Where is the best place to stash your cash? Under your mattress? In a cookie jar? Your checking account? Savings account? Certificate of Deposit? With so many choices, it's easy to throw up your hands and take the path of least resistance, but that can end up costing you money in lost interest.
It also doesn't help that lower interest rates are making it more difficult to find good rates of return on your money. Nevertheless, this isn't a time to abandon your emergency fund just because the rates are low. Your goal should be to maximize returns while maintaining the liquidity you need.
There are five common places that you can use to manage your short-term savings:
- Checking Accounts
- Savings Accounts
- Money Markets
- Certificates of Deposit
- Savings Bonds
Learn more about where you should keep your savings, and check out the primer on U.S. savings bonds to help you make the most of your savings.
By Jeremy Vohwinkle, About.com Guide to Financial Planning
