Make Investing Simple Whether you’re putting away your first $1,000 or have been saving for the future for years, you’re going to want to consider investing your funds at some point. Doing so will allow you to maximize returns and exponentially grow your savings. Unfortunately, the investment process can be pretty intimidating, especially if you are starting out on your own. It’s hard to know how to begin, where to invest, how to balance your portfolio and even what sort of fees you should expect to pay along the way. That’s where the convenience and ease of today’s best investment apps can come into play. [youmaylike] What are Investment Apps? Once upon a time, your only choice for investing was to pick up the phone and call your stock broker to initiate a trade. You were charged for the service, either based on commission or as a flat fee per transaction. While stock brokers are still an option, you can take investing into your own hands these days, without ever needing to talk to another human. And it’s all thanks to investment apps and platforms. Today’s apps offer a range of services and features. With them, users can: Research funds and individual stocks. View fees and expenses related to investment choices. Invest funds on the go, and even automate regular contributions. Automatically reinvest earnings on current investments. Adjust portfolio for personal risk tolerance. View performance projections. Choose funds or individual stocks that align with personal beliefs, through portfolios based on socially-responsible missions. The best part? Investing through trusted apps is usually cheaper and faster and you’ll have instant access to your portfolio/reports at any time of day. Not only that, but you’ll also be able to set your investment risk tolerance, rebalance your portfolio and even reinvest earnings automatically. Who are Investment Apps Designed For? Whether you’ve been playing the market for ages or are ready to invest your first $100, the right investment app is worth considering. For those new to the stock market, apps will simplify the process and put the power of investing at your fingertips… literally. From your phone or computer, you can easily see portfolio recommendations based on your own goals, savings plans and even risk tolerances. The right app will tell you upfront how much you can expect to spend in fees throughout the year, and can even allow you to automate many of the more confusing aspects, such as picking well-performing stocks or even rebalancing. While investment apps are ideal for beginners, newbies aren’t the only ones who will see the benefits. Even seasoned investors will find the process easy to use, and may even learn that these platforms can maximize returns (and save them money in fees) along the way. Not to mention, many investment apps offer additional insight into specific funds, so you can choose to invest in companies that align with your own passions and beliefs. Now that you know why you should consider using an investment app for your own savings, let’s take a look at some of the best ones available today. Best Investment Apps Great for Beginners: Acorns Fees and expenses: For investors with less than $1 million invested, fees are between $1-3 per month depending on the account option you choose. Acorns is also free for college students. Beginning investment requirement: At least $5 to start Types of investments available: ETFs (exchange-traded funds) Portfolio options: Conservative, Moderately Conservative, Moderate, Moderately Aggressive, Aggressive Automatic investing?: Yes Automatic reinvesting?: Yes Automatic rebalancing?: Yes If you want an easy, hands-off approach to investing that won’t leave your head spinning, Acorns is a great first choice. This app not only simplifies investing for beginners but allows investors to completely automate the process from start to finish. After connecting the app to your debit card, the app will “round up” each of your daily purchases, putting the savings into an investment holding account. Once you reach the minimum required, Acorns will invest this money on your behalf, based on your account preferences. The app will also reinvest your earnings, as well as rebalance your portfolio when necessary. Great for Truly Free Investing: Robinhood Fees and expenses: Robinhood is a free investment platform in every sense of the word, pledging to never charge company fees or commissions to customers. Beginning investment requirement: You’ll need $2,000 to get started. Types of investments available: ETFs, stocks, cryptocurrency and options. Portfolio options: Interest-based options such as Fashion ETF, Tech ETF and Energy ETF, as well as a standard S&P 500 ETF, all with personal risk tolerance settings. You’ll also find “collections,” which are individual stocks grouped according to specific interests — such as companies with female CEOs or that are in the social media sector. Automatic investing: No. Automatic reinvesting: No. Automatic rebalancing: Yes. A great option for beginners and experienced investors alike, Robinhood makes the process both easy and affordable. How affordable? Well, it’s entirely free. By offering a truly free