this simple investing habit will almost guarantee great returns


My investing class is open!

Join me for a straightforward, evidence-based investing class to help you grow your money.


Run Your Money Newsletter

Hi Reader,

I know that investing can be intimidating and seem risky for some people. But, let me tell you that it can actually be one of the best ways to secure your financial future. If you're feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start, don't worry, I've got you covered.

You don't need to have someone manage your portfolio, because that nominal 1% fee can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Seriously!

Start with $100/month.

If you're not investing anything now, how can you start investing $100/month? And if you're already investing $100/month, can you increase it to $200?

I'll show you what to do with that $100/month in my upcoming class: Everything You Need to Know About Investing.

In this class, I'll teach you:

  • All the various investment accounts you need to know and which is right for you
  • What to actually invest in and how to build a balanced portfolio
  • How often to check your investments, how to maintain your account, and when to sell

You'll have the peace of mind of building a safety net for your future.

And the best part? It's only $99 and can potentially earn you tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime!

It's a no-brainer, IMHO.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to take control of your financial future?

If yes, register here.

All my best,

Veronica

This Simple Investing Habit Will Almost Guarantee You Great Returns

Recently, on one of my videos on TikTok, someone commented, "Who's making money in the stock market right now? Asking for a friend."

She started investing in 2021, right before the stock market went down the pooper. (A technical term my husband and I use when referring to the stock market not doing great. 🚽)

I've said this before and will say it a hundred more times.

Investing is emotionally challenging because you can log into your account and see a number. You can see how much money you've gained, which might be fun and exciting. You can also see how much money you've lost, which can be fear and anxiety-inducing.

That's why people think other investments like art, jewelry, or real estate are safer.

Those values fluctuate, too, but no one comes to your house every day to tell you how much your house is worth. You only care about how much your home is worth when you want to sell it.

The same thing is true with the stocks you might have in your retirement.

You only care how much it's worth once you need to sell them. But you can see the ups and downs more easily than in your house, which can create a lot of fear.

That, coupled with hearing people talking about how they've pulled their money out of the stock market or put it elsewhere until "things settle down," can make you feel like they know what they're talking about, and you don't.

To the novice investor, this can make you wonder if investing is risky and gives the illusion that investing is complicated, time-consuming, and you must understand and execute strategy.

None of that is true.

In fact, to mitigate the most risk, you only need to know and execute one investing habit, and it's super easy to do.

If you prefer audio...

This Simple Investing Habit Will *Almost* Guarantee You Great Returns

I promise!

Don't miss last Friday's Q&A episode:

Should you have someone else manage your investments?

Submit your question for the Q&A here.

Have a burning money question for me?

Can you have money trauma?

I relocated from Boulder, CO, for a job and bought a house at the market height, and I have felt "stuck" here in the house and job since 2006. I'm considering another job relo at what feels like the height, and I'm scared to death to jump. I'm afraid I'll get stuck in another underwater property and will hate the job. I am not confident this is a good time to buy in this market either. (Edited for brevity.)

Yes! Money trauma is a thing. You can have money trauma from:

  • Previously being food- or housing-insecure
  • Experienced financial abuse
  • Have had large amounts of costly debt

I would put being underwater in your mortgage on that list, too.

Money trauma is real, and there are financial therapists! In fact, I have one scheduled to come onto the Run Your Money Show soon. If you feel like you’re experience is affecting your mental health or ability to move forward with a decision, you should absolutely seek out a financial therapist.

I’m not one, so I want to share my thoughts on what I do know from your question:

The housing market is hard right now. Interest rates are up, as are home prices. At some point, interest rates will likely come back down.

When?

No one knows, but my best guess is a few years.

But that may not help much. Typically, when interest rates decrease, home prices INCREASE. This is because when you measure a home’s affordability, you must look at your monthly payment.

If you can spend $3k/month on your mortgage, more of that $3k payment goes to interest when rates are high. So, you can afford less house, and vice versa.

We are in an unusual time now because, depending on where you are, home prices have risen, even as interest has increased.

This is due to deeper issues around housing shortages that, unfortunately, don’t have any end in sight.

