| How to Invest Posted: 21 Jun 2018 05:00 PM PDT If you have even a little money saved up, investing it can help it grow. In fact, if you invest effectively enough, you could eventually live off the earnings and interest from your investments. Start with safer investments, such as bonds, mutual funds, and retirement accounts, while you're still learning the market. When you've built up enough money, you can move on to riskier investments, such as real estate or commodities, that have higher potential returns. EditStarting with Safe Investments - Open a money market account. Money market accounts are savings accounts that typically require a higher minimum balance, but pay a much higher interest rate. Often, this rate is in line with the current market interest rates.[1]
- Your money is typically fairly accessible, although the bank may place limits on how much you can withdraw and how often. A money market account shouldn't be used for your emergency fund.
- If you have an existing relationship with a bank, that may be a good place to open a money market account. However, you might also want to shop around for the best interest rate and minimum deposit requirements that meet your needs and your budget.
- Many credit card companies, such as Capital One and Discover, also offer money market accounts that you can start online.
- Hedge your investments with a certificate of deposit (CD) account. A CD holds a set amount of your money for a set period of time. During that period of time, you can't access your money. At the end of the time period, you get your money back plus interest.[2]
- CDs are considered one of the safest options for saving and investing. The longer the term of the CD, the higher the interest rate typically will be.
- All FDIC-insured banks offer CDs with different terms and minimum deposits, so you can easily find one that suits your needs.
- Some online banks, such as Ally, offer CDs with no minimum deposit requirement.[3]
- When you open a CD account, read your disclosure statement carefully. Make sure you understand the interest rate, whether it is fixed or variable, and when the bank pays interest. Check the maturity date, and evaluate any penalties for early withdrawal.
- Pick stocks in companies and sectors you understand. As a beginning investor, you don't need a broker to start investing in the stock market. You can use a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) or direct stock purchase plan (DSPP) to bypass broker fees and commissions and purchase stock directly from the company.[4]
- As a beginner, you can start investing small amounts, even as little as $20 or $30 a month, using these direct plans. There is a list of companies that offer direct investing with no fees at https://www.directinvesting.com/search/no_fees_list.cfm.
- If you buy into companies that you already know and understand, your research will be fairly easy. You can recognize when the company is doing well, and you can tell what trends are going to work in the company's favor.
- Diversify your portfolio with a mutual fund. Mutual funds are a collection of stocks, bonds, or commodities that are bundled together and managed by a registered investment advisor. Because of their inherent diversification, they have a low risk and are appropriate for long-term investment.[5]
- In some cases, you may be able to buy shares directly from the fund. However, typically you'll go through a broker or financial advisor to buy shares in a mutual fund.
- Mutual funds are a relatively inexpensive way to diversify your portfolio when you're just starting out. You can get mutual fund shares far more cheaply than what you would pay for a piece of all the assets in the fund.
- Open a retirement account. Retirement accounts allow you a tax-free way to save for retirement. The most common options are the 401(k) and the IRA. A 401(k) is set up through your employer, while you open an IRA individually.[6]
- Many employers match your contributions to your 401(k), up to a certain amount. Aim to always contribute at least as much to your 401(k) as your employer will match, so you don't miss out on that free money.
- With a traditional IRA, you can contribute up to $5,500 yearly tax-free. You'll pay taxes when you withdraw money during retirement. You also have the option of a Roth IRA, which is not tax-free at the time you contribute. However, retirement withdrawals from a Roth IRA are tax free.
- All IRAs generate compound interest, which means the interest your money earns is re-invested into your account, generating still more interest. For example, if you make a one-time contribution of $5,000 to a Roth IRA when you are 20 years old, your account will be worth $160,000 when you retire at age 65 (assuming an 8 percent return) without you having to lift a finger.
- Buy bonds to generate steady income. Bonds are fixed rate securities. Essentially, a company or government borrows the face value of the bond and agrees to pay that money back with interest. This produces income for you regardless of what happens in the market.[7]
- For example, suppose Bella Bakery issues a 5-year bond worth $10,000 with a coupon (interest) rate of 3 percent. Ivan Investor buys the bond, giving his $10,000 to Bella Bakery. Every 6 months, Bella Bakery pays Ivan 3 percent of $10,000, or $300, for the privilege of using his money. After 5 years and 10 payments of $300, Ivan gets his $10,000 back.
