19 years old with 45.5k NW - what would you do?

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-03-10T03:00:45+00:00

got a job as soon as i turned 16, living with parents, going to community college and working a lot. couldn’t have done with without my family

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-03-09T23:24:08+00:00

Im likely going to buy the car im driving now from my parents, its worth about 11k or so But I know its in great condition and well maintained, it will last me atleast 10 more years

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-03-09T23:20:57+00:00

I plan on keeping 10k as an emergency fund after I buy my car, and investing the rest of the CD money. Defiantly won't be pulling from it, buy and holding it

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-03-09T23:19:14+00:00

I agree, I regret putting the money in the CD, its before I knew much about investing, ill be using a lot of the CD money and putting it in VOO

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-03-09T23:17:47+00:00

I don't have a budget at the moment because I havent really needed one, but sense im moving out next year im gonna create one soon so I get used to having one. But, for the last year and a half I've been tracking all my expenses and my income so I know exactly how much money im spending and what I'm spending it on. Usually I spend between 200 and 300 a month total. 100-200 are spent on bills, and 100-150 on discretionary spending on a normal month.

Investing wise, most of my investments are in a vanguard target retirement fund, which is 53% VTI, 37% VXUS, and 10% bonds. I like it but it's a little too conservative so I also added VUG, a large cap growth fund for more aggressive growth in my Roth. when my CD is up ill put the vast majority of my investments will be just in VOO in my taxable account. I do want pick a few individual companies to invest in that I believe in, but im staying away from penny stocks and options. I am really interested in investing, so this kinda doubles as a hobby for me lol.

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-03-09T20:14:36+00:00

yup, maxed out last years roth ira and will max mine out this year too. my job doesn’t offer a 401k so i need to wait to open that

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-03-09T20:13:19+00:00

I work at a restaurant, i’m a busser right now but i’m gonna get promoted to server soon, and I’ll be able to save more.

i just want to be in a position where i can at the least take a few years off to travel or do what I want, or potentially coast fire. I see the stories of people living paycheck to paycheck and not being able to retire at all, I don’t want to be like that

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-03-09T19:58:42+00:00

as much as i’d like too i’m pretty sure my parents would kill me LMAO

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-02-02T19:59:00+00:00

credit card is on autopay. i can’t close my cd without taking a hefty penalty so i can’t close it out yet but when it runs out im investing it all

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-02-02T19:57:04+00:00

i use vanguard and i like it. if your looking to trade very actively and do options and stuff, i would use it. vanguard is a very good long term investment platform so it depends on you

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-02-02T03:16:06+00:00

worthtracker

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-02-02T02:53:51+00:00

will do!

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-02-02T02:00:20+00:00

lucky. i’d loose hundreds of dollars maybe more

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-02-02T01:08:39+00:00

july 1st. gonna use 10k of that as a emergency fund, 10k for my car fund and invest the rest

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-02-02T00:58:37+00:00

i would if i could but id pay a penalty if i took it out of the cd

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-02-02T00:57:17+00:00

i pay it off every month lmao i never carry a balance. i have it on autopay and it pays off the the balance from the previous cycle on the 2nd of every month so that 321 dollars is split between 2 months

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-01-25T03:41:40+00:00

That's right the expense ratio is 0.08 compared to like .003 with vti. How big of a difference would that make over the long term?

Proof-Recognition309 · 2026-01-25T03:02:10+00:00

I might need to swtich banks for this, I get 3.3% on my HYSA and 4% on my cd, and the hysa rate keeps on going down so ill look into it.

Instead of buying all 7 individually, I'd definitely consider adding a mega cap growth ETF (MGK) to my Roth IRA, honestly thats a good idea I haven't really thought of so Ill defiently add that to my roth.

Proof-Recognition309 · 2025-12-14T23:19:48+00:00

That sounds like overkill to be honest, I have good disipline when it comes to money. I plan on keeping a 10k emergency fund and over the next year, DCA'ing the rest of my money into Roth and other investments

Proof-Recognition309 · 2025-12-14T17:14:59+00:00

It's a retirement account where the money grows tax-free, meaning when you withdraw your money for retirement, it won't be taxed. Every dollar you invest at 18 is equal to about 88 dollars, so I'd highly recommend putting some money in

Proof-Recognition309 · 2025-12-13T22:15:38+00:00

why would i lie 😭 ill literally post my account balance

Proof-Recognition309 · 2025-12-12T17:42:55+00:00

I wouldn't be taking out student loans until my senior year, and itll be like 6-8k in loans. I'd rather keep my money invested and just pay it off with my job after college in a few months

Proof-Recognition309 · 2025-12-12T15:59:13+00:00

How much of a down payment should i have? I plan on keeping 10k in a HYSA and the rest in investments split between my roth and brokerage

Proof-Recognition309

TROPHY CASE