How to Build Wealth in a Depressed Economy

The current economic environment has led many investors to become pessimistic about the United States' economy. Consumer confidence is low and unemployment is running high. But as Warren Buffett has often noted, economic recessions are when investors can find some of the absolute best opportunities.

Let’s take a look at a few ways to build wealth during the current downturn.

One of the easiest ways to lose your hard-earned dollars is by following the crowd. Fear is causing many investors to rush to the safety of Treasury bonds and gold. These assets do have some value, but they are not the best opportunities right now. The time to rush into gold was when no one was buying it at $300 or $400 per ounce. Gold now trades at nearly $1,400 an ounce. You never want to chase an investment when it is trading close to its all-time high valuation.

Investors looking for a nice return should turn their attention to the assets that investors are avoiding. Stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the financial sector have been underwater for years now. Many technology stocks are still trading at prices below their true value. The steel and industrial production sector contains some great values as well. These investments are long-term holds that could reap serious rewards for risk-taking investors.

Unemployment may be running high, but that shouldn’t deter you from starting your own company. A bad economy is the perfect impetus for starting an online business. There are needs for temporary agencies, consultants, and webpreneurs. All of these businesses require very little overhead and can be started from the comfort of your own home. Most just require paying a few bucks for a domain name to get started.

A part-time job can also add a little income. You can do freelance writing or design work for other companies and bring in an extra couple hundred dollars a month. You can start you own catering business or run errands for people in your neighborhood. If you love pets, then start a pet-sitting business. Your entrepreneurial venture could end up turning into a full-time job.

The real estate market looks like an absolute mess right now. Foreclosures are peaking and home prices continue to be depressed. Every market pundit is predicting more pain for the real estate sector. But while the market may be tough now, but there are signs that the sector may finally be reaching bottom.

Mortgage rates are the lowest that they have been in decades. This could help entice some homebuyers and real estate investors back into the market. Remember back in 2009 when everyone was so pessimistic about the stock market? The market reached its low early in 2009 and has bounced back nicely. Many investors missed the rebound waiting for another market drop.

The same thing could be setting up right now in the real estate market. Everyone is waiting for commercial and residential real estate to hit bottom. The truth is that no one can tell when a market is at its lowest point. Investors with the capital should consider getting in these markets now, as they are much cheaper than they were just a few years ago.

Remember that during a bad economy can be the best time to implement your wealth-building strategy. Just because the economy is in a downswing doesn’t mean that you cannot emerge from these difficult times in better financial shape than you entered them.

This is a guest post by Mark. Mark publishes his own financial blog at Buy Like Buffett. He is a registered investment advisor and has written financial columns for Baltimore and Washington D.C. area newspapers. Read more by Mark:

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How to Build Credit Without Credit Cards

With fall approaching and students going to or returning to college, you'll start to see more credit card marketers talk about how it's important that students start building credit early. When the average household credit card debt in August 2010 was nearly eight thousand dollars and the average student loan at over $28,000, students are facing enough debt as it is.

How do you build credit without credit cards? The first step is to be added as an authorized user on your parents credit card account. You can piggyback on their credit performance for a short time, thus establishing something in the near term. It's not as good as establishing your own line but it's better than nothing.

Next, open a bank account or credit union account. This won't have any impact on your credit score, this information isn't reported to bureaus, but it will start a relationship with that bank or credit union so that it will be easier for you to get a loan from that bank later on. They can see a history of responsible behavior, even if it's not reported to the bureaus.

Get an installment account, such as a car loan, mortgage, or personal loan. These, and revolving accounts such as credit cards, are reported regularly to the bureaus and can be used to build credit. If you have no history, you may need a co-signer, such as your parents, as a way to get a better rate.

That being said, building credit is easiest when you have a credit card. If you can use a credit card responsibly, by paying it off each month on-time, then you should open one. If you aren't sure if you can take on that responsibility, don't. A good credit score isn't some magical key into a financial nirvana, it's just a number.

Jim writes about personal finance at Bargaineering.com.

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