- Best for young people: Upstart
- Best for a payday loan alternative: SoLo Funds
- Best for small businesses: FundingCircle
- Best for first-time borrowers: Kiva
6. Explore Buying Art
Another way to invest $50,000 is to invest in art, which offers the potential for earning money as the art appreciates.
One way to invest in art is through Masterworks.io. This platform allows individuals to invest in blue-chip artworks via crowdfunding. Masterworks.io purchases and securitizes artworks, allowing investors to purchase shares in these artworks and potentially generate returns based on the appreciation of their value over time.
Investing in art through Masterworks.io can offer several advantages. For one, it allows individuals to invest in blue-chip artworks that might otherwise be out of reach due to their high prices.
However, it’s essential to understand the risks associated with investing in art this way. Art investments can be volatile and unpredictable, and there is no guarantee that any given artwork will appreciate in value. Additionally, investing in art through crowdfunding can be illiquid, meaning it may be challenging to sell your shares quickly if you need to access your funds.
7. Invest in Bonds
Buying bonds with your $50,000 can offer stable income over many years. Bonds are a type of fixed-income investment that involves lending money to a corporation, government, or other entity in exchange for regular interest payments and the return of the principal investment at maturity.
One advantage of investing in bonds is that they can provide stable income that is less volatile than stock dividends.
When investing in bonds, carefully consider the creditworthiness of the issuer and the interest rate offered. Higher-risk bonds typically offer higher interest rates but also have a greater risk of default. Conversely, lower-risk bonds, such as government bonds, typically offer lower interest rates but are less likely to default.
Another factor to consider when investing in bonds is the duration or term of the bond. Short-term bonds typically offer lower yields but are less sensitive to changes in interest rates, while long-term bonds typically offer higher yields but are more sensitive to interest rate changes.
8. Open a CD
Opening a certificate of deposit (CD) is a safe way to use your $50,000 if you’re looking for a low-risk investment. CDs are a type of time deposit that involves depositing money with a bank or credit union for a fixed time in exchange for a guaranteed interest rate.
One advantage of CDs is that they offer guaranteed returns with minimal risk. In addition, CDs are typically insured by the FDIC or NCUA, meaning your money is protected by up to $250,000 if the bank or credit union fails.
Another advantage of CDs is that they offer flexibility in terms of duration and interest rates. You can typically choose a CD with a term ranging from a few months to several years, and you can often earn higher interest rates by choosing longer terms or higher deposit amounts.
On the downside, CDs typically offer lower interest rates than other investments, such as stocks or bonds. Additionally, if you need to access your funds before the CD matures, you may face penalties or restrictions on withdrawing your money.
Another drawback of investing in a CD is that you may earn less money than inflation, meaning the value of your dollar is actually decreasing.
9. Quite Possibly the Best Option: Invest in Yourself
Investing in yourself could possibly be the best use of your $50,000 as you’ll grow personally and professionally. This can lead to increased earnings potential and improved overall well-being.
One way to invest in yourself is to pursue further education or training. This could mean enrolling in a degree program, taking courses or workshops in a specific field, or obtaining certifications or licenses that enhance your professional qualifications.
Another way to invest in yourself is to focus on improving your health. This could mean hiring a personal trainer or nutritionist, taking up a new sport or fitness activity, or seeking out mental health services or counseling.
You could also invest in yourself by starting a new business or pursuing a side hustle. This could involve using your $50,000 as seed money to start a new venture or investing in tools, software, or equipment to help you grow your existing business.
Finally, you could invest in yourself by traveling or pursuing other interests or hobbies. This could mean taking a language course or cultural immersion program in a foreign country, exploring new cuisines or cultures, or learning a new skill or hobby that brings you joy.
Investing in yourself promotes your physical, mental, and spiritual health, which can all also lead to better financial health. When you combine the four of these improvements to your health, you have the potential to improve your life all around significantly.
Wrapping It Up
$50,000 is a significant amount of money to many, and making smart money moves with it can further grow your wealth and improve your well-being.
Dave is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®) and is passionate about spreading financial literacy. He founded Clean Cut Finance in 2021 and has been featured on websites like Yahoo! Finance, MoneyGeeks, and GoBankingRates. In his spare time, Dave enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, racing simulation, and reading.