If you’ve ever thought, “I want to start investing, but I only have $100”, you’re not alone. That’s exactly where I started — and trust me, I had no clue what I was doing. But 30 days later, I learned more than I expected (and yes, I still have my $100 — plus a bit more).
Whether you’re trying to grow your money, build better habits, or just figure out how to invest $100 as a beginner, this story is for you.
Why Start With $100?
Starting small made everything feel less scary. I wasn’t risking rent money, and it gave me permission to just try. Here’s why $100 is a great amount to begin with:
- It’s low-risk — you won’t lose sleep.
- It forces you to be thoughtful about every dollar.
- It’s enough to test tools, platforms, and strategies.
- And hey, if you’re like me, it’s motivating to see that even small steps can add up over time.
Step 1: Choosing Where to Invest
I didn’t want to gamble — I wanted to learn.
I started researching platforms that were beginner-friendly, had no commissions, and allowed fractional investing. After digging through Reddit threads and watching a few YouTube reviews, I landed on Robinhood and Public.
But eventually, I chose Public for one big reason: it lets you invest in fractional shares and shows real commentary from other investors.
Tip: Look for platforms that allow fractional shares — so your $100 can be spread across multiple assets.
Step 2: Building My $100 Beginner Portfolio
Here’s how I split my $100:
Investment Type Company/Asset Amount Invested
Tech Stock Apple (AAPL) $25
Index Fund (ETF) VOO (S&P 500) $40
Dividend Stock Realty Income $20
Crypto (Why not?) Bitcoin (BTC) $10
Cash (Leftover) — $5
Was it the perfect portfolio? Definitely not. But it was balanced enough to give me exposure to growth, income, and a little bit of risk (hello, Bitcoin).
The First Week: Anxiety & Overthinking
Not gonna lie — I checked my app about 10 times a day.
I panicked when my Bitcoin dropped 4%. I celebrated when Apple went up 2%. Then I realized: this emotional rollercoaster wasn’t helping.
What I learned:
The market moves constantly. Don’t obsess.
Set it and forget it (mostly).
Stick to your why: I was here to learn, not double my money.
Week 2: Learning the Basics (Without Getting Overwhelmed)
I finally stopped staring at the charts and started learning about compound interest, dividends, and why people love ETFs.
I followed a few beginner investing creators on TikTok and YouTube, and started to grasp:
Why diversification matters.
What a stop loss is.
How dividends work (I even earned $0.08!).
Favorite beginner tip I heard: “You don’t need to beat the market — you just need to be in the market.”
Week 3: Mindset Shift
By week 3, I wasn’t just learning — I was starting to think like an investor.
I set a recurring transfer of $25/month to keep growing my portfolio. I also started using Google Sheets to track my tiny portfolio (yeah, I felt like Warren Buffett).
Small win: I stopped thinking, “$100 isn’t enough.”
Instead, I started thinking, “This is how I build something bigger.”
Week 4: Results (and Realizations)
Here’s how my portfolio looked after 30 days:
Investment Value After 30 Days Gain/Loss
Apple (AAPL) $26.13 +$1.13
VOO (ETF) $39.75 -$0.25
Realty Income $20.08 +$0.08 (dividend)
Bitcoin $9.45 -$0.55
Total $95.41 -$4.59
So, yes — I technically lost money. But honestly? I gained more than I expected.
What I’d Do Differently (and What You Can Learn)
Start with ETFs and dividend stocks — they’re more stable.
Avoid investing in crypto on Day 1 — it’s volatile and emotional.
Track your performance weekly — but don’t obsess daily.
Don’t invest based on trends or social media hype.
Keep learning — and automate your contributions if you can.
Final Thoughts: Was It Worth It?
100%.
Sure, I didn’t become a millionaire — but that wasn’t the goal. I started with just $100, and in 30 days I became someone who:
Opened an investment account
Built a mini-portfolio
Learned key investing concepts
Started a habit that will grow for life
If you’re wondering how to invest $100 as a beginner, I hope this showed you that it’s not about the amount — it’s about the mindset and the action.
Over to You
What would you do with $100? Would you go all-in on one stock, or spread it out like I did? Drop your thoughts in the comments — I’d love to hear your beginner investing journey.
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