The most common myths about money #1

Managing personal finances is still a challenge for many people today. Weak knowledge foundations from the education system contribute to beliefs about money that are not always true. Today we look at the 3 most common myths about money that people still believe today.

Myth No.1: Investing is always high risk

Many people are chasing the financial markets for a quick profit, so they buy so-called alternative investments in the form of bitcoins, gold, options, or decide to buy individual shares of companies. This type of investing, especially for an inexperienced investor, can be as profitable as buying a lottery ticket. 

If you want to manage the risk of your investments, instead of investing in risky assets that are highly likely to lose you money, look at investments in index funds, real estate funds or real estate crowdfunding. As well as the excitement of investing, these investments will bring you long-term financial success.

Myth 2: All types of debt are bad

If you have debts, paying them off as soon as possible is definitely a good idea. But that doesn't mean that every debt is necessarily bad. Of course, the worst types of debt include credit cards and loans from non-banking companieswhere the interest rate can climb up to 15 or 20% per year. Moreover, people use this money mostly to buy goods, cars, gifts or to pay off other debts, which does not bring them any closer to the desired life and financial independence.

However, unlike credit cards, there are also mortgages available, for example, which are classified as so-called "good long" . Good debts are those that help you move your life further in the direction you want. Therefore, we can also count money from loans used for education as good debt, but only if it has an interest rate lower than 8% per annum. Moreover, mortgage loans are pledged against real estate, which has a value in itself that can be monetised in case of an emergency to pay off the aforementioned mortgage loan.

Myth No.3: Owning property is better than renting

Although a mortgage is the best type of debt, it is not always worth investing directly in buying a property. For most people, buying a property is the biggest purchase they will make in their lifetime. However, it comes with a typically 30-year mortgage and other financial obligations that need to be met in order to keep the property going. 

Therefore, if you prefer to live in the city centre or in an expensive location, or if you are still undecided about where you want to settle down, renting a property is probably the most practical solution for you. In addition, buying a property will significantly reduce your monthly cash flow and you will have to deny yourself other pleasures in life such as travel, shopping for goods and services, or frequent visits to restaurants.

What myths about money have you believed for a long time? Let us know and you can look forward to the second part of the Money Myths series, in which we'll explore more myths that may be keeping you from financial freedom.

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