Let’s Talk About Investing: How I’m Building Wealth for My Family’s Future
Hey Budgetees 💸✨
I know firsthand that starting your financial journey can feel like trying to swim in an ocean—with waves like student loans, rising rent, and everyday life crashing into you. I’ve been there, and I still live there in some ways—but the beauty of this journey is progress.
Today, I want to talk about one of the most important tools to building long-term wealth and generational freedom: investing.
Why Investing Matters
If budgeting is the foundation of financial success, then investing is the blueprint for building wealth. It’s what allows your money to work for you, not just with you. When you invest, you’re not just saving—you’re growing your net worth, building assets, and leaving a legacy.
For my husband and I, investing isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. We want to retire early. We want to own property. And most importantly, we want to give future generations a head start we didn’t have.
My Personal Investing Journey
I started small—and I’m still growing. Here’s how I currently invest to secure our financial future:
🟢 Roth IRA
A Roth IRA is one of my favorite investing tools because it allows my money to grow tax-free. While I don’t max it out every year yet, that’s always the goal.
📝 Tip: If you can contribute even $100 a month, you’re making powerful moves toward your future.
🟢 Traditional 401(k) + Roth 401(k)
Through my full-time job, I contribute to both a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). The Roth 401(k) allows me to invest after-tax dollars now, so I can withdraw tax-free in retirement. This mix gives me tax advantages both now and in the future.
🎯 Goal: Max out my 401(k) contributions yearly and continue increasing as our income grows.
🟢 Brokerage Accounts
We also invest in a taxable brokerage account for flexibility and short-to-midterm goals. This allows us to build wealth outside of retirement accounts.
What I Invest In (And Why)
I’m not here to time the market or chase hype—I’m here to grow our money steadily and sustainably. That’s why I focus on:
-
Index Funds (my favs!)
These track the market (like the S&P 500), giving instant diversification, low fees, and solid long-term returns. -
Individual Stocks (a small slice!)
I keep this small and only invest in companies I understand and trust. -
Diversified Investing
My portfolio includes U.S. stocks, international funds, and a few dividend ETFs—because the more diverse, the more secure.
How to Start Investing: Step-by-Step
If you’re just getting started, here’s a simple roadmap:
-
Contribute to Your Employer’s 401(k)
-
Start with what you can and try to get the full company match.
-
Consider splitting your contributions between Traditional and Roth 401(k) options.
-
-
Open a Roth IRA
-
Platforms like Fidelity, Schwab, and Vanguard make it easy. I use both Schwab.
-
-
Explore a Brokerage Account
-
For extra flexibility and access to your investments before retirement age.
-
-
Stick to Index Funds & ETFs
-
VTI, FXAIX, SCHD—these are great starting points.
-
-
Automate Your Contributions
-
Consistency builds wealth even when life gets busy.
-
-
Track Progress & Adjust As Needed
-
Make adjustments as your income, goals, and priorities shift.
-
Our Wealth-Building Vision
Our plan as a couple is to:
-
Reduce our expenses
-
Increase our investments
-
Own a home outright
-
Live comfortably while building wealth for generations to come
This isn’t about overnight success—it’s about long-term strategy, discipline, and intentional growth.
Final Thoughts: Just Start
You don’t need to be a millionaire to start investing. I began when we were still paying off credit cards and car loans. I kept going even with student loan payments hanging over my head.
Whether you’re contributing $25 or $500 a month, what matters most is that you start.
💡 Because every investment you make today is a gift to your future self.
P.S.
Need help budgeting so you can start investing? Download my “Mo’ Budget, Less Problems” Digital Budget Planner—the same tool I use to juggle debt payments, bills, and growing investments.