As you develop the powerful habits of spending less than you earn, of accumulating savings, and earning interest on those savings, then you might consider taking a small percentage investment in a Business or venture of some sort. Investing in other companies can be difficult if they are really small, because so much depends upon the character and determination of the founder or owner of the business.
With a small business investment you can be very vulnerable to making a mistake, seduced by the money or the possibility of a quick profit. Too often the entrepreneurial energy can attract the interest of investors who seek a fast result and in doing so people can drop their guard and forge or overlook the need for a little investigation or due diligence.
If you are considering investing in a small business then it might well be one that you start and run yourself, getting the tax benefits that come with business ownership of your own venture. Give this a lot of thought. If it doesn't grab you and hold your interest, then stay away from owning a small business and simply consider the investment route as being potentially better for your lifestyle and character. If this is not right for you then consider looking around a broad search of the opportunities in other more established businesses such that you can find one that could be a good home for a portion of the savings you have accumulated for yourself.
If the idea of a business of your own is simply too much to contemplate - either because it is such a new concept or even possibly because it is too frightening - then from the portion of your savings placed instead into Stocks and Bonds you are likely to get at least a slightly safer return on your money.
You have the benefit that you can maintain an interest in public companies through the internet and the newspapers, following the stories behind each company and the industries they are active in. This way you get to develop investment behavior as an interesting hobby and one where the day to day aspects of your money are handled by those who do this all day long and who will give you a reasonable return without the hassle or angst of you needing to get involved.
Looking beyond equities and stocks I have personally always preferred the long-term holding of Residential Property. For myself that has been an easy decision because people always need somewhere to live and for many years now we have supplied good homes for them to rent. Buying property need not be a complicated process and there are plenty of great online and printed materials for you to develop your skills in this sector. Just like Stocks and Shares you can let someone else do the letting and managing of your property for you, or you can choose instead to upgrade your skills and manage the place yourself. You can also drive past the property and check it is still there whenever you want to!
A further route I would like to go back to is the combining of some of the above approaches, but with a small or part-time venture of your own. You can choose to intentionally design your new business working from home, online, part-time or full-time, according to the results you want to create.