s of the income you earn you should think about the use of a high interest savings account to safely store your extra funds and make your money grow. It’s a fact that many people leave their excess money in their main bank account that does not earn interest. Storing money in a non-interest earning account is a wasted opportunity and you can multiply you money over time through the use of a high interest savings product.

A high interest savings account generally yields an interest rate greater than 2.5%. Most of the high interest products offering the most competitive interest rates and online savings accounts such as HSBC and ING Direct.

Why Interest Matters

Larger capital growth occurs with a high interest savings account because you will receive interest on the principle amount of money that you put away into a savings account. The principle, combined with the interest that you earn on that principle, continues to build on itself - with little-to-no maintenance on your part.

For example, if you put away $10,000 into a high interest savings account, such as an online savings account, with an annual interest rate of 4.0%, you will have accrued $400 by the end of the year without having to lift a finger. By the end of the second year, you will have earned more than $800 - just for keeping your money in the high interest account.

The passive income that you receive from your high interest account can help you achieve financial security and build your nest egg … without the need for you to take up another job or working all the overtime you can get.

Rate of Inflation While earning passive income from your savings seems like a strategic way to, basically, earn money for doing nothing, keep in mind that there is a national rate of inflation, which is usually about 3% per year.

The rate of inflation is based upon the average increase in prices which therefore causes the real value of the dollar to fall. Therefore, if your money is tied into a high interest account that returns 4% interest a year, you have to subtract this rate of inflation in order to understand exactly how much your money is actually growing.

Types of High Interest Accounts

There are two popular types of high interest accounts that you may want to consider: money market accounts and CDs.

A money market account is directly linked to the Stock Market and is not guaranteed. As the market falls, so can your interest rate. However, because it is tied to the Stock Market, you can also lose your principle when you invest it into a money market. PayPal provides one of the most competitive money market accounts currently available online. A certificate of deposit (or CD for short) is a very stable high interest account with a fixed term and return. It is often available through online savings banks such as ING. When you put your money into a CDD you have to decide an initial period of time for the investment such as twelve months. During the agreed period your funds will grow according to the interest rate agreed. However, there may be penalties if you wish to remove your money before the period of time has expired.

There are a number of new online banks entering the market with names that may not be familiar to you so be sure to check out the company before handing over any money. One of the easiest methods is to do a search on the Better Business Bureau website and look for any claims filed against the company. Once you’re comfortable with your selection of accounts, start putting that money away to watch it grow!



Thanks to Richard Greenwood for contributing this article to our Bonds blog:

Us Savings Bond Interest

Can you answer Ambernc1’s question about Bonds?:

We are looking to transfer the money in our savings account to a high yield savings account or even possibly a CD. The bank I am currently with only offers a 0.2% return on savings and a 1.2% return on a 3 month CD. Does anyone know of a bank in the US (Arizona) that has a higher interest rate? I was looking for around 3%.

Tax Free Municipal Bonds

Can you answer Mikey C’s question about Bonds?:

Since it’s so hard trying to get a good interest rate as a young adult with no credit, I was wondering if you can sell short Treasury Bonds which can have easier interest rates.

Municipal Bond Interest Rates

From the first flutter we feel inside to the first time we hold our children in our arms, we realize that we are responsible for a life other than our own. We want to make the best decisions we can and ensure that our child’s needs are provided for. But what if something happens to us? What would happen to them? While life insurance can provide some security that our children will be provided for, by starting a child’s savings account or purchase bonds in their name we can secure their financial future.

In the beginning, we will be the ones who will add money to our children’s accounts for the purpose of offsetting the increasing costs of college tuition or private education. Unlike college savings plans, a children savings account offer the flexibility of accessing money when your child needs it most; whether that is before they are of college-age or after. The money that has been invested in a children savings account will be available to the child immediately without penalty.

A number of financial institutions offer a children savings account, so search for the best rates possible with the fewest restrictions. Many banks have a children savings account that offers no minimum age, but require that an adult take trust of the money until the child reaches a certain age, usually 18 years of age.

Bonds are another option for brightening your child’s financial future. Because bonds hold the initial monetary investment for a set amount of time before they mature, they may have a higher interest rate than the more flexible children savings account. However, in order for bond purchasing to be beneficial you have to be prepared to wait for the bonds to mature over a period of time, usually a minimum of three years and in most cases, much longer.

By opening a children savings account or purchasing bonds, we create a cash flow cushion available when our children may need it as well as the peace of mind of knowing that the small investments we make over time will give to our children in more ways than we imagined.

Whenever you are doing a research on one subject, try to get to the essence of what you are studying. It is true of mundane areas as well. As you search for information about savings accounts try and reach the best value, definitions and clarity. Read what we have on our site on savings accounts and if you need more material on this you can always go to the world wide web again to finish up on your studies. In this information age, there is a lot of options for increasing your knowledge base. Check the links below for more information on savings accounts and other related information.



Thanks to Charley Hwang for contributing this article to our Bonds blog:

Have you claimed your Genesis site?

Can you answer bendobendo’s question about Bonds?:

Hello Folks; How much is interest rate per year on US municipal bonds? I mean recently, in 2007, also could you please provide the source of information where I could ind out the answer. Many thanks in advance

Bonds Tips