Want a second income? Here’s what I’d do

Do you want a second income? Of course you do. In this article, Rupert Hargreaves explains how he thinks you can do it.

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Do you want to build a second income stream and earn money while you sleep? Of course you do. That’s why I’m going to explain how I plan to create a second income stream using high-dividend stocks and low-cost tracker funds.

The power dividends

There are many different strategies you can use to create a second income. Everything from operating an online store to writing a book and buy-to-let investing. All of these have their benefits and drawbacks, but I believe the best way is to buy shares in blue-chip stocks.

By investing in businesses that are already established and have a leading position in their respective markets, you don’t have to do any extra work. You can just sit back and let the money roll in. What’s more, by investing in a basket of blue-chip stocks, you can build a well-diversified portfolio pretty quickly. And you don’t have to worry about things such as whether or not your business will be able to survive in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Start investing

You only need a few hundred pounds to start investing, which means you could be generating a second income in just a few days if you already have the money saved. Stocks usually distribute dividends twice a year, one sizeable final dividend payment and an interim distribution, although some companies do pay out quarterly. Some funds pay out a monthly distribution to shareholders as well.

And if you do have that amount to start investing today, I highly recommend buying the FTSE 100 index as a starting point as I firmly believe that this is one of the best dividend investments in the world.

With a dividend yield of 4.3% at the time of writing, the index will give you an instantly diversified dividend portfolio at the click of a button. If you are willing to do a bit more research, there are companies in the index that currently support dividend yields of 6% or more.

Dividend champion

Take FTSE 100 dividend stalwart British American Tobacco for example. At the time of writing, this dividend champion supports a dividend yield of 7%, implying that if you buy the stock today, for every £100 invested, you could see £7 a year of income.

If that’s not enough for you, Persimmon, another FTSE 100 dividend champion, currently supports a dividend yield of 10.5%, implying that for every £1,000 invested in this home builder, you could see £105 a year in extra income.

These are just two examples, but I think they clearly show how easy it is to build a second income stream with dividend stocks.

So, what are you waiting for? If you have a few hundred pounds saved and want to build yourself a second income stream, it makes a lot of sense to go out into the market and buy a portfolio of high-yield, blue-chip income stocks.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Rupert Hargreaves owns shares in British American Tobacco. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

Investing £300 a month in FTSE shares could bag me £1,046 monthly passive income

Sumayya Mansoor explains how she’s looking to create an additional income stream through dividend-paying FTSE stocks to build wealth.

Read more »

Investing Articles

£10K to invest? Here’s how I’d turn that into £4,404 annual passive income

This Fool explains how using a £10K lump sum can turn into a passive income stream worth thousands for her…

Read more »

Investing Articles

1 magnificent FTSE 100 stock investors should consider buying

This Fool explains why this FTSE 100 stock is one for investors to seriously consider with its amazing brand power…

Read more »

Rainbow foil balloon of the number two on pink background
Investing For Beginners

2 under-the-radar FTSE 100 stocks under £2

Jon Smith identifies two FTSE 100 stocks that he believes are getting a lack of attention from some investors but…

Read more »

Investing Articles

£8,000 in savings? I’d use it as a start to aim for £30k a year in passive income

Here's how regular investing in the UK stock market, over the long term, could help us build up some nice…

Read more »

Photo of a man going through financial problems
Investing Articles

Down 16% in a month! Can this FTSE 100 stock recover in April?

Grabbing low-priced shares with long-term growth potential is an investor's dream. I think this FTSE 100 share may be an…

Read more »

Buffett at the BRK AGM
Investing Articles

Warren Buffett is an investing genius. But what might he buy if he were British?

I'm wondering what investing legend Warren Buffett would pick for his portfolio if he had been born on this side…

Read more »

The words "what's your plan for retirement" written on chalkboard on pavement somewhere in London
Retirement Articles

If I was approaching retirement, I’d buy these 3 dividend stocks for passive income

Edward Sheldon highlights three UK dividend stocks he’d snap up if he was getting his investment portfolio ready for retirement.

Read more »