“The best time to start investing was yesterday. The second best time is right now — even if you only have $50.”
Okay sis, let’s talk about something that probably feels like it’s for other people. People with trust funds. People who already have their life together. People who aren’t stressing about rent or tuition or that credit card bill you keep ignoring.
But here’s the thing about investing — it isn’t actually about being rich. It’s about being smart with what you have. And girl, you have enough. Even if it’s just $50 a month.
I know it sounds wild. You’re probably thinking “I don’t even have $50 extra right now” or “what’s the point of investing such a small amount?” And I get it. I really do. But let me show you why this is the move you need to make, and exactly how to do it without a finance degree or a six-figure salary.
Why You Think You Can’t Start Investing
Let’s be real for a second. The whole “investing” world was literally built to intimidate people like us. Wall Street guys in suits, confusing jargon, minimum balances that feel impossible. It’s designed to make you feel like you don’t belong.
But here’s what nobody tells you: the investing industry has changed completely. You don’t need $1,000 to start anymore. You don’t need a broker on the phone. You don’t even need to know what a “dividend” really means (though I’ll explain it in a second because it’s actually simple).
The only thing standing between you and your first investment is fear of looking stupid. And I’m telling you right now — the only stupid thing is doing nothing.
💡 Quick Tip
Most investing apps let you start with as little as $1. Yes, ONE dollar. So if you’ve been telling yourself you need a “real amount” to start investing, that excuse is officially dead.
What $50 a Month Actually Does (The Math That Will Shock You)
Alright, let me hit you with some real numbers. And I promise I’ll make this painless — no math test vibes.
If you invest $50 every single month starting at age 20, and you earn an average return of 8% (which is actually conservative for the stock market over time), here’s what happens:
By age 30: you’ll have about $9,000. That’s a down payment on a car, a wedding fund, or a serious emergency cushion.
By age 40: you’ll have roughly $35,000. That’s a house down payment in some cities.
By age 60: you’ll have over $300,000. Let that sink in. Three hundred thousand dollars from $50 a month.
$50/month = $300,000+ by retirement. That’s the power of investing early.
And here’s the part they don’t tell you in those boring finance classes: your biggest advantage isn’t how much money you have — it’s how much time you have. You have something that billionaires literally cannot buy: decades of compound growth ahead of you. That’s your superpower.
Compound interest is basically your money making money, and then that money making more money, and on and on like a snowball rolling downhill. The earlier you start, the bigger that snowball gets before you even do anything else.
The Best Apps for Investing With Small Money
Okay so now that you’re convinced this matters, let’s talk about where to actually put your money. Because I know you don’t have time to learn stock charts and read annual reports. You have a life.
Here are the apps that make investing actually doable for regular people:
Acorns: This app rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the spare change. So if you spend $4.50 on coffee, it invests $0.50. You literally don’t have to think about it. Set it and forget it.
Robinhood: The OG of commission-free investing. You can buy fractional shares, which means you can own a piece of Amazon or Apple without spending thousands. It’s simple, clean, and beginner-friendly.
Stash: This one is designed specifically for people who don’t know what they’re doing. It teaches you as you go and lets you invest in “themes” like clean energy or tech companies. Less intimidating than picking individual stocks.
Fidelity or Vanguard: These are the “boring but reliable” options. They have zero minimums for most accounts and offer target-date funds that automatically adjust your risk as you get older. Perfect if you want to set it and truly forget it.
💊 What Works: The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins – This book is basically investing for people who hate finance. It’s short, funny, and will change how you think about money forever. Read it on your phone during commute.
What Actually Works: The Lazy Girl Investing Strategy
Listen, I’m not going to tell you to become a day trader or spend hours analyzing companies. That’s not realistic for someone who’s also trying to pass classes, keep a job, maintain friendships, and maybe even have a dating life.
Here’s the actual strategy that works for busy women with limited money:
Step 1: Open a Roth IRA. This is a retirement account that grows tax-free. You put in money you’ve already paid taxes on, and when you take it out at retirement, you pay ZERO taxes on the growth. It’s literally the best deal the government gives young people.
Step 2: Set up automatic transfers of $50 a month from your checking account to your investing app. Automate it so you never have to think about it. Treat it like a bill you pay to your future self.
Step 3: Buy a low-cost index fund that tracks the S&P 500. Something like VOO or SPY. This gives you a tiny piece of the 500 biggest companies in America. Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google — you own a sliver of all of them.
Step 4: Don’t touch it. Seriously. Do not check it every day. Do not panic when the market drops. Just keep contributing and let time do the work.
Why This Works:
✅ You don’t need to know anything about stocks — the index fund does the work for you
✅ You’re diversified across hundreds of companies, so one bad apple won’t ruin everything
✅ You’re taking advantage of dollar-cost averaging — buying more shares when prices are low and fewer when they’re high
✅ You’re building a habit that will make you a millionaire if you stick with it
The Truth Nobody Tells You About Investing
Here’s the real talk: investing is boring. The people who make money aren’t the ones making risky bets on crypto or meme stocks. They’re the ones who set up automatic deposits, buy index funds, and go live their lives.
