Beginner's guide to the world of investing

GET YOUR MONEY WORKING HARDER WITH SOME SMART INVESTMENTS... AND YOU CAN START WITH UNDER £100

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IT can be easy to dismiss investing as just for the mega-rich or those with expert knowledge of global markets. But that isn't the case.

"You don't need to have lots of money to make a start," said Claire Exley, head of financial advice and guidance, and JP Morgan-owned digital wealth manager, Nutmeg.

You can start with under £100 and don't need a granular understanding of stocks and shares. You don't need to spend lots of time on it either. Investing can even be enjoyable.

"When you've got into the discipline of regular investing, seeing the rewards grow over time is fun, especially when you link that to a goal," said Claire.

So as a total investment novice, where should you start?

Get a savings buffer

Claire says it's important to first have a savings buffer in place.

"How much cash do you need that's easily accessible for something unexpected happening? What are your fixed bills? Have you got any dependents?" she asked.

"We would usually say, have between three and six months of essential spending saved in an account you can easily access.

"If you've got that, then you can think about whether investing is right for you."

Have a goal

Consider what you are investing for and when you're likely to need to get hold of the money.

Claire said: "If you've got a financial goal that's within the next three years, maybe think about getting the best savings rate you can.

"But if your goal's three to five or more years in the future, it is important people think about investing.