by Juan Leer

Created on: July 20, 2007   Last Updated: August 04, 2009

Getting started with investing can feel like a daunting task. There are so many numbers, and so many options of where to go with your money that it makes you want to give up before you begin. This is true about getting started with many things, but especially true with investing... it can be tough and a little scary to actually get started, but becomes a lot easier and less scary as you go along.

First, you might have to start small, and that's ok. You don't have to have a lot of money to get started in investing. You can invest a small sum, or even better you can invest a small sum and commit to investing that same amount each month. That is what I do. I invest a small amount ($100/month) each month, and by making that automatic I hardly even notice when the money is gone and you are slowly building up your investment.

The next thing is to keep it simple. If you're just getting started in investing, you probably don't want to start with a bunch of complicated investments where you don't really know what is going on. Keep things simple so you can at least have a basic understanding of what is happening, and this will put your mind more at ease and help you make more informed decisions in the future. Take a look at mutual funds or index funds, which are less risky than trying to pick individual stocks, which you should never do when you're just getting started with investing.

The third, thing, is that having a little doubt is normal, but you just have to get over that and get started with the investing. It's a lot easier to just mindlessly spend the money, but it's a lot smarter and going to be a lot better for your future if you can start with investing. One thing you have to be sure to do is find out your risk tolerance. Just how much risk are you going to take? If you figure that out, and stay within those boundaries (or at least close to it), it will be a lot easier to feel good about your investing and where you're putting your money.

So getting started with investing can be a tough thing, but once you get started it becomes a lot easier. So get started today! Remember, the earlier you start investing, the more time the money has to grow for you, and the better off you will be in the long run. Even if it makes you a little nervous, get started investing and soon as you can, and you'll thank yourself later.

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