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Get invested

Baby boomers managed to invest in low housing prices, with real estate one of the best ways to create wealth. That’s no longer the case, with housing becoming unaffordable across the United States. But there are other ways that millennials can invest to boost their income.

Now of course I’m not suggesting you start trying to time the stock market, or try to pick the next “big thing.” Instead, looking into exchange-traded funds (ETF) that provides diverse exposure to global markets are a conservative place to invest. If they offer a dividend yield, even better. You can use that to reinvest in your portfolio as well.

And remember, it’s really not about timing the market, but time in the market. That’s where millennials certainly have an advantage over boomers.

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Meet with your advisor

Just because you don’t have wealth doesn’t mean you can’t seek out financial help. It doesn’t cost anything to meet with your banker, and that’s exactly what they’re there for. A financial adviser can help you make the most of your income. They can see where you can afford to invest, and where you can afford to cut.

An adviser will also likely help guide you through [making a budget](. And once you have a budget that works for your household, stick to it. By doing so, this is one of the fastest ways to create wealth.

Pay off debt

If you want to be wealthy, stop paying lenders so much to borrow money. Interest rates are rising, inflation is rising, and your credit card and student loans aren’t going anywhere. So create a strategy to pay down your debt as soon as possible.

Again, a financial adviser can certainly help you through this. However, there’s a simple strategy you can start right now. Make a list of all your debts: credit cards, student loans, mortgage, all of it. Then sort that list from highest interest rate to lowest.

Start putting aside the money dedicated from your budget towards your debts, paying off the highest interest rate first. Once that’s paid off, move on to the next.

Kiss your credit card debt goodbye

Millions of Americans are struggling to crawl out of debt in the face of record-high interest rates. A personal loan offers lower interest rates and fixed payments, making it a smart choice to consolidate high-interest credit card debt. It helps save money, simplifies payments, and accelerates debt payoff. Credible is a free online service that shows you the best lending options to pay off your credit card debt fast — and save a ton in interest.

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The bottom line

By investing in long-term growth, meeting with your financial adviser and paying down your debts, millennials can certainly start catching up to their parents.

And honestly, now is the time. We’re in a new world of higher interest rates and inflation, and potentially facing another recession. It’s an ideal time to look over your budget to see what can stay, and what can go.

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Amy Legate-Wolfe Freelance contributor

Amy Legate-Wolfe is an experienced personal finance writer and journalist. She has a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Toronto, a Freelance Writing Certificate in Journalism from the University of Toronto Schools, and a Master of Arts in Journalism from Western University. Amy has worked for Huffington Post, CTVNews.ca, CBC, Motley Fool Canada, and Financial Post. She is skilled at analyzing trends and creating content for digital and print platforms. In her free time, Amy enjoys reading and watching British dramas on BritBox. She is a mother and dog-mom to a Wheaten Terrier.

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