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This year I have already increased my investments in several ways.
1) I have used my newly rolled over Roth IRA money to invest in a nice S&P 500 index fund with no load and very low fees. Sadly, so far my "increase" has been negative. But long-term, this should be good.
2) I have opened a new checking account at my credit union which has an account number that is not the same as my social security number. I have even memorized the new number. I am now less likely to suffer from identity theft. That's a good investment of my time. (I am also using every last one of my old checks before closing my old account, because I am sick that way.)
3) I've sent in the paperwork to change all four automatic deposits and withdrawals that involve my old checking account. (I still have to wait for these and my checks to go through before closing the old account, but that doesn't bother me.)
4) I have opened a new online savings account to earn more interest. I have an account with ING Direct, which I like, but they are getting cocky about their great service and no longer trying so hard to have super high rates. Cocky, snooty, superior, so sure we won't switch that I simply must. So I have opened an account with Emigrant Direct. My new APY was 4.55% compared to 4.10% with ING when I did this (now 4.3 vs. 3.65%), which gains me just over $1 per month with my current $3000, but it's the principle of the thing. If I miss ING Direct's service or they increase their relative rates again, I can come back. I've even linked my new checking account to them and will remove the link to my old account when I close it.
5) I have increased the automatic withdrawal to my old Roth IRA to take advantage of the new maximum.
6) I have found the paperwork for when I replaced my furnace and AC last January and filled in the numbers on the appropriate IRS forms so I can get a tax credit.
7) I have bought a "Hot Fuzz" DVD, season 2 of "My Name Is Earl," and a copy of The New Central Texas Gardener as investments in my future happiness.
Except for #7, these are all annoying little tasks that are easy to put off. I have finished putting them off and have actually done them and checked them off my list and that feels good.
1) I have used my newly rolled over Roth IRA money to invest in a nice S&P 500 index fund with no load and very low fees. Sadly, so far my "increase" has been negative. But long-term, this should be good.
2) I have opened a new checking account at my credit union which has an account number that is not the same as my social security number. I have even memorized the new number. I am now less likely to suffer from identity theft. That's a good investment of my time. (I am also using every last one of my old checks before closing my old account, because I am sick that way.)
3) I've sent in the paperwork to change all four automatic deposits and withdrawals that involve my old checking account. (I still have to wait for these and my checks to go through before closing the old account, but that doesn't bother me.)
4) I have opened a new online savings account to earn more interest. I have an account with ING Direct, which I like, but they are getting cocky about their great service and no longer trying so hard to have super high rates. Cocky, snooty, superior, so sure we won't switch that I simply must. So I have opened an account with Emigrant Direct. My new APY was 4.55% compared to 4.10% with ING when I did this (now 4.3 vs. 3.65%), which gains me just over $1 per month with my current $3000, but it's the principle of the thing. If I miss ING Direct's service or they increase their relative rates again, I can come back. I've even linked my new checking account to them and will remove the link to my old account when I close it.
5) I have increased the automatic withdrawal to my old Roth IRA to take advantage of the new maximum.
6) I have found the paperwork for when I replaced my furnace and AC last January and filled in the numbers on the appropriate IRS forms so I can get a tax credit.
7) I have bought a "Hot Fuzz" DVD, season 2 of "My Name Is Earl," and a copy of The New Central Texas Gardener as investments in my future happiness.
Except for #7, these are all annoying little tasks that are easy to put off. I have finished putting them off and have actually done them and checked them off my list and that feels good.