The Basics: Investing

This is a more complicated topic. I'm not going to tell you what the "Hot Stocks" are, but I will tell you that you shouldn't try to beat the market. As college students, we are just trying survive, and maybe hope we get into a decent grad school. Here are some tips that I have found:

• Read, read, read, read! I cannot emphasize how much you should read about the content of investing. You don't have to dedicate yourself to buying a ton of books on investing. Use these helpful sources to inform you about Investing: Investopedia and Bankrate.
• Start now! You lose thousands of dollars each year you are not investing in your future. Though this is college time and there isn't a lot of money, but if you find a way to save $500 a year with a rate of return of 10%, by waiting 4 years you could lose $30,422. I used this calculator to help me figure this out.
  

Though I know maybe saving $500 a year might seem like a lot, but it can be easier to get the extra money if you just evaluate what you buy.

• Get your parents to help you invest if they have some knowledge. I asked my dad, and I was shocked to find that my dad actually had been investing for me for years. He used a mutual fund for me, which I think is a good start.