experience, Robinhood saves investors some serious cash over time. Additionally, the platform makes it easy to choose individual stocks or ETFs based on personal interests. If you want to invest in cryptocurrency or options, you can also do so through Robinhood. One of the biggest limitations of the platform, though, is its automation. While you can set up automatic deposits into your account, you will need to manually invest those funds and then reinvest (or withdraw) your dividends. Stash Fees and expenses: $1 per month fee for those with less than $5,000 invested, or $2 per month for retirement accounts with less than $5,000. For users under 25, fees on retirement accounts are waived. If you have more than $5,000 invested, your fee will be 0.25% annually. Beginning investment requirement: You’ll need at least $5 to begin investing (fractional shares are available) Types of investments available: ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and fractional stock shares Portfolio options: Too many to name, ranging from things you Want (portfolios that are conservative to aggressive mixes), things you Believe (such as groups of companies that believe in clean energy, LGBT rights, etc.), and things you Like (tech, retail and social media companies). Automatic investing: Yes. Automatic reinvesting: No. Automatic rebalancing: No. The closest competitor to Acorns, Stash seeks to make investing easy for everyone, regardless of your goals and passions. They have three account options to choose from, allowing you to manage your investment and retirement accounts, or even a child’s education savings through custodial accounts. With Auto-Stash, you can set any number of automatic investment options and transfers. However, Stash will not rebalance your portfolio for you, nor will they reinvest dividends on your behalf. Wealthfront Fees and expenses: 0.25% annually. Beginning investment requirement: $500 minimum initial investment. Types of investments available: ETFs (exchange-traded funds), individual stocks, retirement accounts (401k, IRA), 529 savings plans and trusts. Portfolio options: 11 asset classes to choose from, including natural resources and real estate. Automatic investing: Yes. Automatic reinvesting: Yes. Automatic rebalancing: Yes. Wealthfront’s investment platform is designed to be friendly for users of all experience levels. If you’re a seasoned investor, you’ll enjoy all of the options available to you, including the ability to manage your retirement accounts, education savings and even non-profits or trusts. If you’re a newbie, their free financial expertise center is the perfect place to learn all about investing and your future. TD Ameritrade Fees and expenses: The managed, automatic portfolio investment option (called Essential Portfolios) is available with a 0.30% advisory fee. Beginning investment requirement: $5,000 minimum for managed portfolios (no minimum requirement for traditional trading). Types of investments available: Stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, futures, bonds/CDs, Forex and cryptocurrency. Portfolio options: Essential Portfolios (EP) offer investors a range of options from Conservative to Aggressive, based on your passions, preferences and tolerances. Automatic investing: Yes, with EP. Automatic reinvesting: Yes. Automatic rebalancing: Yes. A more traditional brokerage app, TD Ameritrade is one of the most recognizable names in the industry. You can easily educate yourself on all things financial, thanks to their free videos and posts. If you want a traditional experience, you can choose your trades and pay per transaction. Prefer a more streamlined, automated approach? Opt for their Essential Portfolios, a hands-off investment option (robo-advisor) that charges a flat monthly fee and requires little-to-no oversight from you. Plus, their app makes the investing process easier than ever with a user-friendly interface, price alerts and no minimum to get started. If you prefer a desktop experience, this is also available to you through TD Ameritrade. Bottom Line Getting started with investing can be intimidating. With all of the terminology and account options out there, it’s easy to want to run and hide. Thanks to some of today’s best investment apps, though, you can not only get started with your first portfolio but also watch your money quickly grow… no matter how much of a beginner you may be! It’s important to choose an app that offers you the portfolio options and features you want most, with fees and deposit minimums that match your financial needs. The five apps above are our favorites for beginners, making that first foray into investing easier than ever before. The hardest part will be choosing the one you love most!
Can You Really Get Discount Stamps?
If you’ve ever seen stamps advertised at steep discounts, it’s wise to be skeptical. In the United States, postage prices are tightly controlled, and the U.S. Postal Service does not run sales. When prices look too good to be true, they often are. Legitimate ways to pay less for postage exist, but they usually involve small per-stamp savings, smarter buying habits or alternative postage methods, not dramatic markdowns.
