5 Truths About Investing & Why Waiting for “More Money” Isn’t Helping
Have you ever told yourself, "I'll start investing when we have more money," or "that's something I'll do later when the kids are out of the house"? I want you to stay with me here — because waiting for more money might be the very thing holding you back.
Today I want to lovingly walk you through five truths about investing that every mom needs to hear, especially if you feel like you're barely keeping your head above water. And yes, we're even going to talk about how $10 can actually make a difference.
First, a Little Background
Investing is not just for rich people. It's not just for people who have it all together. And it's definitely not only for people with tons of extra money lying around. Most of the women I work with don't avoid investing because they don't care. They avoid it because they're afraid of getting it wrong.
When you're living paycheck to paycheck, investing can feel irresponsible or even impossible. But here's what I want to gently challenge today: if your basic needs are met, even if it feels tight, you likely have more power than you think.
I graduated with a degree in finance and was working in corporate finance when our debt-free journey ignited a huge passion in me for personal finance and building wealth. I eventually became a licensed financial advisor. And the most common pattern I kept seeing? Couples in their 50s sitting across the table from me, beating themselves up, wishing they had started sooner. There's a reason older, wiser people always say — please just start, I wish I had started earlier. And we kind of roll our eyes like it won't be the same for us. But I cannot encourage you enough how important it is to get started early.
Here's a simple way to think about it: if you wanted to reach a million dollars by age 60, the younger you are, the less you have to save each month to reach that same goal. Waiting to invest doesn't make it safer. It makes it slower. Time is the greatest wealth-building asset we have.
Truth #1: Investing Isn't About Having a Lot — It's About Starting Early
This is the biggest myth of all. You do not need a large lump sum to be an investor. You just need time. You can get started with $10. Time is what grows money, not income. Starting with $10 today beats starting with $1,000 ten years from now because compound interest rewards consistency, not perfection. We just need to be consistent — and that's something we can actually do with automation.
Truth #2: Waiting for More Money Often Means Waiting Forever
How many times have we said — I'll wait until this happens, until the kids are older, until I go back to work, until I make more money. Something will always be competing for your money and your attention. Life gets expensive, goals change, and if investing is always something you'll do when things calm down, it will never happen.
And honestly — we're moms. When do you foresee life calming down? I have a one-year-old and a six-year-old, and yes, life is crazy. But I also hear from people a little further down the road that when kids get older, they also get more expensive. If you have teenagers, you know I'm preaching to the choir.
If we can develop a discipline early that sustains through all the seasons of life, we just have a system in place that eases the pressure over time. Progress doesn't start with comfort. It starts with a commitment.
Truth #3: If Your Basic Needs Are Met, You Likely Have More Flexibility Than You Think
If you're paying your bills, feeding your family, and keeping the lights on but still feel stuck — the culprit is usually spending that isn't really serving you. That's when money quietly disappears.
For me, I don't really need Starbucks every day. It's a nice treat, but if I can take that $10 I might spend on a fancy coffee and a breakfast sandwich and put it toward my kids' future instead — that gives me so much more joy. And I can make something yummy at home.
Investing isn't about what's left over. We have to make it a priority, or we will always find something else to spend it on.
Truth #4: Small Amounts Matter More Than You've Been Told
People always say — what's the big deal, it's just a $7 coffee? But $10 is not silly. It is money God has blessed you with, and it can be a seed that grows over time. Sometimes it's not even about the amount. It's about building the discipline and the muscle.
Think about the postpartum fitness journey. We feel so weak at first. We pick up a five-pound dumbbell and think, this is so heavy. But we have to pick it up to build the muscle. Before long we're at ten pounds, fifteen pounds. The same thing goes with our money. We start small, we see momentum, we get excited, we add more, it grows more. Start where you are and let it build.
Truth #5: Investing Is an Act of Stewardship, Not Greed
As our wealth grows, we have more of a responsibility to be honest about why we're doing it. Not just chasing money for the sake of it — but what are we changing in our family's lives, our legacies, our community, our giving?
Right now my husband and I don't have a lot of free time — can I get an amen? But it makes me so excited to know that when we step back from work one day and the kids aren't running around the house, we'll be able to give back not just our time to missions and our church, but financially too. That is something worth building toward.
Investing isn't about hoarding money. It's about honoring God with what has already been entrusted to you. When we steward well, we create options, reduce stress, and build stability for our family. We have healthier marriages. We get to dream together and bless other people and spread the joy of the Lord.
You don't have to wait to honor God with your finances. You can start right where you are.
Your Action Step This Week
Set up one small automatic investment — $10, $25, whatever feels doable. Not impressive. It doesn't need to be flashy. It just needs to happen.
If you have no idea where to get started, I have a free 14-minute webinar called How $10 Today Can Turn Into $20,000 By Your Kid's 18th Birthday! Whether or not you want to invest for your kids, it's a great way to visualize how investing actually works so you can apply these same principles to your own future.
Remember — where there is no vision, the people perish. Investing for your future gives you a purpose behind the changes you're making. It's the reason you say no to the Target run or the impulse buy — because you have a greater mission you're just so excited about.
You do not need more money to begin building a better future. You just need to start today.
If you liked this blog post, make sure to head over to our podcast and listen to the full episode!
Episode 3 | 5 Truths About Investing & Why Waiting for “More Money” Isn’t Helping
