[marketgod]

How old are you? Do you have a lazy stock portfolio? It's the first thing everyone should be starting at 18. Parents should be setting it up the day you are born.

Investing gradually you would have enough money to not worry. Saving with compounding is the best way for the general public.

[mcdoug]

Mid 30s. I have a small but slowly growing stock portfolio. If I keep going the way I am, in 5 years I might be able to buy a Model 3 with its worth. My family growing up invested in my education, not in a stock portfolio, so what I have is skills, not cash.

[marketgod]

Then maybe add more because the market returns are suppose say 5%, but they are generally much more higher, around 10% over a 15-year period. Over 14-years that money doubles, but the market is performing at 10%, and even higher lately, so that's 7 years. So instead of buying that model 3 in 5-years if you continue adding small increments that Model 3 turns into a Model S in 7-years.

The issue is many people hold a savings account in cash but then inflation eats you up, or they store it in a savings account, but then you break even with inflation. Taking advantage of compound interest is huge.

[giantg2]

And a Roth IRA for the kid as soon as they start working. Have them contribute 100% of their pay and then give them the same amount to use. I plan to do this with my kid.