- The face value of most bonds is at least $1,000, so you typically won't be able to move into the bond market until you have a little more money to invest.
- Use gold or silver to hedge against inflation. Investing in precious metals provides permanence and stability for your portfolio. Since gold and silver tend to move in the opposite direction of the market, they can work as a hedge for your other investments.[8]
- Gold and silver prices tend to rise during times of uncertainty. Geopolitical events and instability play a role in this. At the same time, the stock market doesn't react well to uncertainty and instability, and may plummet.
- Precious metals aren't subject to tax, and can be stored and traded fairly easily. However, be prepared to spend a bit on secure storage if you decide to start buying physical quantities of gold and silver.
EditTaking Greater Risks - Dive into real estate for longer-term investing. Your real estate investment can be active or passive. Active investment, such as trading properties or flipping houses, is more risky because property isn't particularly liquid. If you need to get rid of it, you may not be able to find a buyer.[9]
- Passive investment is less risky, and may be a good place to start real estate investment. A popular option is to buy shares in a real estate investment trust (REIT). Each share represents a diverse bundle of properties, kind of like a mutual fund for real property. You can purchase shares through a broker.
- Move into the currency market if you like a challenge. Forex, the international currency exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world. Currencies rise and fall in relation to each other, primarily based on the strength of each country's economy.[10]
- To successfully trade currency, you need a strong understanding of geopolitical trends and events. Be prepared to read a lot of international news every day so you can spot opportunities.
- It's usually smart to focus on one or two currencies so you can thoroughly research those countries' economies and keep up with the latest news.
- Trade options to limit your exposure. An option is a contract that gives you the right to buy or sell an asset at a certain price at a set point in the future. Since you don't have the obligation to buy or sell at that point, your potential losses are limited to the price you paid for the contract.[11]
- To trade options, open a brokerage account, either online or with a traditional broker. The brokerage firm will set limits on your trading ability, based on your experience investing and the amount of money you have in your account.
- Practice hedging to lower your risk. If you get into riskier investments, a solid hedging strategy will help protect your portfolio. The basic concept of hedging is to offset a possible loss in one security by simultaneously investing in another security that is likely to move in the opposite direction.[12]
- Most passive investors, who are simply investing for retirement or a long-term goal (such as money for their kids' college), have no use for hedging. However, if you're making aggressive or risky investment choices, hedging can provide a sort of insurance that lessens the impact of losses, particularly from short-term market fluctuations.
- A financial planner or advisor is essential if you start to move into more aggressive, shorter-term investment strategies. They will help design your hedging strategy and make sure the bulk of your portfolio is protected.
- Diversify your portfolio with commodities. Commodities can be used to hedge against risk, because they tend to behave differently than stock markets and currencies. However, they are risky because they respond to a variety of different factors, many of which are completely outside of human control.[13]
- There are hard commodities, including precious metals, and soft commodities, such as wheat, sugar, or coffee. You can invest in commodities in 3 different ways: physically buying the commodity itself, buying shares in a commodity company, or buying futures contracts.
- You can also invest in commodities more passively through investment funds. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) may have shares in commodity companies, or may track a commodity index.
EditSetting Yourself Up for Success - Build up an emergency fund. Set aside 3 to 6 months worth of living expenses so you're covered if disaster strikes. This money should be easily accessible, but separate from any of your investment accounts.[14]
- Keep your emergency fund in a savings account (that way it will earn at least a little interest) separate from your main checking account. Get a debit card specifically for your emergency fund so you can access the money quickly when you need it.
- Pay off high-interest debt. Any interest you earn from investing will typically be less than 10 percent. If you have credit cards or personal loans with an interest rate greater than that, you'll eat up all your investment earnings trying to get out of debt.[15]
- For example, suppose you have $4,000 to invest, but you also have $4,000 in credit card debt at 14 percent interest. Even if you realized a 12 percent return on your investments, you'll only make $480. Since your credit card company charged you $560 in interest during that time, you're still $80 in the hole, despite your smart investment strategies.
- Not all debt is created equal. You don't necessarily have to pay off your mortgage or your student loans before you start investing. These typically carry lower interest rates and can ultimately save you money if you deduct the interest on your taxes.
- Write down your investment goals. Your investment goals determine your investment strategy. If you don't know how much money you want to make, and how soon you're going to need it, you can't be sure you've chosen the right strategy.[16]
- You'll likely have short-, mid-, and long-term goals. Decide how much money you'll need for each, and how long you have to make that money.
