You can start investing $500 by selecting an investment account, deciding whether you want help and diversifying with ETFs. In general, you should plan to stay invested for at least five years.
Yes, an S&P 500 fund would be a great place to start, especially if you do like you said and invest a fixed amount each month. Dollar cost averaging is a great way to go that requires very little thought/effort. You won't become a millionaire overnight but you'll beat a lot of people who try to do that and fail.
Investing $500 a month can lead to significant long-term growth, thanks to the power of compounding returns. Whether you are just starting out or adding to an existing portfolio, consistently investing $500 each month can help you build substantial savings for future goals, like retirement or a down payment on a house.
As a general rule of thumb, you want to aim to invest a total of 10% to 15% of your income each year for retirement. That probably sounds unrealistic now, but you can start small and work your way up to it over time. (Calculate a more specific retirement goal with our retirement calculator.)
Invest in Dividend Stocks
Last but certainly not least, a stock portfolio focused on dividends can generate $1,000 per month or more in perpetual passive income. However, at an example 4% dividend yield, you would need a portfolio worth $300,000, which is a substantial upfront investment.
Dividend stocks can be a great choice for investors looking for passive income. View our list of high-dividend stocks, and learn how to invest in them. There are a lot of ways to invest money — high-yield savings accounts, CDs, bonds, funds and stocks are all options.
AbbVie offers solid growth, an extraordinary dividend, and a long history of success. PepsiCo is in a growth lull right now, but the stock's valuation has fallen too far. Hershey could make investors look brilliant once it gets past short-term challenges.
If you invest $50 per week, that's the equivalent of $200 per month, or approximately $2,400 per year. Over a 30-year period, that would result in more than $72,000 in savings. It's a good chunk of savings, but it isn't a life-changing amount.
And you'll need to invest effectively, such as in a low-fee S&P 500 index fund. If you can invest $500 per month into the stock market and you earn its historical average annual return of roughly 10%, you'll be a millionaire in about 30 years. It will take about 21 years if you invest $1,250 per month.
Some mutual funds let investors buy in with no minimum at all—meaning that even $5, $10, or $100 can get you invested.
Investors should allocate $100 each week and buy shares of dividend-paying companies equipped with strong fundamentals. So, if you invest $100 a week, your equity portfolio would balloon to $5,200 in a year and $26,000 in five years.
Starting your investment journey with $500 doesn't mean you're limited to penny stocks or high-risk investments. In fact, today's financial markets offer more accessible options than ever for small investors, thanks to fractional shares, commission-free trading, and low-minimum investment products.
Is $1,000 a week good money? Consistently making $1,000 a week would amount to $52,000 annually before taxes and expenses. While this can be good money, especially if it supplements your regular paycheck, earning consistent amounts from a side hustle is not always possible and can take a lot of time and effort.
It's a common myth that you need a few thousand dollars to begin investing. It actually works in your favor to start investing early—even with as little as $50 a month—rather than to wait until you have a few thousand dollars saved up.
Best stocks for beginners with little money include Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Coca-Cola (KO), Procter & Gamble (PG), and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO). These options are well-suited because they combine stability, growth potential, and income generation.
The truth is, $1,000 is a great place to start investing and can make a difference in your financial health. Below, CNBC Select suggests several ways you can invest $1,000 and explains how to decide which option may work best for you. Some investments might offer greater returns, but they also come with greater risk.
401(k) or another workplace retirement plan
This can be one of the simplest ways to get started in investing and comes with some major incentives that could benefit you now and in the future.
$3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year. $36,000 / 6% dividend yield = $600,000. On the other hand, if you're more risk-averse and prefer a portfolio yielding 2%, you'd need to invest $1.8 million to reach the $3,000 per month target: $3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year.