06/07/2026
I dipped my toes into investing at 22, but I only started taking it seriously at 26. And honestly, I wish I had started sooner. It sounds far more complicated than it actually is, so here is what I learned:
*It's never too late to start
Every time someone told me their investments grew by X% that month, I would think - well, that ship has sailed. And then I would do nothing. The truth is it is never too late. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is not here yet, and today is the only day you can actually start.
*Getting it wrong doesn't matter if you play the long game
I bought some ETFs a week before the last US elections. Then everything dropped by 20%. It felt like it would never recover and I had just thrown that money away. Fast forward 1.5 years and it has not only recovered, it has grown on top. The lesson: if you leave it for 1, 5, 10 years or longer, there is a very good chance you get your money back, with interest.
*My cigarette investment fund
The best decision I made was setting up a standing order. A fixed amount goes into my investments every month, automatically. Some months I buy when the market is high, some when it is low, and I never have to guess the "right" moment. It takes the emotion out completely, which is exactly where most of us go wrong.
(I call it that because I don't smoke and it's basically just the amount that would be spending on ci******es if I would smoke 😅)
In part 2 I will cover how to choose what to buy without getting overwhelmed, and the one place your money quietly loses value. Follow so you do not miss it.
One honest note: I am sharing what worked for me, not financial advice. Investments can go down as well as up, so only invest money you can leave alone for a while.