- Defining your goals also helps you choose your investment vehicles. With some investment accounts, such as a 401k, you are penalized if you withdraw funds early. You wouldn't want to use that sort of account for a short-term goal because you wouldn't have easy access to the money.
- Consult a financial planner. You don't necessarily need a financial planner to invest. However, someone who knows market trends and studies investment strategy can be a good person to have on your team – especially if you're just starting out.[17]
- Even if you decide not to stay with a planner or advisor in the long term, they can still provide you with tools to get you started on the right path.
- Bring your list of goals and discuss them. A financial planner can provide you with options that will help you meet those goals as efficiently as possible.
- The standard investment advice is to "buy low and sell high." Ideally, you want to purchase an investment when the price is at its lowest and few others are buying. Then, you make money when the investment becomes more popular and increases in value.
- While you may have short-term goals, avoid looking at the stock market as a way to make a quick buck. Your overall focus should be on long-term investment rather than short-term gambles.
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| How to Set Up Face ID Posted: 21 Jun 2018 09:00 AM PDT On the iPhone X, the home button is gone, along with the Touch ID sensor, but it offers a new form of biometrics: Face ID. This facial recognition works by using an infrared camera and dot projector to sense all of the small details of one's face that cannot be replicated. In order to use Face ID, you have to set it up.[1] - Go to Settings > Face ID and Passcode.
- Create a passcode. You need a passcode to set up Face ID.
- It is recommended that you create a six-digit passcode or a password because it is more secure than a four-digit one.
- Tap "Set Up Face ID". Your iPhone will pull up a circular camera frame.
- Complete the circle by turning your face, making sure that you continue looking at the camera.
- If you do not want to have attention features, then tap the "Accessibility Options" button. Then you will be prompted to complete a semicircle.
- Repeat the facial recognition step a second time to finish setting up Face ID.
- Test out Face ID by locking your device and looking at your phone's camera. The more you use Face ID, the more it optimizes to recognize your face in all lighting conditions and all attire. However, if Face ID notices a major change (such as getting a haircut or sun tan, shaving a mustache or beard, or wearing glasses then removing glasses), then enter your passcode and reset Face ID.
- You can turn on or off attention features in Settings > General > Accessibility > Face ID.
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| How to Grow Orchids Outside Posted: 21 Jun 2018 01:00 AM PDT If you want to grow orchids outside, there are some fairly simple steps you'll need to take. You'll have to find out which orchids will grow in your region and climate. You'll also need to regulate shade and water to help the orchid grow. While the most common method is to grow orchids in pots, you can also grow them in the ground, in raised beds, or even on trees. EditSelecting Orchids - Choose a variety of orchid that thrives in your climate. Find a variety of orchid which can grow outdoors in your area. Call your local garden stores or search "orchids native to (your area)" in a search engine.
- In areas where summer nights get cooler than , consider growing cymbidiums.[1]
- If summer nights stay consistently above , try growing vandas or cattleyas.
- Buy an orchid from a plant store instead of planting orchid seeds. Plant stores (and many grocery and general stores) sell orchids year-round. Go to your favorite plant store and ask if they have the orchids that grow naturally in your area. Buy orchid plants as opposed to buying orchid seeds, as orchid seeds require sterile conditions and will take 2-5 years to bloom.[2]
- If they don't have the specific orchid you're looking for, ask them which orchids grow well in your area. They'll be able to point you toward an orchid that will thrive outside.
- Alternatively, you can buy orchids online.
- Wait until after the last frost to put your orchids outside. Orchids are tropical plants and don't do well in cold temperatures. Make sure that the average temperature is above before putting your orchids outside.[3]
- If you need to bring your orchids inside, place them in a north, south, or east facing window.
