10 Easy Things You Can Do Right Now To Start Investing

You don’t need a finance degree or a trust fund to start investing—you just need a plan and a few small wins. I went from working two jobs in college and making $15 an hour to building a $1 million net worth by age 35. These are the steps I took to get started—and the ones you can do today.

1. Pick One Stock or ETF and Just Buy It

You learn by doing. I bought a total stock market ETF with $100 and just watched what happened. It taught me more than hours of reading ever did. Start small, but start — that’s what builds confidence.

2. Automate $25/week into a Brokerage Account

You don’t need to start big — I set mine to auto-invest just $25/week when I was getting started. I used Robinhood at first because it was simple, but I eventually moved to Schwab because it’s better for long-term investing and it links directly to my checking account I have with them. The key is automation — so you don’t have to rely on motivation or willpower. Small amounts add up fast when they’re consistent.

3. Make a Net Worth Tracker

I made a basic spreadsheet in Google Sheets to track my income, savings, investments, and debts. It wasn’t fancy, but seeing my net worth slowly increase changed the way I thought about money. It motivated me to keep going and gave me a clear sense of progress. Now I update it once a month — it’s one of my favorite rituals.

4. Set One Goal: Replace Your Income

My goal was simple: replace my salary so I wouldn’t have to work forever. I used the 25x rule (your annual expenses × 25 = freedom number) to set my financial independence target. That number became my North Star and made it easier to make big decisions. It helps you focus on freedom, not just flashy wealth.

5. Start a 529 Plan for Your Kid

If you have kids, this is one of the smartest ways to get ahead on college costs. I opened one for my daughter and contribute to it regularly. The money grows tax-free and can be used for education expenses later. Even small contributions now can make a big difference when they’re ready for school.

6. Read One Investing Book

Reading “The Simple Path to Wealth” by JL Collins changed the game for me. It broke investing down into simple steps and helped me avoid overcomplicating things. One good book can cut through years of noise and bad advice. Even if you only read this one book — it’s worth it.

7. Sign Up for a Free Credit Card with Real Benefits

I use the AMEX Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve, and both have earned me thousands in free travel perks, points, and lounge access. Used wisely, a good credit card can actually save and earn you money. Just make sure you’re paying it off every month. Don’t chase rewards unless your spending habits are already under control.

8. Use TurboTax to Check Your Retirement Contributions

Each year when I file my taxes, I use TurboTax to double-check my retirement contributions. It makes it easy to see if I’m maxing out my 401(k) or IRA and helps avoid missing out on tax advantages. I’ve used it every year since I started working. It also helped me understand where my money was really going.

9. Open a Roth IRA

I started mine with just a few hundred dollars and added to it consistently. Once I was making a steady income, I began maxing it out every year. It’s one of the easiest, most beginner-friendly ways to grow wealth tax-free over time. You don’t get a tax break today, but the long-term gains and tax-free withdrawals in retirement are huge.

10. Follow One Investing Newsletter or Blog

There’s a lot of noise out there, but following just one solid resource helped me stay informed without getting overwhelmed. It’s easy to feel paralyzed when you’re trying to learn everything at once. One good blog or newsletter keeps your momentum going. That’s part of why I started mine — to offer clear, practical advice without the fluff.

Start with just 2–3 of these today. Forward momentum is everything.