Sometimes, it is easy to get stuck in the rut of investing or be afraid after losses suffered. Markets always have their ups and lows, but that shouldn’t stop the investor in you. What you need in these scenarios, are some other outlets for your investments. Looking for some maximum returns on investments tips that are a little out-of-the-box? Take a look at these creative ways of investing to get you more financial success.

1. Peer-to-peer lending

It’s also called “P2P” and it has made lending a wider activity. In this, two parties get in touch and fix the conditions of a loan in a mutually-beneficial agreement. You can make applications for loans anonymously and avail flexible loans with easier repayment terms if you’re borrowing. On the other side, investors can choose from a variety of loans to add to their portfolios and can earn a lot more than traditional investment options.

The way P2P works is that you invest not in entire loans, but rather, small portions of loans. So if someone defaults, you’re still protected. Your arrangement minimizes your risk of losing a large amount.

You even have the freedom to pick the loans that should make themselves available to you. You can set limits on the credit score of your borrowers, their loan timeline, loan type, or even a certain balance of their income and debt.

2. Credit card balances

When used wisely with no balances outstanding, your credit card can actually be a formidable tool. If you have outstanding amounts on your card, there’s a likelihood you’re paying high interest on it too. So, Jeff Rose of Forbes puts it this way: say you have credit card dues of $10,000 on which you pay 12% per year. At the same time, you own a $10,000 CD (for instance) which pays 1% per year. You would gain much higher returns if you were to liquidate the CD and use the $10,000 you get from it to pay off your credit card bill. Rose notes that this would translate into you moving your funds into an investment that pays you 12% per year.

Your interest fees for the credit card go away, and if you can bring yourself to part with something of that value, it’s an investment that pays.

3. REITs

How about real estate? It’s tried, true, and trusted even today. But, if you’re not looking to invest enough for a huge down payment, you can make use of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). With these, you can make smaller investments too, increasing your chances of getting maximum returns on investments. You and several other private investors get to share the earnings that you own together. What REITs also do is save you the hassle of paperwork and managerial restriction, giving you major flexibility. And REIT shares are just as simple as stocks to buy and sell.

There are maximum returns on investments tips out there that just need a bit of thinking. Get innovative with these suggestions and wait for the best possible returns!