Investing isn't just for rich people in suits. It's for anyone who wants their money to grow while they sleep. And you can start with just $100. Here's the no-BS guide to your first investment.

Step 1: Choose Your Platform

For beginners, these apps make investing actually easy:

  • Fidelity โ€” Zero fees, solid research tools, fractional shares
  • Schwab โ€” Great customer service, no minimums
  • Robinhood โ€” Simple interface (but limited research)
  • Acorns โ€” Rounds up purchases, invests spare change

Step 2: Decide Your Strategy

With $100, you have two smart options:

Option A: Index Fund (Recommended)
Buy VOO (S&P 500) or VTI (Total Market). You own a tiny piece of 500-4,000 companies instantly. Historically returns 10% annually. Set it and forget it.

Option B: Individual Stocks (More Risk)
Pick 1-2 companies you believe in. Only do this if you'll research earnings, trends, and actually pay attention. Most beginners lose money here.

Step 3: Make Your First Purchase

1. Link your bank account
2. Transfer your $100
3. Search for VOO (or your chosen stock)
4. Hit 'Buy' โ€” you now own investments

Step 4: Set Up Automatic Investing

The secret to wealth isn't timing the market โ€” it's time IN the market. Set up auto-invest:

  • $25/week = $1,300/year invested
  • $100/month = $1,200/year invested
  • At 10% returns, $100/month becomes $200k+ in 30 years

The Mindset Shift

Stop thinking: 'I'll invest when I have more money'
Start thinking: 'I'll invest whatever I have, consistently'

That $100 today? In 40 years at 10% average return, it's $4,500. That's just from one $100 investment. Imagine if you added $100 monthly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

  • Day trading (you'll lose)
  • Checking your portfolio daily (causes panic selling)
  • Investing money you need in 6 months
  • Following Reddit stock tips blindly

The Bottom Line: Your first $100 investment matters less for the money and more for starting the habit. Open the account. Make the purchase. Become an investor. The rest is just consistency.