If You Are 30 – Without Any Investment, This is What You’re Doing Wrong!

The other day I was talking to my wife about investing in stocks & bonds for our new investment portfolio.

My angle to this conversation was more of, let’s consider other options in diversifying our wealth — than it was let’s invest more money where we already have some.

Then somewhere in between she just lost interest in this conversation and said, “Let’s just invest everything in bonds.”

I’m not sure if she was listening to herself but I promise: –

I’ll try to explain why she could be more wrong than right in our next post.

Today though, it’s my nose into your business.

You promised your mum you’d have some investment by 30.

30 is here, what do you have?

Nothing?

I’ll help you figure out why so far you have nothing.

1. You don’t Track Your Spending.

Did you know that: –

My best job earned me KES. 150,000 monthly.

My worst-paying job on the other hand earned me Ksh. 35,000 per month.

Not so much money — but logic means saving a coin for a rainy day.

And you would imagine that Kenn Omollo here – yours truly – the investment advisor saved or invested so much in the hay days.

Well, you can’t be more right! I did not save a cent. Neither did I invest any.

And it’s not because I had so much responsibility or lived beyond my means.

Just for the record,

I’m still under 30

I paid the rent of Ksh. 3,000 for the longest time.

Never visited any BBQ joint – because I am a vegetarian

Never spent a night in a club, pub, or those fancy joints that millennials go to – because I don’t drink

Didn’t dish any brown notes to girls – because I’m married. Confirm with Mr. Green Here. Mr. Green am I not married? –

Which begs the question, where did my money go?

80K plus in a month? Not a coin to account for?

My honest answer?

I don’t know!

And here’s the thing about not tracking every coin of your spending, you can hit the magic number – 30 without a coin to boast of.

Here’s How You Can Track Your Purchases to Change That Bad Money Habit Though

• Record your everyday purchases in a notebook, a computer spreadsheet, or anywhere…
• Download personal finance management apps from Play Store to help you keep track of every purchase you make
• Be open to your partner about your finances – let them be your watchdog. You’ll be surprised how much you can save/invest if you are made accountable for every coin you spend.

What to Invest in With Your Salvaged Income 

You can invest whatever you salvage from tracking your expenses in equities or bonds. Or stocks – if you are cut for risks. And options if you need freedom with your income.

Each of these investment plans ensures that your money works for you. And in some, your capital is also protected. 

The best part?

You can invest as little as Ksh. 100.

Genuine Investment Companies to Keep an Eye on in Kenya 

To trade in stocks in the Nairobi Securities Exchange – Download the Abacus App – Other investment options available include bonds & bills(comes highly recommended) and unit trust. Minimum investment Ksh. 200

Invest in Money Market funds. Zimele money market fund/savings plan minimum investment is Ksh. 100. And you can withdraw your profits through Mpesa.

Tip – Money market funds and bonds are a good investment scheme because they protect your capital and gain you interest over time. Minimum 6 months 

2. If You Have Not Invested by 30 Then Chances Are You Hang Around The Wrong People

You don’t believe me?

OK. Be honest with yourself.

How much are you worth?

How much are your closest friends worth?

Aren’t the figures the same?

And if the figures are close to nothing, then chances are, you hang around with poor people.

And what good’s going to come from your frequent social meetings if the best business ideas you all talk about is how to start a movie shop. How to start a smokie joint. Or how to start selling mitumba clothes in Githurai?

My point?

To become a millionaire you have to be friends with Millionaires.

To become a serious investor you have to think like serious investors.

Walk with them.

Talk to them.

Know what makes them different and successful.

And if you aren’t going to find so many Millionaires in your neighborhood, visit their hangout spots.

In Kenya you’ll find the most rich people/investors in Nyanza Club (Kisumu), Kakamega Golf Club, Royal Nairobi Golf Club, and Rotaract Clubs… name the clubs.

Let them notice you.

Be friends with them.

Because sometimes a meal or two with a rich man is all you need to get a super helpful investment idea.

My point? Growing your network will help you grow your net worth. 

3. If You Don’t Have an Investment at 30, You Probably Don’t Like Reading

If not lack of capital, the only other reason why you would not invest at a tender age is if you hate reading.

And how is reading even related to growing your money?

Reading is important because it gives you details about the investment you are interested in.

You don’t believe that?

Show me a self-made millionaire who does not read and I’ll tell you why he is lying about his sources of wealth.

Most rich people read to broaden their knowledge.

To learn more about what they have invested in. And to get details of what they want to invest in.

Strive Masiyiwa in one of his Facebook posts says, “If you want to be successful, you’ll need many specialized business skills, but probably the most important one will surprise you: it’s the capacity to READ! Yes, READ!”

And I believe his theory because he is a billionaire anyway and he reads.

#Challenge

Could not reading be the reason you don’t have any sort of investment at hand? Try reading and investing and tell me if your money doesn’t grow overnight.

4. You Fear Losing Your Capital to a New Business Venture.

A quick one,

How much money do you have now?

Money that you would like to invest but keep holding on to it because you are afraid of losing everything in the long run.

Here’s the truth!

A day will go by.

Weeks will pass.

A season will end.

A year will be gone.

And if you are still afraid of letting go, you will not invest.

Here’s another fact.

The longer you hold on to this money, the higher your chances of spending it in an emergency or just for leisure.

Then more weeks will pass,

Months. Years. Decades.

And you will still be poor when in fact, you could have invested this money in risk-free investments guaranteeing the safety of your capital and still earning you compound interests.

Tagged With : Investing in bonds • Investing in equities • Investing in Kenya • Money market fund • Unit trust • Young Investors