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Kick Butt Tip: Drew Barrymore Says Your Greatest Pains Become Your Greatest Strengths

Today’s Kick Butt Tip of the Day is from actress Drew Barrymore, “life is very interesting because in the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths.” For…

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Actress Drew Barrymore poses with Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Today's Kick Butt Tip of the Day is from actress Drew Barrymore, “life is very interesting because in the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths.”

For most of us, when we hear the name Drew Barrymore, we think of her role as Gertie in one of the most successful films of all time, "E.T." Barrymore is also well know for her debut movie "Never Been Kissed" and also for her successful talk show.

For fans of Drew Barrymore, her early years were filled with sadness along with a number of challenges. At a very young age, she developed a drug and alcohol problem, she attempted suicide and was even placed into a mental institution. At the young age of 14, Barrymore petitioned the court to legally allow her to separate from her mom and dad. The court granted her request.

Click here to read more about the topsy-turvy life of Drew Barrymore.

I have had the opportunity to share this story several times and it's one of my favorite rags to riches stories ever. You probably know the name J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame. At one time Rowling was homeless and living in her car with her young child. During those lean years, she was already working on her creation that would introduce the world to Harry Potter. Rowling is now a billionaire. By the way, Rowling was 32 when a publisher said yes to her first novel. A number of publishers actually rejected Rowling early on.

Rowling is not the only celebrity who was once homeless. Last year, Business Insider published "19 Famous Figures Who Went From Rags To Riches." Click here to read this inspiring article.

Go get 'em tiger! God don't make no junk. You, yes you are awesome! Now go be awesome!

- Don Chase's Kick Butt Tip of the Day is a daily motivational feature designed to give you the inspiration you need to power through your day. Check out all the Kick Butt Tips here.

Make Your Money Grow with These Low-Risk Investments

If you have some money wasting away in a savings account that doesn't have interest, then you might want to consider making your money grow with low-risk investments. Financial experts say that certain low-risk investments can really help pad your savings.

What Are Low-Risk Investments?

Before we get into the best low-risk investments, let's look at what exactly is a low-risk investment. The official definition is basically what you would expect from the definition of a low-risk investment. According to the financial experts at Capital.com, it's "an investment where there is perceived to be just a slight chance of losing some or all of your money. Low risk investments offer you a security blanket as they’re not likely to suddenly drop in value."

In contrast, according to Investopedia.com, "A high-risk investment is one for which there is either a large percentage chance of loss of capital or under-performance—or a relatively high chance of a devastating loss." They add that, "The first of these is intuitive, if subjective: If you were told there’s a 50/50 chance that your investment will earn your expected return, you may find that quite risky." So, for example, a 50/50 risk might not seem risky to some, but it might seem risky to others. An investment with a 99% risk will obviously seem risky to everyone. But, with high-risk investments come big payouts, so that's what lures people in. For example, a separate article from Investopedia.com states that some high-risk investments can double your money. That's obviously a much bigger return than you would see in your average investment. As they state, "Make no mistake, there is no guaranteed way to double your money with any investment. But there are plenty of examples of investments that doubled or more in a short period of time."

So, if you're interested in making a ton of money, or losing it all, high-risk investments such as investing in foreign emerging markets may be of interest to you. "A country experiencing a growing economy can be an ideal investment opportunity," experts at Investopedia.com state. "Investors can buy government bonds, stocks, or sectors with that country experiencing hyper-growth or ETFs that represent a growing sector of stocks." They add "spurts in economic growth in countries are rare events that, though risky, can provide investors with a slew of brand new companies to invest in to bolster personal portfolios."

Now, let's move onto some low-risk investments for those who don't want to risk losing their money. Of course, talk to your financial advisor before making any of these moves.

Invest in certificates of deposit (CDs)

You've probably heard of CDs being low-risk investments. Fidelity.com explains that "CDs provide reliable, fixed-rate returns on a lump sum of money over a fixed period of time, such as six months, one year, or five years." They add that the great thing is that if you "get a traditional CD at a bank or credit union where they are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or the National Credit Union Association (NCUA)." Usually, CDs have a minimum deposit, and you’ll have to pay a penalty if you take your money out too soon.

Woman putting money in piggy bank.

Getty Images / AaronAmat

High-yield savings accounts

High-yield savings accounts are like your regular savings account, but they earn more interest. "You can use these accounts for long-term savings goals or to hold extra money from your checking account," CreditKarma.com states. "For example, if you want to start saving for a house or building up an emergency fund, this could be a great option."

Money.

Getty Images /

U.S. treasury bills, notes and bonds

Forbes.com says that right now, the risk level for U.S. treasury bills, notes and bonds is "very low." They add that, "U.S. Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Historically, the U.S. has always paid its debts, which helps to ensure that Treasurys are the lowest-risk investments you can own."

Coins.

Getty Images / sommart

Money market funds

Fidelity.com states that, "Money market funds are mutual funds that invest in short-term, low-risk assets like Treasury and government securities, commercial paper, or municipal debt—depending on the focus of the fund." They add that, "Because their underlying investments are typically high quality, they are generally less volatile than other types of mutual funds, such as stock funds."

Coins and a plant.

Getty Images / Khongtham

Fixed annuities

Fixed annuities are a pretty safe bet. As Forbes.com explains, "Fixed annuities are a popular type of annuity contract that are frequently used for retirement planning, but can also be useful for medium-term financial goals." They add that, "Sold by insurance companies and financial services companies, a fixed annuity guarantees a fixed rate of return over a set period of time, regardless of market conditions."

Cash in a cup.

Getty Images / artisteer

Invest inside your comfort zone

People talk about stepping outside of their comfort zone in life, but really, investing isn't a place to do this. You know how much money you have to "play" with, so if you're worried about putting too much money in the market, these low-risk investments could still help you make money on your money.

Piggy bank

Getty Images / Nattakorn-Maneerat