Investment and Saving: What sets them Apart?



Although people generally confuses between saving and investment, they both are not same. Knowing the difference and what to choose between saving and investment can really help you to reach your financial objectives. While saving you put your finances into the safest place and product that allows you to assess your money anytime. On the other hand, if you invest then it has a greater chance of losing money. Unlike tax saving investments where your investment helps you to save income tax and support you with other benefits. To understand saving and investment in much crisp way we can describe it as “keeping aside a part of your income can be termed as saving and investment can be termed as putting the money in financial product to earn returns and grow your wealth”.

The other important factor that set apart saving and investment is, savings are usually used to meet the short term need. To meet the unexpected expenses and to become financially secured against any emergency situation people generally tend to save money. However, investment generally demand a longer period of six months or more. The investment plans are designed to provide returns and grow your money over a period of time. If an individualis planning to save money for a long term then one should go for tax saving investment plans. Here we have mentioned a tabular form of tax-saving investment plan to give you a brief knowledge about it.

Tax Saving Investment Plans

National Saving Certificate(NSC)

Investment period – 5-10 years

Minimum Investment- Rs100

Maximum Investment- No upper limits

Interest Rate-For 5 Year schemes 8.5% annually, for 10 years scheme 8.8% annually.

Senior citizen saving scheme(SCSS)

Entry Age- 60 years

Minimum investment- Rs1000

Maximum investment- Rs15lac

Maturity period- 5 years

Return rate- 9.3% per annum

Recurring Deposit(RD)

Minimum investment- For state bank Rs500, for post office Rs10

Maximum investment- No upper limits

Interest rate for Post office RD- 8.4%

Post office monthly income scheme(MIS)

Minimum investment- Rs15,000 per annum

Maximum investment- Rs4.5lac

Maturity period-5 years

Interest rate- 8.4%

KisanVikas Patra(KVP)

Minimum investment- Rs1000

Maximum investment- No upper limits

Tenure- 8 years 4months

Interest rate- 8.7%

Public Provident Fund(PPF)

Tenure- 3- 15 years

Interest Rate- 8.5%

Minimum investment- Rs500

Maximum investment- No upper limits

The risk and returns involved in saving and investment is the another difference between them. While saving don’t generate returns over years. Even if you keep the money in a saving account, it will provide a negligible rate of return. Whereas, money invested in different products like stock, mutual funds, gold etc. is subject to more risk but has the potential to grow over time. These type of investment can prove to be a good asset as it can give you higher returns in future. If an individual invest wisely then money can multiply, so that you can reap good profit over time.

If we talk about liquidity then your savings are proved to be more liquid asset as they can be assessed any time. However in case of investment it is different. It takes time for the money to reach your bank account after you decide to sell your investment. While one invest he/she expect to grow it in value with years. Since the value may fluctuate it is best to invest money that you probably won’t need in the near future.

Saving and investing are both crucial to ensure you reach your financial goal in short, medium, or long term. You can sell your investment whenever the market condition are favorable. While investing one should fix the goal, time horizon and risk factor involved in it. You can only get the most of your money only when you properly understand both the term saving and investment and how to use it. Balancing out both the saving and investment can help you to be financially sound and be prepared to face any emergency. Yet relying solely on investment can be risky and could leave you without easy asses to ample money at time of an emergency situation.

You can now check online about the different tax saving investments plans and choose the most suitable plan according to your own comfortability.




About the Author

Executive


Comments


Related Articles


Loading


Popular Articles





CCI Pro

CCI Articles

submit article


Company
25 June 2026
AUDIT MANAGER

JDAS & ASSOCIATES

New Delhi

CA

View Details
Company
09 June 2026
Accounts Associate

S Madan and CO

New Delhi

Graduate (Any)

View Details
Company
ARTICLESHIP 24 June 2026
ARTICLE ASSISTANT

BHUPINDER SHAH AND COMPANY

New Delhi

CA Inter

View Details
Company
ARTICLESHIP 04 June 2026
Article

Rakhecha & Co.

New Delhi

CA Inter

View Details
Company
04 June 2026
Semi Qualified CA

Goyal Puneet & Associates

New Delhi

CA Final

View Details
Company
ARTICLESHIP 24 June 2026
CA Article Trainee

Rahul Dang & Associates

Pune

CA Inter

View Details
Company
ARTICLESHIP 18 June 2026
Article Assistance

RB KESHRI & CO.

Mumbai

CA Inter

View Details
Company
22 June 2026
Finance Manager- Chartered Accountant

Triveni Turbine Limited

Bengaluru

CA

View Details