The most dangerous thing you can do is try to get rich quick. That’s gambling, not investing. And gambling is how people lose everything.
The second most dangerous thing? Waiting until you have “enough money.” Because let me tell you something — there will always be a reason to wait. You’ll always have rent, or a trip you want to take, or a friend’s wedding, or a new phone you “need.” The money will never feel like it’s enough. You have to start anyway.
“The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.” — Warren Buffett. And girl, you have time on your side. Use it.
How to Find $50 a Month (Even When You’re Broke)
I know what you’re thinking. “Sis, I literally don’t have $50 extra right now.” And I believe you. But let’s get creative for a second.
Here are real ways to find that $50 without changing your life dramatically:
Cancel one subscription. Netflix, Spotify, that gym membership you never use, the skincare box you forgot about. One subscription is probably $10-15 a month. That’s a third of your goal right there.
Cook one more meal at home per week. If you spend $15 on takeout once a week, cooking instead saves you about $10-12. Do that twice a month and you’ve found $20-25.
Sell one thing per month. Depop, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace. That dress you wore once, the textbook you’ll never open again, the old phone sitting in your drawer. One sale can cover your whole month’s investment.
Use cashback apps. Rakuten gives you money back for shopping online. Ibotta gives you cash for buying groceries. It’s not life-changing money, but $5-10 a month adds up when you’re funneling it into your investing account.
Pick up one side gig. Dog walking, babysitting, tutoring, selling digital products on Etsy, user testing websites. Even one hour of work per week at $15-20/hour covers your $50.
💡 Quick Tip
Set up your automatic investment to go through the day AFTER your paycheck hits. That way, the money is gone before you even have a chance to spend it on something dumb like another iced coffee you didn’t need.
What to Invest In (The No-Brainer Picks)
If you don’t want to think about it, here’s exactly what to buy with that $50 every month:
VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF): This tracks the 500 biggest US companies. It’s the gold standard of passive investing. Historically returns about 10% per year on average.
VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF): This gives you the entire world — US and international stocks. Even more diversification. If the whole world economy grows, you grow.
QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust): This tracks the Nasdaq-100, which is heavy on tech companies. Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla, Google. Higher growth potential but also more volatility.
Target Date Fund (like Vanguard 2065): This is the ultimate “set it and forget it” option. The fund automatically adjusts your risk level as you get closer to retirement. You literally never have to think about it again.
See the difference? Index funds are the move. Don’t overcomplicate this.
The Red Flags You’re Probably Ignoring
Before I let you go, I need to warn you about some traps that specifically target young women who are new to investing:
Anyone promising “guaranteed returns” is lying. Investing always involves risk. If someone says they can double your money in a month with no risk, run. That’s a scam.
Don’t invest money you need in the next 5 years. The stock market goes up and down in the short term. If you need that $50 for rent next month, don’t invest it. Build an emergency fund first.
Be careful with crypto. I’m not saying it’s all bad, but it’s extremely volatile and speculative. If you’re going to play with crypto, keep it to 5% or less of your total investing portfolio. The rest should be boring index funds.
Don’t compare yourself to others. You’re going to see people on TikTok and Instagram showing off their “gains” and it’s going to make you feel like you’re behind. Most of them are lying or gambling. Stay in your lane.
Start Here: Your 5-Minute Action Plan
Okay, you’ve read enough. Here’s exactly what to do right now, in the next 10 minutes:
Step 1: Download one of the apps I mentioned. I’d start with Acorns or Stash if you’re brand new.
Step 2: Open a Roth IRA if you’re investing for retirement, or a regular brokerage account if you want more flexibility.
Step 3: Set up an automatic transfer of $50 (or whatever you can afford) to happen the day after your paycheck hits.
Step 4: Buy VOO or a target date fund. That’s it. You’re done.
Step 5: Don’t check it for at least a year. Seriously. Set a calendar reminder for 12 months from now and forget about it until then.
Why This Works:
✅ Takes less than 10 minutes to set up
✅ Requires zero ongoing effort
✅ Builds a habit that compounds into real wealth
✅ Makes you feel like a grown-up who has their life together
You might also love this article — one of our most shared. It’s about building habits that actually stick without burning out.
This is the kind of stuff women talk about inside TechMae every single day. No judgment, just real ones keeping it real. We talk about money, mental health, career moves, dating disasters, and everything in between. It’s the group chat you wish you had.
Related: This post is a must-read for women on their journey.
This Is Your Sign to Stop Doing It Alone
Women inside TechMae have been exactly where you are. Come find your people — the ones who will cheer for your wins, help you through the hard parts, and remind you that you’re not behind. You’re right on time.
You’ve got this, girl. Now go set up that account and start investing. Your future self is already thanking you.