Understanding what’s realistic will help you save money without risking counterfeit stamps or returned mail. Let's look at five ways to save money when buying stamps in the U.S.
Buy From Trusted Sellers
Warehouse clubs are one of the few places where people sometimes see slight per-stamp savings. When stamps are sold in large rolls or multi-pane packs, the price may come out a little lower than buying individual books elsewhere. The discount is typically modest, but the major benefit is trust—you’re buying real postage from a well-known retailer.
Big-box stores, grocery stores and pharmacies also sell stamps. These locations usually charge face value, not a discount, but they offer convenience and reliability. For many households, avoiding a trip to the post office saves time and reduces the temptation to buy from questionable online sellers later.
The key point is that real discounts are small. Any seller offering huge savings is not operating within normal postal pricing rules.
Buy in Bulk
Buying stamps in bulk doesn’t always mean paying less per stamp, but it can still save money over time. Purchasing a roll of 100 stamps or several panes at once helps prevent last-minute purchases when prices increase or when you’re forced to buy from unfamiliar sellers.
Buying directly from USPS—online or at a post office—offers maximum peace of mind. While USPS does not discount stamps, it guarantees authenticity and consistent quality. For frequent mailers, this reliability matters more than chasing tiny savings elsewhere.
One of the most practical strategies is buying ahead of scheduled postage rate increases. Forever stamps retain their mailing value even after prices rise. If you know you send a steady amount of mail each year, purchasing stamps before a rate hike effectively locks in today’s price and protects you from paying more later.
Use Metered or Online Postage for Letters
Many people overlook metered or online postage, but this is one of the few ways to legitimately pay less per letter. USPS pricing often sets the cost of a metered first-class letter slightly lower than a stamped letter.
Online postage services allow you to print postage directly onto envelopes or labels at home. While these services may charge small monthly fees, the per-letter savings can add up quickly if you send mail regularly. Businesses, home offices and anyone mailing large volumes of letters often benefit the most from this approach.
The advantage here is that the savings are built into USPS pricing, not created by a third-party seller cutting corners.
Use Rewards and Cash-Back to “Create” a Discount
Even when stamp prices are fixed, you can still reduce your effective cost by using smart payment strategies. Paying with a credit card that offers cash-back or rewards can return a small percentage of your spending. Warehouse club memberships may also include annual rewards that indirectly offset the cost of stamps purchased there.
These savings won’t feel dramatic on a single purchase, but over the course of a year, they can quietly reduce mailing costs without introducing any risk.
Consider Alternatives That Reduce Postage Needs
Sometimes the best way to save on stamps is to use fewer of them. Switching bills and statements to paperless delivery, choosing postcard rates when appropriate or consolidating mailings can significantly reduce how many stamps you need overall.
For packages, online shipping platforms that offer commercial shipping rates can be far cheaper than retail counter prices. While these aren’t stamps, they’re a legitimate way to reduce total mailing expenses if you ship items regularly.
What to Look For to Avoid Stamp Scams
Stamp scams often rely on urgency and price shock. Large discounts—especially anything claiming 20% to 50% off—are the most common warning sign. Sellers often advertise heavily on social media or use sponsored posts that disappear quickly.
Be cautious with third-party marketplaces where seller histories are short or unclear. Legitimate sellers provide clear return policies, customer service contact information and transparent pricing. Scammers frequently pressure buyers with countdown timers, “limited stock” claims or unusual payment requests.
Physical signs can also be telling. Counterfeit stamps may have blurry printing, uneven perforations or backing paper that looks different from genuine stamps. Claims like “USPS surplus,” “government overstock” or “direct from postal warehouse” are also common red flags.
The safest rule is simple: real postage savings are small. Always buy your stamps from USPS or well-known retailers, and treat deep discounts as a warning, not an opportunity. This is the best and safest way to ensure you pay less for postage.