EditPlanting Orchids Outside - Expose potted orchids to sunlight gradually. Potted orchids should be allowed to acclimate to the sun. Start with 1-2 hours of morning and evening sun a day. Then, after a week, move your orchid into an area with 3-4 hours of morning and evening sun. After 1-2 more weeks, move the orchid into an area where it receives sun before 10 am and after 2 pm. After that point, you can plant the orchid outdoors.[4]
- Orchids don't like full intense sun, so find a spot outside that gets shade from around 10-2; you want to make sure your orchid is getting only morning and evening sun, when it's cooler.[5]
- Pot your orchids for convenience and mobility. Potting your orchid will allow you to move it to any location you like. Choose a pot with a drainage hole at the bottom, as the orchid's roots may rot if there's too much water in the pot. Gently remove the orchid from the pot it came in and place it into a pot that is the same size or slightly larger. The orchid should be secure enough in the pot that it doesn't wiggle. If necessary, fill in the extra space with a mixture of 2 parts fir bark or orchid bark mix to 1 part peat moss. [6]
- Do not place the pot in a secondary pot.
- Be sure to always clean out your pot thoroughly before planting the orchid.
- Grow terrestrial orchids for a beautiful addition to your garden. Replace the soil where you want to plant with a mixture of equal parts sand, sphagnum moss (sometimes called "orchid moss"), and gravel. Make sure your orchid has at least of the gravel mixture under it and around it. Dig a hole large enough for the orchid, plant it, then fill the empty space with the gravel mixture.[7]
- Terrestrial orchids of the Pleione, Sobralia, Calanthe, Phaius and Bletia genuses can be grown in a well-drained area with a lot of shade.
- Alternatively, you can make a raised bed to plant your orchids into.
- Try hanging your orchids on trees for a unique yard accent. Gently tie stem of the orchid to the tree with a cotton string (or any biodegradable string). Within 1 year, the string will deteriorate and the orchid will cling to the tree with its roots. This method is best if you live in an area with warm temperatures and frequent rainfall.[8]
- Use trees that admit some light down to the trunk, such as oaks, citrus, bottlebrush, and palms.
- In areas that get 6-8 hours of full sun a day, try growing a vanda orchid.
- In areas that don't get much full sun, grow oncidiums, phalaenopsis, and cattleyas.
EditMaintaining Outdoor Orchids - Water your orchid's roots in the morning every few days. Water the orchid at the root early in the day, avoiding the leaves. Place it under a kitchen sink and run the tap for 15 seconds, then place it somewhere it can drain and dry. Watering in the morning will ensure that your orchid will have more sunlight to help it grow. If you wait until night to water it, it will be moist all night, which can lead to mildewing.[9]
- Avoid over-watering by checking the soil's moisture with your finger. If the soil feels wet, wait 1 more day to water the orchid.
- Spray orchids with homemade pesticide every 3 weeks. Spray your orchid's leaves with a mixture of water, 2-3 drops of neem oil, and a drop of liquid dish detergent every 3 weeks to keep insects away.[10]
- Apply only enough of the mixture to cover the plant; the rest can be used on other garden plants if you'd like. Remake this mixture every time you spray for bugs, as opposed to keeping it; the ingredients will break down soon after mixing with water.
- Keep your potted orchids off the ground, so pests can't easily crawl into them.
- Remove weeds as soon as you notice them sprouting. Keep some large tweezers near your orchids so you can pull weeds out as soon as you see them. Weeds are any small plant, usually green, growing unwanted in the same area as your orchid.[11]
- Removing the bulb or root below the weed will give you the best chance at permanently wiping out the weed. Dig under where you found the green growth until the entire root or bulb comes out.
- Treat black rot or brown spot by cutting off the infected area. If your orchid develops brown, black, or translucent patches upon its skin, sterilize a pair of scissors or a knife by soaking them in rubbing alcohol for 15 minutes, then cutting off the infected area. Spray a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water on the cut area and throw the infected cutting away.[12]
- Cut the infected area away until there is only health tissue on the plant. Diseases can easily spread if they're left on the orchid.
- These diseases are spread by water. Prevent them by making sure your orchid is draining properly in loose soil, and consider moving the orchid to an area with more air circulation.
- Make sure that you sanitize your cutting tools after removing the infected plant material to avoid contaminating other plants.
- If an orchid doesn't grow naturally in your region, alter the environment of the orchid by regulating water and moving the orchid around to change light as necessary.
- If you live in hot and humid weather, like Florida and Southeast Asia, grow Vanda and Epidendrum orchids outside. For mild weather in the daytime and cool temperatures at night, such as in Southern California or coastal New Zealand and Australia, plant Cymbidium in your garden.
- Butterflies or bees could pollinate orchids placed outside. Pollination may cause the orchid to go to seed and stop flowering.
- Check your orchids, including the root balls, for pests before taking the orchids back inside.
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