Starting with just a little cash taught me that sticking with it is key.
I was reviewing some starter portfolios and noticed how many folks pick funds based purely on past performance without checking the fees. Those small percentages add up over decades, quietly eating into returns that could have been compounding. Do you have a threshold for expense ratios that makes you walk away from an otherwise tempting fund?
I used to panic-buy into every 'next big thing' I saw online, only to watch it crash soon after. After several costly mistakes, I committed to a diversified ETF portfolio and regular contributions. The difference is night and day; no more sleepless nights over market dips. Your mileage may vary, but for me, this approach has been a total sanity saver.
Public projects like this are intro to fixed income.