Time is a blessing, but it remains a hearty conquest. The path to a more opportune future contains complex realities in the present. These days, as the world adapts to newfangled circumstances, making smart use of one’s time and money is a vital form of positive self-care for the future. Wasting either could prevent opportunities from coming to full fruition.

Fortunately, everyone can take action to become more financially savvy. Most importantly, you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re reading this, you’re already thinking like an investor: thinking widely about worth and value in an array of ways. Let’s take a closer look at smart investments and how to make your money work for you. Keep in mind that this advice is not always one-size-fits-all—everyone can find their own way to do just so.

Invest in Yourself: Skills, Development, and Education

Before thinking about the worth of your money, consider your own worth as a person. You are full of endless potential to create and cultivate throughout your life. How can you capitalize on this potential? How can you invest in yourself now to reap benefits in the future?

If you’re not sure right off the bat, take a deep breath. Relax. Think more deeply about a few goals or desires you may have. Attaining each of these goals will have its own steps—and that’s still entirely doable. Years may go by before you reach the results you want, but that’s just part of the plan.

Regardless of what success means to you, invest in your own personal or professional development. The time you spend on yourself has its own value beyond the monetary—it greatly affects your well-being.

Save for the Future by Living Within Your Means

Favored commodities come at a price. Now may not be the time to grow your lifestyle in leaps and bounds. That’s okay—you can be as content as ever where you are now and still identify specific areas for improvement for the future. By budgeting, you can spend less on what you don’t need and save toward something better in the long term. There’s still room for indulgence, too.

For example, a myriad of methods is available to upgrade your current car’s value without shelling out loads of moolah. You can gain a bit of desired comfort and convenience while still gaining a steadier financial footing. This will also create less stress if you have to deal with any unexpected expenses—because frankly, life happens.

Leverage It: Accounts, Plans, and Platforms

Classic investing happens in numerous ways: smart investments through high-yield accounts, retirement plans, investment platforms, the stock market, and real estate, just to name a few. How to make your money work for you is to leverage it. Reach out to someone with a successful financial history or to a trustworthy financial adviser who can give you tips and tricks to get started or keep on track. Most of all, never stop learning. Though complicated, the financial world is a necessity of life, and you can keep expanding your knowledge and resources to make it work for you.