Author Topic: Best way to making interest and be liquid  (Read 5336 times)

VladTheImpaler

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Best way to making interest and be liquid
« on: April 24, 2016, 01:45:34 PM »
What's the best way to earn interest on your money and still keep your money liquid?

The reason:
I have a 0% APR credit card that jumps up to an astronomically high rate after 15 billing cycles and I am saving money every month with the intention of paying it off in one lump sum before the introductory APR expires.
I'd like to make money on the money I'm saving in the meantime...

What is the best option?
-Interest bearing savings or checking account
-Money market deposit account
-CD
-short term bond?

l2jperry

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2016, 02:25:49 PM »
I would probably say a high interest savings account probably in the realm of .75% to 1% with maybe a deposit bonus.

VladTheImpaler

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2016, 02:37:01 PM »
Darn, that's what I was afraid of.
With inflation about 3% annually, there doesn't seem to be any way to beat it.
I was hoping my fellow mustachians knew of a secret out there...

l2jperry

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2016, 04:11:25 PM »
There very likely could be someone on here with more knowledge than me :).

JZinCO

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2016, 04:13:49 PM »
3% interest at a couple credit unions if you're willing to make 12 transactions per mo ( capped at $10k)

batbatmanne

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2016, 07:24:44 AM »
Strictly speaking, stock equity can be liquid and have an expected growth higher than the rate of inflation. Standard ETF index funds meet your criteria. The hidden assumption here seems to be low volatility. You can't have it all I suppose.

I keep my emergency fund in the highest interest rate savings account that I can, because I need this fund to be highly liquid with no volatility. The downside is that even the highest interest rate is losing to expected inflation.

HipGnosis

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2016, 07:45:00 AM »
NetSpend pays 5% on up to $5K with just a couple transactions required.
There are threads on how to do it w/ referral code links.

But you might be better off 'investing' the money in stocking up on things that are on sale or will save you money down the road, like LED bulbs, a chest freezer, weather stripping and insulation.

Scandium

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2016, 09:42:32 AM »
I would probably say a high interest savings account probably in the realm of .75% to 1% with maybe a deposit bonus.

Darn, that's what I was afraid of.
With inflation about 3% annually, there doesn't seem to be any way to beat it.
I was hoping my fellow mustachians knew of a secret out there...
FWIW, Inflation hasn't been above 2% for a while.

Proud Foot

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2016, 12:19:36 PM »
Inflation will not have a big effect on your money over 15 billing periods.  Plus the balance on the card does not increase with inflation so you do not even need to consider inflation in the question you presented.

PeachFuzzInVA

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #9 on: April 29, 2016, 09:45:43 PM »
Doesn't really seem to be any way to win in a low interest rate environment. That's sort of the point; motivate you to spend your money on consumption today versus saving it for future consumption.

Elle 8

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #10 on: April 30, 2016, 07:41:26 AM »
I use NetSpend (5%, can be fee-free) and Mango (6%, $3/mo fee).  Both have prepaid cards and attached savings accounts.  The Mango requires $500 in direct deposits a month to get the 6%, so I direct deposit $125 per week and then do a payment to my credit card from that for $500 every 4 weeks.  I leave $5000 in the savings side of the accounts for maximum interest.  There are certain limits to be aware of with these cards so if you go this route, read the terms first.  For example, there may be a limit on the amount of each transfer, so if you need to pay off a credit card before the promotional rate expires, make sure you leave enough time to do that if you have to break it down over several transactions or months.

When making a credit card payment, initiate it through the credit card's site, and enter the ABA/Account Number for the prepaid card (which is not the number on the prepaid card; it will be on the paperwork you receive with the card) as if it's a regular checking account.  The amount of the payment will need to be on the prepaid card.

I've found these to be an easy way to earn more interest and I wish they would allow the high interest rate on more than $5000 per account.
« Last Edit: April 30, 2016, 07:53:12 AM by Elle 8 »

VladTheImpaler

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2016, 03:12:24 AM »
Thank you Elle 8 and everyone for the helpful tips!
I will have to check out Netspend and Mango.
Excellent points about inflation Scandium and Proudfoot, I had not considered that.

Maybe I'll go to Vegas and double my money! Kidding.

HAPPYINAZ

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #12 on: May 01, 2016, 07:00:03 AM »
I just posted a thread about a 7-month CD that is offering 7% interest....maybe that is a great option for you.

http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/7-return-on-7month-cd-for-up-to-7k/

dude

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #13 on: May 02, 2016, 05:25:21 AM »
FWIW, I've been getting 3.5% the past couple years from the Vanguard GNMA Fund. So long as interest rates remain stable (i.e., don't go up or down too quickly), I expect these returns to continue.

phwadsworth

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Re: Best way to making interest and be liquid
« Reply #14 on: May 02, 2016, 05:48:38 AM »
With inflation about 3% annually, there doesn't seem to be any way to beat it.
I was hoping my fellow mustachians knew of a secret out there...

I have a "secret".  Inflation isn't 3%.
Inflation has averaged 1.08% in 2016, 0.13% in 2015, 1.62% in 2014......it's averaged 1.6% over the past 6+ years.