Alright, let’s just be real for a minute. You’re probably seeing all these fancy words like “investment,” “portfolio,” “returns,” and you’re thinking, “Hold up, I’m barely making it to month-end! Why should investing even be my business?” Or maybe you’ve got this idea that investing is only for super-rich people in suits, or those who inherited a massive pile of cash. If that’s you, then pull up a chair, because we need to clear some things up, and it’s going to blow your mind.
The biggest myth out there is that you need a huge amount of money to start investing. That’s actually a big fat lie that keeps many young people, especially us Gen Zs, from ever even taking the first step. The truth is, you can start small. Like, really small. Think about that N5,000 you just spent on a new outfit, or that N3,000 for a few rounds of drinks with friends. Now, imagine if just a fraction of that money wasn’t spent, but instead, was working for you. Literally earning more money for you while you sleep or go about your day. That’s the core idea behind investing, and it’s powered by something finance gurus call the “Time Value of Money.”
Let’s break that down: “Time Value of Money” simply means that money available today is worth more than the same amount of money in the future. Why? Because the money you have today can be invested and start earning interest or returns. So, N5,000 invested today could become N5,500 next year, and N6,500 the year after, and so on. It’s like planting a tiny seed in fertile ground.
You plant it today, and over time, with a bit of sunlight (returns) and water (consistent small contributions), that tiny seed can grow into a mighty tree producing plenty of fruit.
The earlier you plant that seed (start investing), the more time it has to grow into a massive tree. This is why even starting with “small money” is a genius move for your future. You’re giving your money the longest possible head start to multiply. So, stop giving excuses, stop playing small, and let’s get that money working for you. Your future self will be sending you thank-you notes.
