How much money do I need to start investing? (2024)

Thanks to the disruption of low cost-investing, the answer to this question is really up to you. It is now possible to invest with as little as R5 on EasyEquities – yes we’re serious – but each person will have their own considerations for an amount that is comfortable for them to invest with. The good news is, you have options!

Waiting has a price too

Getting stuck on the idea that you need to have a certain amount of money or lump sum before you start investing, could be doing you a disservice. Instead of waiting for your ship to come in, why not captain your own right now. If you can start investing straight away with small amounts you’re giving yourself the opportunity to learn as you go and build your confidence, without large amounts of money at stake. You’ll also reap the benefits of any returns you make on those small investment amounts, which add up.There are no minimums if you invest using EasyEquities. Zilch!

But some shares are hella expensive. Do I need to save up to invest in those?

Nope. Not even.

Sure, some shares are more expensive than others. In fact shares with hefty share prices are often appealing shares to own. We’re looking at you Naspers and Capitec! But just because you don’t have the amount needed to invest one whole share, that doesn’t mean you can’t invest in it at all. EasyEquities allows you to invest in a portion of a share, while still getting the benefits of being a shareholder. This is called Fractional Share Investing and we’re the only one’s who offer it in South Africa. Even though a share’s price might be, say R1000, you’re able to invest in and own R100 of that share.

Lump sums or monthly bits

Some people reckon investing 10% of your take home salary each month is winning, but even if you can get to 5%, that’s really good going too. Other people prefer to invest chunks of money as they get them – like when you get a tax rebate, or some birthday moolah. So what is the best investment strategy of them all? It’s the one that is going to work for you as a lifestyle and a behavior you can maintain. If substituting what you would normally spend on one cappuccino each week with money that you invest instead is what works for you, do that. Even if it is just R100 a month to begin with. But if you’d prefer to wait for that December bonus so that you can put R5000 in all at once, power to you!

How much money do I need to start investing? (2024)

FAQs

How much money do I need to start investing? ›

Generally, experts recommend investing around 10-20% of your income. But the more realistic answer might be whatever amount you can afford.

How much money do you need to start investing? ›

There's no minimum income you must earn before you can invest. But it's important for your long-term financial security to set aside money for emergencies and to have debt under control. Once you've put those plans into action, you're ready to invest.

Is $1,000 enough to start investing? ›

Paying down debt or creating an emergency fund is a way to invest $1,000. Investing $1,000 in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) allows investors to diversify and save on transaction costs. Debt instruments like bonds and Treasury bills are low-risk investments that may offer a steady yield.

Is $5,000 enough to start investing? ›

The possibilities widen at the $5,000 level. You have more options for mutual funds, individual company shares, index funds, IRAs, and for investing in real estate. While $5,000 isn't enough to purchase property or even to make a down payment, it's enough to get a stake in real estate in other ways.

Is $500 good to start investing? ›

The potential payoff: $500 invested at a 10% return for 30 years could grow to around $10,000 before inflation, 20 times your initial investment. Even better would be to use this windfall to kickstart an investment-savings habit by opening an account and auto-contributing $10 or $100 more per month.

Is $100 a month enough to invest? ›

Investing $100 per month, with an average return rate of 10%, will yield $200,000 after 30 years. Due to compound interest, your investment will yield $535,000 after 40 years. These numbers can grow exponentially with an extra $100. If you make a monthly investment of $200, your 30-year yield will be close to $400,000.

Is $100 a week enough to invest? ›

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.

How much is $1000 a month for 5 years? ›

In fact, at the end of the five years, if you invest $1,000 per month you would have $83,156.62 in your investment account, according to the SIP calculator (assuming a yearly rate of return of 11.97% and quarterly compounding).

Is $1 enough to invest? ›

Investing $1 a day not only allows you to start taking advantage of compound interest. It also helps you to get comfortable with investing and develop the habit of putting your money to work for you. As you can see, that single dollar can make a huge difference in helping you to become more financially secure.

How to invest for dummies? ›

  1. 10 Step Guide to Investing in Stocks.
  2. Step 1: Set Clear Investment Goals.
  3. Step 2: Determine How Much You Can Afford To Invest.
  4. Step 3: Determine Your Tolerance for Risk.
  5. Step 4: Determine Your Investing Style.
  6. Choose an Investment Account.
  7. Step 6: Learn the Costs of Investing.
  8. Step 7: Pick Your Broker.

How can I flip 500$? ›

Here are five ways you can get started building passive income with $500 or less.
  1. Sell digital products online. One way to generate passive income online is to sell digital products. ...
  2. Buy stocks. ...
  3. Real estate investing through crowdfunding. ...
  4. Vending machines. ...
  5. Open a high-yield savings account.
Oct 10, 2023

How to make 10K from 5K? ›

8 tips to transition from 5K to 10K
  1. Build up your distance gradually. Building up to a 10K takes time so don't expect to achieve too much too soon. ...
  2. Take rest days. ...
  3. Cross-train. ...
  4. Stretch. ...
  5. Do one long run a week. ...
  6. Do a threshold session once a week. ...
  7. Set yourself a goal. ...
  8. Stick your training plan on the fridge.
May 17, 2023

What is the safest investment with the highest return? ›

Here are the best low-risk investments in April 2024:
  • High-yield savings accounts.
  • Money market funds.
  • Short-term certificates of deposit.
  • Series I savings bonds.
  • Treasury bills, notes, bonds and TIPS.
  • Corporate bonds.
  • Dividend-paying stocks.
  • Preferred stocks.
Apr 1, 2024

How much is $500 a month for 20 years? ›

For example, an investor who holds their portfolio for 10 years will put $60,000 into it (10 years of investing x 12 months per year x $500 per month), while an investor who holds the same portfolio for 20 years will contribute $120,000 worth of capital.

Is saving $500 a month a lot? ›

The short answer to what happens if you invest $500 a month is that you'll almost certainly build wealth over time. In fact, if you keep investing that $500 every month for 40 years, you could become a millionaire. More than a millionaire, in fact.

Is investing $100 good? ›

Investing just $100 a month can actually do a whole lot to help you grow rich over time. In fact, the table below shows how much your $100 monthly investment could turn into over time, assuming you earn a 10% average annual return.

Is $200 enough to start investing? ›

Investing early and often is the key

As long as you commit to investing $200 per month or whatever you can afford, you'll put yourself into a much better financial position by the time you retire.

How much money do I need to invest to make $1000 a month? ›

A stock portfolio focused on dividends can generate $1,000 per month or more in perpetual passive income, Mircea Iosif wrote on Medium. “For example, at a 4% dividend yield, you would need a portfolio worth $300,000.

Is it worth investing $10 in stocks? ›

Unfortunately, quality stocks trading for less than $10 are few and far between. Stocks priced at this level can be a red flag for investors that something serious is wrong with a company. Many of these stocks have challenged underlying business models or difficult near-term outlooks.

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