@twosidesofadime: Step 3 of investing from scratch is to know exactly how much you should be investing every month to hit your goals. First calculate your financial independence number which is Annual Expenses X 25. Example, $50,000 annual expenses X 25 = $1,250,000 Then take your FI number and enter that into a savings calculator, to calculate your monthly savings number. I love to use free calculator at investor.gov. Make sure you add this number to your monthly budget and if you don’t have enough surplus to fit it in, you can adjust your retirement age, expenses or income until you find your sweet spot. What’s your FI number and monthly savings number? #investingforbeginners #howtoinvest