Living on the company dime - how to invest income?

JeffC99

A few months ago I began a new career in the aerospace industry. I will be spending 10-11 months of the year out of the country, with 100% of expenses paid by my employer. I am paid hourly, but should (read as, "so far I have...") average $1,200 per week take-home pay.

I'm 23 years old, have no rent/mortgage. The only monthly bill I have to pay is my student loan. When I am at home (1-2 weeks at a time), I will be living with family.

Because of the nature of this new position, I will only be keeping it for 2 years. At this point, I will move into another position within the same company, so I can have a chance to settle down and well... have a home-life. Of course, things change, and I could change positions earlier, or decide I really enjoy a traveling lifestyle and stick it out even longer.

I would like to somehow invest my income, as I won't need access to it for another 2 years. As I said, I'm living on the company dollar, and have an absolute minimum of personal bills I need to pay.

I currently have about $7,500 that I could invest. However, I will be adding to that number on a weekly basis. Is there an investment plan that I can keep adding additional money to? Or should I just save my paychecks for the next several weeks/months until I have a sizable sum, and then invest that?

When it comes to money/finances, I am very inexperienced and uneducated. I would really appreciate any advice in how to take the best advantage of my current situation for the next 2 years. This forum is one of several tools I intend to make use of, to determine a good course of action for myself.


Thank you!
-Jeff