While I’ve always loved seeing what influencers and YouTube-rs received for the holidays, I’ve never really felt super comfortable sharing what I received for either my birthday or Hanukkah. I think it makes me nervous because I never want to come across as if I were bragging or showing off, and to be completely honest and transparent, the best part about the holidays isn’t ever the gifts I receive, but instead, the people I spend it with. Also, the food during this time of year never disappoints ;)
However, this year, one of the best gifts I received from my parents was a little bit of money to invest in the stock markets. I started investing using Robinhood during the initial days of quarantine because I wanted something to learn and focus my time on. I honestly wish I had started when I was in my early days of high school or college, even if it were just a few inexpensive stocks here and there so I could learn how the markets really work, flow, and change.
As I was learning, I tried to find resources that were good for beginners and used words that I could actually understand and follow. It can be EXTREMELY intimidating at first, but once you realize that no one really knows anything it helps you out. I started by investing in inexpensive stocks that I could afford but still knew the names of. For example, I bought one share of Snapchat when it was around $18 and now it’s worth $48. In hindsight, I wish I bought more shares, but also, I’m glad I didn’t because I had no idea what anything meant at that point and it’s fun to watch single shares grow so exponentially.
It’s been such a fun experience, and Robinhood makes it VERY simple to buy and sell stocks. This is not a sponsored post at all, but if you’re interested in trying it out yourself, click here for a link to signup for Robinhood and receive a free initial stock. My brother invited me and I got a free Ford stock that I still have and has grown ever so slightly, and when you sign up with this referral code you have a 1 in 350 chance of getting Microsoft ($215.37), Walmart ($145.26), or Visa ($215.09) .. and you don’t need any money in your account to get your free stock.
I would just advise that if you do start investing, start small and start slow. There is such a big learning curve that it’s important that you only bite off a little piece at a time. I read some advice (I can’t remember where) that said something like “invest what you’re willing to lose.” As in, don’t invest your entire life savings, invest as if it’s the spare change at the bottom of your purse. This will allow you to learn without risk, at least in the beginning.
A few resources that helped and continue to help are:
Let me know if you do end up learning or if you already invest and how you learn!
Thanks for reading!
xo
chloe