When I first started learning about investing, the idea of putting in large sums of money felt daunting. I didn’t have a ton of cash to throw around, and frankly, I was a bit intimidated by the complex world of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. But then I came across an idea that seemed so simple: invest \$10 a week. I figured, “Hey, even I can do that.” So, I decided to give it a try.
In this article, I’m going to walk you through what happened when I invested \$10 every week for 90 days — and why it might just be one of the easiest ways for beginnersto start investing. If you’re someone wondering how to invest \$10 a week as a beginner, this is the story you need to hear.
Why I Decided to Invest \$10 a Week
The decision to invest \$10 a week was a conscious one. I wasn’t trying to make a fortune overnight. Instead, I wanted to test whether small, consistent investments could add up over time, and I wanted to see how this strategy would perform compared to a one-time lump sum investment.
I had read plenty of articles about the power of dollar-cost averaging, where you invest a fixed amount at regular intervals regardless of market conditions. This strategy seemed like a perfect fit for a beginner like me — simple, low-stress, and without the need to overthink things. I didn’t have to predict market movements or pick the next big stock; I just needed to stick to the plan.
The main reason behind choosing \$10 a week? It was affordable. I wasn’t trying to put my entire paycheck into the market. Just a small, manageable amount that wouldn’t disrupt my budget.
How I Set Up My \$10 a Week Investment Plan
I knew that to make this experiment work, I needed to choose a platform that made regular investments easy. After some research, I settled on an app that allowed for automatic weekly investments in **index funds** and **ETFs**. These are generally low-cost, diversified investments, perfect for someone who’s just getting started.
Choosing Index Funds and ETFs
I’ve always been a fan of the idea of index funds. They track a broad market index (like the S\&P 500) and offer exposure to a variety of companies, making them less risky than investing in individual stocks. By choosing ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) that mirror the index, I got the benefit of low fees and long-term growth potential.
One of the best parts of investing in index funds is that I didn’t have to do much research to pick individual stocks. I didn’t have to worry about which company was going to perform better or worse over the next 90 days. I just invested in a broad market index fund and let time work in my favor.
Setting It and Forgetting It
After setting up my account and choosing my investment strategy, the next step was easy: I automated the process. Each week, \$10 was automatically deducted from my account and invested into my chosen ETFs. I didn’t have to worry about remembering to do it, and I wasn’t tempted to second-guess the market. I just let it happen.
What Happened After 90 Days?
1. The Power of Dollar-Cost Averaging
One of the key benefits of investing \$10 a week is **dollar-cost averaging**. Essentially, this means that I was buying into the market at different prices every week. Some weeks, the market was up, and other weeks, it was down. But because I was consistently investing the same amount, I bought more shares when prices were low and fewer shares when prices were high.
Let’s break it down a little:
- Week 1: The market was down, so my \$10 bought me more shares.
- Week 2: The market bounced back, and my \$10 bought fewer shares.
- Week 3: The market dipped again, and I got more shares for my \$10.
At the end of the 90 days, I had accumulated more shares than if I had invested a lump sum all at once, simply because I was buying at varying prices.
2. Watching the Market Fluctuate
While my investment wasn’t growing dramatically in the first few weeks, I could see the compounding effect starting to take shape. There were some ups and downs in the market — that’s just part of the deal with investing. But I wasn’t panicking. I had set my expectations low, and because I was in it for the long haul, I wasn’t stressed out by temporary dips.
There were a couple of moments where I thought the market might go south, and I questioned whether I should pull my money out. But that would have been a classic emotional reaction, and I reminded myself that the goal was consistency. I trusted the process and stayed the course.
3. A Small But Noticeable Gain
At the end of 90 days, my \$10-a-week strategy had resulted in a modest gain. I ended up with about a 5% return on my initial investment, which wasn’t groundbreaking but was still a positive result. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting massive returns — but the fact that I made money with such a small amount showed me the power of consistent investing.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Total Invested: \$10 x 12 weeks = \$120
- Value at the End of 90 Days: \$126 (5% return)
It wasn’t life-changing money, but considering I didn’t even have to think about it, the result was pretty solid. The best part? My \$10 a week didn’t feel like a huge sacrifice. It was an amount I barely missed from my weekly budget, but it was working for me in the background.
4. The Psychological Benefit
As a beginner, the emotional side of investing can be tricky. You worry about making the wrong move or about losing money. But by sticking with the \$10-a-week strategy, I didn’t feel overwhelmed. The process felt **easy** and **low-stress**. Plus, it was great seeing my portfolio slowly grow week by week, which kept me motivated to continue investing.
There’s something incredibly reassuring about knowing you’re consistently putting money into something that has the potential to grow. Each \$10 deposit felt like a small step toward financial security.
What I Learned and Why It Works for Beginners
1. Consistency Over Time
The biggest takeaway for me was how much **consistency matters** in investing. By committing to invest just \$10 a week, I didn’t have to worry about timing the market. I didn’t need to stress over picking the “right” moment to invest. The key was showing up every week and letting time do the heavy lifting.
2. Small Amounts Add Up
It might seem like a small amount at first, but when you keep contributing regularly, those small amounts can add up. In fact, if I continue investing \$10 a week for a year, that could easily turn into an extra \$520 invested — and I can expect more of those steady returns to compound over time.
3. Start Where You Are
If you’re a beginner and feel overwhelmed by the thought of investing, start small. The \$10-a-week strategy is an excellent way to dip your toes into the investment world without feeling like you need a large chunk of capital upfront.
Final Thoughts
Investing \$10 a week for 90 days was a simple, effective way for me to get my feet wet in the world of investing. It wasn’t about making a fortune; it was about getting started and building a habit. Now, I can confidently say that I’ve learned valuable lessons about consistency, patience, and the power of small, regular contributions.
If you’re a beginnerwondering how to start investing but feeling like you don’t have enough money to begin, I highly recommend giving the \$10-a-week strategy a try. It’s low-risk, easy to set up, and it’s a great way to start building wealth without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, it’s one of the best ways to get comfortable with the idea of investing, even if you don’t have a huge budget.
So, go ahead and start small — just \$10 a week can be the first step toward a much brighter financial future.
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