Make Your Money Work: Smart Alternatives to a Low-Yield Savings Account
Leaving all your money in a classic savings account that barely pays 1% interest, while inflation erodes 2–3% per year, means your capital is slowly losing value. Discover how to put your savings to work in 2026 with investment solutions that match your profile and your tolerance for risk.
Whether you are extremely cautious or ready to take on more risk for higher returns, there are strategies to help your money grow instead of sleeping in your account, such as Prêt hypothécaire.
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From Sleeping Cash to Strategic Investments
Learn how to balance security, returns, and liquidity when you invest your savings in 2026.
Why Money Left Idle Loses Value Over Time
The money parked in your savings account may feel “safe”, but if your interest rate is around 1% while inflation averages 2–3% per year in Belgium, your purchasing power is shrinking. In other words, your Crédit logement savings are quietly depreciating: what you can buy with €10,000 today will cost more in a few years, even if your balance has barely increased.
The money parked in your savings account may feel “safe”, but if your interest rate is around 1% while inflation averages 2–3% per year in Belgium, your purchasing power is shrinking. In other words, your Crédit logement savings are quietly depreciating: what you can buy with €10,000 today will cost more in a few years, even if your balance has barely increased.
To protect and grow your capital, the key is to keep only the amount you absolutely need for short-term expenses in your current and savings accounts. As a general guideline, many financial experts suggest holding the equivalent of about six months of net salary as an emergency reserve, unless you know you will face a major expense in the coming weeks or months.
Beyond this safety cushion, you can explore different investment solutions: term accounts, shares, bonds, or a diversified combination of these products, depending on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Consider exploring our Crédit pont options.
Very Cautious Profile
You hate risk and prefer to lock your money for several years in exchange for visibility and stability.
Solutions such as term accounts or highly-rated bonds may be relevant, provided you can do without your money for 3 to 10 years. Explore our Regroupement hypothécaire products.
Balanced Profile
You are ready to accept moderate fluctuations in exchange for potentially higher returns in the medium to long term.
A mix of bonds and equities, combined with a safety buffer in cash, can help you smooth volatility while aiming for better growth than a simple savings account.
Dynamic Profile
You can tolerate strong market swings and are looking for higher long-term returns, even if it means seeing your investments fall at times.
Equities and growth-oriented solutions may be appropriate, provided you invest only money you do not need immediately and for at least 5 to 10 years.
Locking Your Savings: Term Accounts for 3 to 10 Years
If you strongly dislike risk but are prepared to lock your savings for a fixed period, a term account can be an option. In exchange for blocking your money for several years (for example, 3 to 10 years), some banks may offer a gross interest rate significantly higher than a standard savings account.
The basic principle is simple: once you place your funds on a term account, you agree not to touch them until maturity. Early withdrawals are sometimes possible under specific conditions, but they usually mean losing all or part of the expected interest. Your capital is not invested in the financial markets as such, but it is no longer freely available either.
Before opting for this type of product, carefully assess your future liquidity needs (purchase of a home, car, renovation, studies, etc.) to avoid having to break your term and jeopardise the benefit of the product.
Investing in Financial Markets: Stocks and Bonds Explained
Buying shares means becoming a co-owner of companies listed on the stock exchange. In return, you can benefit from two sources of return: the potential rise in the share price and dividends paid by certain companies. In recent years, some stocks have generated annual capital gains of more than 10%, and dividends can reach over 7% gross in certain cases.
However, investing in stocks always involves significant risk. Prices can be very volatile, with years of strong increases followed by years of decline or even crashes. Over the last 50 years, stock investors have obtained an average net return of around 5% per year, but this is only an average that hides strong fluctuations.
To invest in the stock market, you should:
- Have sufficient knowledge or be willing to learn before investing.
- Be able to devote time each week to following financial news and the companies you invest in.
- Be psychologically prepared to accept temporary losses without panicking.
To familiarise yourself with financial markets, you can consult specialised magazines and independent analyses. Take at least a few months to read and understand before making your first real investments.
A bond is a loan you grant to a company (or a state) in exchange for fixed annual interest and the repayment of your capital at maturity. Bond prices tend to fluctuate less than stock prices, but contrary to popular belief, they are not risk-free products. If the issuer goes bankrupt, you may lose part or all of your investment.
Bonds are rated by rating agencies, with scales ranging from AAA (highest quality) to D (default). The lower the rating, the higher the interest generally offered, but the higher the risk of default:
- AAA bonds: relatively low risk, with net yields that can be modest (for example around 1.5% net).
- Speculative bonds (e.g. BB-): higher risk, but with gross interest rates that may approach 6–7% or more.
Bonds can therefore be interesting tools for diversifying your portfolio and smoothing returns over time, particularly when combined with other asset classes such as equities and cash.
Three Fundamental Principles Before You Invest
Entering the financial markets without a plan is risky. Before you start, anchor these three basic principles that remain valid in 2026 just as they were in previous decades. They will help you avoid the most common mistakes and build a strategy aligned with your real needs.
Invest Only Surplus Money
Never invest money you may need in the short term. Your emergency fund (for unexpected expenses, income loss, etc.) should stay accessible in a current or savings account.
Think Long Term: 3 to 5 Years Minimum
Markets fluctuate. To increase your chances of a positive return, adopt an investment horizon of at least 3 to 5 years, or even more for shares and dynamic products.
Diversify Your Investments
Do not concentrate all your money in a single product, a single company, or a single sector. Diversification is essential to spread risk and reduce the impact of a poor-performing asset.
By following these principles, you build a more resilient portfolio, capable of withstanding market ups and downs while still aiming for better returns than a traditional savings account.
Discretionary Management or Managing Your Investments Yourself?
All major banks and many financial institutions offer discretionary management. In this model, a portfolio manager makes investment choices on your behalf, based on a risk profile and guidelines you have agreed together. This solution saves you time and gives you access to professional expertise, but it usually comes with management fees.
If you have the time, the interest, and the required knowledge, you may prefer to manage your investments personally. This lets you control all your decisions and better understand the products you buy. However, this approach requires:
- Solid knowledge of financial products and markets.
- Regular monitoring of your portfolio and economic news.
- An ability to withstand stress and avoid making emotional decisions during market drops.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The right choice depends on your availability, your experience, and your willingness to delegate or not. You can also combine both approaches: entrust part of your capital to professionals while keeping another part for your own investments.
Key Advantages of a Structured Investment Approach
Better Return Potential Than a Savings Account
By diversifying between term accounts, bonds, and equities, you can target returns that historically exceed those of classic savings accounts, while adapting the level of risk to your profile.
Clear Strategy Aligned With Your Goals
Defining your time horizon, your tolerance for risk, and your liquidity needs helps you choose coherent products instead of making scattered, emotional decisions.
Protection Against Inflation Over Time
While no investment is guaranteed, a well-balanced portfolio gives you a better chance of preserving – and even increasing – your purchasing power in the face of long-term inflation.
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