Step One: Imagine that you've graduated from college and have established a career. You've been working with the same company for three years. You've saved up $10,000 and need to decide how you'll save and invest this money. Your goal is to save as much money in five years as you can for a down payment on a house. With this information, make a graph like the example below . Remember, a saving and investing plan is an outline or list that names the types of savings or investments you'll use. The outline also shows the amount or percentage you'll put into each savings account or investment. For this project, evaluate and select at least three investments or savings accounts.

Step Two: Select specific accounts and investments. For example, if your outline includes investing $1,000 in stock, research and select a stock.

See the example below:

Saving or Investment Value at Start Current Value Increase or Decrease

Savings Account at Money Bank 1,000 1,000.25 .25

ABC Growth Mutual Fund 2,000 2,010 10

Stock ABC 1,000 980 -20

Did the overall portfolio increase or decrease in value? Which investments increased and decreased?