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Take advantage of these different but important accounts.
Key points
- It’s important to make the most of the money you don’t need for bills and expenses.
- Here are some accounts to consider for 2023, each of which serves a distinct purpose.
Many consumers struggled to keep up with bills in 2022, and as such, had little money left over month after month. But the hope is that things will be different in 2023, and that you’ll have money at your disposal beyond what you need to cover your bills. At that point, you’ll want to find the right home for your money. And here are three accounts worth considering.
1. A savings account
The events of the past few years have taught us the hard way that having savings is important. In 2020, many people lost their jobs when the COVID-19 outbreak erupted. And in 2021 and 2022, many consumers had a hard time coping with higher living costs fueled by inflation, especially once government aid ran out.
That’s why it’s so important to have a solid emergency fund — money to cover things like periods of unemployment or unplanned bills. And the best place for your emergency cash reserves is none other than a savings account, where your principal deposits are nice and protected.
How much emergency savings should you aim for? The old convention was to save enough cash to cover three to six months’ worth of bills. In the wake of the pandemic, some experts are now calling for eight to 12 months’ worth of expenses in the bank. Think about the threshold that gives you peace of mind and aim to fill your savings account with enough cash to meet it.
2. An IRA
Ideally, you’ll have some money at your disposal this year beyond what you need for emergencies. At that point, it’s a good idea to invest that money for the future. And if you want to reap some tax benefits along the way, then putting money into an IRA, or individual retirement account, is a good idea.
When you fund a traditional IRA, your contributions go in tax-free. So if, for example, you put $3,000 into a traditional IRA this year, that’s $3,000 of earnings you won’t pay taxes on. Plus, once your money is in your IRA, you’ll have the option to invest it as you see fit. You can choose to invest in individual stocks, or invest …….