From $0 to $100,000: My 5-Year Investment Journey as a Complete Beginner

In April 2025, I checked my investment account—$100,032. Five years ago, in 2020, I had $0 invested, no clue about stocks, and a $35,000 job. Today, I’m proof that anyone can build wealth from scratch with persistence, learning, and a plan. This isn’t a get-rich-quick tale—it’s a gritty, real investing journey from beginner to $100,000, fueled by small steps, mistakes, and grit. In 2025, with 62% of U.S. households invested (Gallup 2024), my story offers hope and lessons for novices. Here’s how I did it, year by year—your roadmap starts here.

Year 0: The Starting Line—2020

In 2020, I was 25, fresh out of college with a communications degree, $10,000 in student loans, and a $35,000 job—$2,200 monthly after taxes. Investing? I thought it was for Wall Street suits, not me. Then COVID hit—lockdowns, markets crashed, and friends talked Robinhood. I had $500 saved—my “emergency fund.” Curiosity struck: could I grow it? In 2025 hindsight, ignorance was my hurdle—I didn’t know compound interest or ETFs. But that $500 was my spark.

Year 1: First Steps and Stumbles—2021

Balance: $5,000. How: I downloaded Robinhood—$0 commissions lured me. May 2021, I invested $500 in an S&P 500 ETF (VOO)—$5 minimums via fractional shares. My job paid $1,500 living, $700 loans—$0 for investing. I started a side hustle: freelance writing, $20/hour, 5 hours weekly—$400 monthly. July, $200 to VOO—7% return added $35 by year-end. Total: $1,000 invested, $70 gains.

Mistake: Chased a $200 meme stock—lost $150. Lesson: Gambling isn’t investing. In 2025, I’d tell 2021 me: ETFs beat hype.

Year 2: Building Momentum—2022

Balance: $15,000. How: Job bumped to $40,000—$2,500 monthly. Freelancing hit $600—$3,100 total. Living: $1,200—$1,900 free. Student loans down to $5,000—$300 monthly. I saved $1,000, invested $600 monthly—$7,200 yearly. VOO averaged 8%—$5,000 from 2021 grew to $5,400, $7,200 new added $576. Market dipped—bought more. Total: $13,200 invested, $1,800 gains.

Break: Tax refund—$1,000 to VOO. In 2025, with inflation up, buying dips was gold.

Year 3: Scaling Up—2023

Balance: $35,000. How: New job: $50,000—$3,100 monthly. Freelancing: $800—$3,900 total. Loans paid—$0 payments! Living expenses: $1,300—$2,600 free. Invested $1,500 monthly—$18,000 yearly. VOO at 7%—$15,000 from 2022 to $16,050, $18,000 new added $1,260. Diversified: $5,000 to a total stock market ETF (VTI). Total: $31,200 invested, $3,800 gains.

Mistake: Sold $2,000 VOO in a panic—lost $500 gains. In 2025, I’d say: Hold through volatility.

Year 4: Hitting Stride—2024

Balance: $70,000. How: Raise to $60,000—$3,700 monthly. Freelancing: $1,000—$4,700 total. Living: $1,400—$3,300 free. Invested $2,000 monthly—$24,000 yearly. VOO at 8%—$35,000 from 2023 to $37,800, $24,000 new added $1,920. Added $5,000 to a Roth IRA (VOO)—tax-free growth. Total: $55,200 invested, $14,800 gains.

Win: $5,000 freelance gig—Roth IRA maxed. In 2025, with rates up, Roths were my 2024 MVP.

Year 5: The Finish Line—2025

Balance: $100,000. How: Job: $65,000—$4,000 monthly. Freelancing: $1,200—$5,200 total. Living: $1,500—$3,700 free. Invested $2,500 monthly—$30,000 yearly (April 2025 cutoff). VOO at 7%—$70,000 from 2024 to $74,900, $25,000 new (10 months) added $1,450. Roth: $5,000 to $5,350. Windfall: $3,000 bonus—VTI. Total: $80,200 invested, $19,800 gains.

Moment: April 8, 2025—$100,032. In 2025, with markets volatile, steady investing won.

How I Did It: 5 Key Strategies

• Started Small: $200 monthly—$2,400 yearly snowballed.
• Boosted Income: $35,000 to $77,000—$2,000 extra monthly fueled 70%.
• Lived Lean: $1,200-$1,500—80% to investing.
• Stayed Consistent: $600 to $2,500 monthly—compound magic.
• Learned Fast: ETFs over stocks—$5,000+ saved vs. trading.

2025 Tip: Apps like Robinhood—fractional shares—made $5 starts easy.

Mistakes That Cost Me

• Late Start: 2020 dithering—$2,000 gains missed.
• Panic Selling: 2023—$500 lost holding would’ve kept.
• Meme Hype: 2021—$150 gone chasing trends.
• No Roth Early: 2021-2023—$1,000 tax savings lost.

Lesson: Patience, not panic—$5,000+ wasted.

Tools That Made It Happen

• Robinhood: $0 fees, $5 buys—started me.
• Vanguard: VOO, VTI—low-cost ETFs, 0.03% fees.
• YNAB: Budgeted $1,200 living—tracked every cent.
• Investopedia: Free education—learned ETFs, compounding.

In 2025, Fidelity’s app—real-time data—would’ve sped my learning.

The Numbers: How It Grew

Invested: $80,200 over 5 years—$16,000 yearly average.

Gains: $19,800—7.5% average return, $3,960 yearly.

Breakdown: $1,000 (2021), $7,200 (2022), $18,000 (2023), $24,000 (2024), $30,000 (2025).

Power: $200 monthly at 7%—$100,000 in 22 years; $2,500 cut it to 5.

Life at $100,000: 2025 and Beyond

April 2025, $100,000—$7,000 yearly at 7%, passive. Credit hit 760—loans cheap. I’m not rich, but financial security—$3,700 monthly free funds a house, travel, more investing. In 2025, with 33 million small businesses (SBA), I’m eyeing one—$100,000 seeds it. Next? $50,000 in a Roth—tax-free $250,000 by 2040. Confidence, not just cash, is the win.

Lessons for Beginners

• Start Anywhere: $5—$300 in 5 years at 7%.
• Earn More: $500 monthly—$30,000 in 5.
• Cut Hard: $1,000 living—$2,000 invested.
• ETF investing: $5,000+ saved vs. stocks.
• Hold On: Volatility—$10,000 gains riding it.

2025 Tip: Fractional shares—$5 in VOO beats savings accounts.

Conclusion

From $0 to $100,000 in 5 years—2020 to 2025—as a beginner took hustle, thrift, and learning. No shortcuts—$80,000 invested, $19,800 earned, countless nights writing. In 2025, with markets open to all, my journey proves it’s possible. Start small, stay steady—your $100,000 is waiting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did I start with?

$500—fractional shares made it grow.

Can I do it on $35,000?

Yes—$500 monthly, 7%—$40,000 in 5 years.

What’s the best app?

Robinhood—$0 fees, $5 buys—beginner-friendly.

Was it worth it?

Yes—$100,000, freedom—every penny.