A Politically Different Investment Guide
You’ve certainly found yourself in this situation before: you’ve paid all your bills, and now you have $100 left to invest.
This is especially common if you’re young and in your first job, though even experienced professionals face this scenario.
But then the question hits you: Do I really need to invest this hundred dollars? After all, it’s a small amount—what kind of return could I possibly get?
The answer is always YES. If you ever want to accumulate wealth and escape the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, you need to start accumulating and investing.
However, let’s analyze some other aspects in this article that can multiply this invested value by 10x.
When Should You Invest $100?
Now, Tomorrow, or Next Year?
Many people think that every dollar earned must be invested IMMEDIATELY. In reality, this doesn’t have to be the case.
Every dollar earned should be allocated thoughtfully. Deciding when to invest your money is crucial, but before that happens, you need to define your objectives.
Most importantly, where you put your money will determine the pace at which you invest—and this is crucial in your investment journey.
Where Should You Invest?
“To keep a fire burning, you have to keep adding wood.”
Wait a moment. What does this phrase mean? Let’s create a hypothetical situation and analyze two investment approaches:
- Investing in stocks (variable income)
- Investing in yourself (increasing capacity)
First Hypothesis: Stock Market Investment
You invested $100 every month for a year, totaling $1,200. You studied and dedicated yourself, analyzed stocks, watched videos and analyses, and achieved a 15% annual return.
Results:
- Initial investment: $1,200
- Return (15%): $180
- Total: $1,380 gross
At this amount, there’s no tax incidence, so no tax forms needed.
Did it pay off to spend 2 hours per day × 200 days per year to earn $180?
Definitely not. You became more experienced and learned, but the amount is too small to make a real difference or get you out of your current situation.
Second Hypothesis: Investing in Yourself
I don’t know what your profession is right now, but I know two things: either you love it and want to specialize, or you want to change careers soon.
Now, let’s take those monthly $100 and invest in a technical course. It’s faster than a college degree, gives you your first official diploma, validates your expertise, and provides you with a trade.
Benefits of this approach:
- Higher chances of changing jobs
- Salary increase opportunities
- Certainty that within a year, you’ll earn much more than the $180 gross return from the first case
Why Doesn’t Anyone Tell You This?
Here’s the truth: people only recommend what’s good for them. There’s nothing wrong with that, but what I want you to understand is that you’re on your own when it comes to reflection, and you need to choose what’s best for you.
It’s important to take time to think and understand what will be better for you. Only you know what’s best for your situation.
How to Do This?
To complete our reasoning today, let’s address the million-dollar question: How do I do this?
You’re going to do an exercise with me right now:
The 15-Minute Reflection Exercise:
- Put your phone on silent
- Set a timer for 15 minutes
- Get paper and pen
- Write down what you enjoy + what you’d like to do with your life
This list must contain YOUR preferences—not your friend’s, not an influencer’s, not a celebrity’s, or an athlete’s. Do these people influence your life? Of course! But it’s up to you to reflect on what you really want.
You’re not going to write “I want a Ferrari this year” because that’s not how it works. You can want the Ferrari—there’s nothing wrong with that.
But understand that before the Ferrari, you’ll need:
- The economy car
- The mid-range sedan
- The luxury vehicle
- The sports car
- Then the Ferrari
Everything in life is a step-by-step process. Do you think you can make quantum leaps in life without being prepared? That’s not how life works.
Practical Summary: What to Do with $100 Monthly
Here’s your action plan:
Step 1: Self-Discovery
- Take time to understand what you want and what you enjoy
Step 2: Goal Setting
- Visualize and write down your objectives on paper
Step 3: Self-Investment
- Invest in yourself relentlessly
Step 4: Gradual Progress
- You’ll reach the top of the mountain, but you have to climb one level at a time
If you’ve made it this far, it’s because you enjoyed this content and want to change your life. Share this with a friend who needs this wake-up call. Thank you for your time.
Ready to transform your financial future? The choice is yours.