Wall Street is scooping up houses to rent out, bad policies around zoning for single-family homes vs. multi-units (People living in houses don’t want apartment buildings near them), and AirBnB.

All that to say is this:

1) Seek out a financial therapist!

2) No one knows when/if home prices will fall, but let’s assume little will change for at least three years… if you move and find a new job, does the math work? Where do you want to move? How much are homes there? Can you afford one? How much money could you get for the house you have now? What is renting like there?

3a) If you want to wait it out, how can you make your job more tolerable until you can change? Better boundaries? Flex-work? A raise?

3b) Can you stay in the house but find a new job? Though things are changing and industry-dependent, we’re still in an employee market.

I hope this helps!

Submit your question for the Q&A here.

Everything You Need To Know About Investing:

Enrollment is open! Class is Saturday, October 14th at 10:30am ET/7:30am PT

A comprehensive and live workshop where I'll teach you:

  • Basic investing concepts and terms to know (shares, expense ratios, mid-cap blend, etc.)
  • All the various investment accounts you need to know and which is right for you
  • What to actually invest in and how to build a balanced portfolio
  • How often to check your investments and when to sell

Click here to register!

🎓 Student Loan Planner: Student loan repayments begin this month. If you need a plan or know the best and cheapest way to pay your loans, you must check SLP out! SLP is a team of CPAs and CFAs who have poured over studentaid.gov and know every rule and loophole of every repayment option.

Their fee will save you thousands in the long run. I've partnered with them because I'm so impressed by their work. If you book a consult with them using my link, you'll also receive a 60-minute Run Your Money session at no additional cost to you.

Book here!

See you next week!

-Veronica

PS - Everything You Need to Know About Investing is open! Class is Saturday, October 14th, starting at 10:30am ET/7:30am PT.

Part 1 is about one hour, followed by a 30-minute break (so you can OPEN and fund your new accounts!), then, in part 2, we'll talk about how to build your portfolio.

Whether you want to be 100% hands-off or are okay with a bit of management, I'll show you all your options.

Sign up here.


Did someone forward you this newsletter?

Note: I use affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase, I may get a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Hi! I'm Veronica

Veronica is a Certified Financial Consultant by the NFEC and founder of Run Your Money. She wants you to be done with the money shaming of the finance bros and learn more grounded financial knowledge than what the money manifesters teach. Veronica has been good with money since she started babysitting at age 11, perhaps thanks to her Sun and Venus in Capricorn? She’s been saving and learning to be more strategic with money ever since. She also has a degree in Social and Economic Justice and has a unique perspective on how your finances play out in our larger economic systems. She wants to help you run your money so it stops running you.

Read more from Hi! I'm Veronica

Run Your Money Newsletter Hi, Reader! I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere wishes for a warm and joyful Thanksgiving (if you're celebrating) filled with family, friends, and my personal favorite: the Macy's Day Parade. 🦃 This Thanksgiving, our household is spicing things up with a Turkey-Off. My husband is manning the smoker, infusing our bird with a variety of flavors, while my mother-in-law is making hers in the oven. As the official taste tester, I'm eager to see whose turkey...

Run Your Money Newsletter ☕ Falling for Autumn Delights, Thanksgiving Crafts, and New Updates! 🍂 Hi there, Reader, I hope this message finds you wrapped in the cozy embrace of fall! As the leaves change colors and the air turns crisper, I can't help but indulge in the delightful seasonal offerings that seem to magically appear this time of year. Speaking of which, I might need a second job to support my Starbucks addiction—those fall drinks are irresistible, aren't they? ☕💸 In the spirit of...

Run Your Money Newsletter 🚗 Taking the Road Less Judged! 🚀 Hey there, fellow financial adventurers! Many boomer personal finance experts are all about spending as little as humanely possible. (I'm looking at you, Suze Orman, even though I think you're amazing and I loved your book when I was young, fabulous, and broke.) But generally - telling people to spend as little as possible, with no nuance, is bad advice. Last week, we wrapped up our first road trip in a mini-van that we purchased new...