‘Things were way tougher’: Warren Buffett’s right-hand man had a blunt message for people worried about 'hardship' — here's how to stay invested no matter what the rest of 2024 has in store

Charlie Munger, Warren Buffet’s late right-hand man and long-time business partner who died in November of last year, suggested that we should be more content with our current situation.

“People are less happy about the state of affairs than they were when things were way tougher,” Munger recounted last year, referring to living through the immense hardship of the Great Depression.

Here are a few ways you — investing legend or not — can make the best of the current economic situation and safeguard your financial future.

Invest extra cash outside the stock market

You don’t need to be investing exactly like Munger to be investing well. Nor do you need to hold off on investing amidst economic stress.

Alternative investments have traditionally been exclusive to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, but new platforms are making it easier and cheaper to buy in. That means you no longer need to limit yourself to the stock market in order to grow your portfolio value or find that much needed stabilizer.

If you’re looking for a new investment opportunity that can hedge the violent swings of the markets, you’ve got several options.

Real estate has demonstrated its resilience during tough economic times, particularly necessity-based properties.

First National Realty Partners lets accredited investors own a share of institutional-quality properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, CVS, Kroger and Walmart. You’ll get the potential for a stable cash flow and the firm handles the work for you.

Another visible option for profiting off the real estate market is through buying shares of rental and vacation properties.

Arrived let's you do just that. Backed by world class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived makes it easy to fit rental properties into your investment portfolio regardless of your current income bracket by offering a low minimum investment.

Get started by browsing a curated selection of homes, vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Then all you have to do is sign on the dotted line and begin receiving quarterly deposits.

Don't underestimate the power of pocket change

Building small, positive financial habits can have a huge impact in the long run.

With Acorns — an investing and savings tool — you can save for the future with expert-built portfolios based on your financial needs and goals. And because they offer automated investing, it’s a hands-free approach that lets you take part without overthinking your stock picks or lagging behind on your investment goals.

Signing up for Acorns takes less than five minutes, and if you start now, you'll get a $20 bonus investment.

Once you’ve signed up and linked your credit and/or debit cards, all you have to do is spend as you normally would and Acorns will round up your everyday purchases to the nearest dollar and put that change into a smart investment portfolio to grow.