Investing vs Saving — what’s the real difference?

I used to think saving and investing were basically the same thing just “keeping money aside.” Turns out, they serve very different purposes.

Saving is about safety and accessibility.
You’re typically putting money into low-risk options like a savings account or fixed deposit. The goal isn’t high returns—it’s stability and quick access when you need it (emergency fund, short-term expenses)

Investing, on the other hand, is about growth.
You’re putting money into assets like mutual funds, stocks, or bonds with the expectation that it will grow over time. There’s risk involved, but also the potential to beat inflation and build wealth.

A simple way to look at it:
Saving = protect your money
Investing = grow your money

Both are important—you usually save for the short term and invest for the long term.

But here’s where I’m still figuring things out:
How do you personally decide how much to save vs invest? Do you follow a rule or just go by comfort?