Step 5: Invest—Even If You Start With $50

Stop thinking investing’s just for rich folks—that’s exactly what they want you to believe. Truth is, you can start with pocket change and let time do the heavy lifting. Here’s how:

First, ditch the excuses. Apps like Acorns round up your spare change, Robinhood lets you buy fractions of stocks, and Fidelity offers $0-minimum index funds. No, you don’t need to be Wolf of Wall Street—just consistent.

Start with ETF index funds (like VOO or SPY)—they’re boring but beat 90% of "experts" over time. Set up auto-deposits (even $20\mathrm{/}week)andforgetit\mathrm{.}Compoundingain\text{’}tmagic,it\text{’}smath:$50 today could be $500 later if you leave it alone.

Biggest rookie mistake? Panic-selling when the market dips. Volatility’s normal—your job is to stay put. And no, crypto ain’t an "investment strategy"—it’s gambling. Stick to the basics first.