When people talk about managing money, the words “saving” and “investing” often come up. They sound similar — and they’re both about the future — but they play different roles in your financial journey.
Let’s break it down simply.
Saving Is the First Step
Saving is setting money aside for short-term or emergency use. It’s about safety and access. For example:
- Setting aside KES 500 a week for school fees
- Keeping cash for a medical emergency
- Building a small cushion in case income is delayed
Saved money is usually kept in a bank account or mobile wallet. It doesn’t grow much — but it’s easy to access when you need it.
Investing Takes You Further
Investing is about putting your money to work. It means using financial tools — like Money Market Funds (MMFs) — to grow your money over time. Investing is usually for:
- Medium to long-term goals (buying land, growing wealth, retirement)
- Beating inflation
- Earning returns that savings alone can’t offer
Unlike savings, investments may not be immediately accessible. However, some channels – like Money Market Funds – are fairly promptly accessible (within 2-4 days) and can build your future faster than savings.
Why You Need Both
Think of saving and investing as teammates:
- Saving helps you handle today and tomorrow.
- Investing helps you build for past just tomorrow and beyond
A smart approach can start with savings, and gradually grow into investing — with some protection of insurance.
Final Thought
You don’t have to choose one or the other. Save a little. Invest a little. Grow steadily. WekaPesa is here to help you do it all — easily, and at your pace, with clear visibility every step of the way.