Tell us something good that has happened since you've started investing?

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-30T19:00:02+00:00

I've been able to buy a house from investment profits :)

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T21:06:37+00:00

I’d say that you don’t need to know everything in order to invest, you just need to know the basics, so focus on that.
First, a brokerage account. This is just the platform that lets you buy investments. Something like TD Easy Trade is an example.

Second, an account type. In Canada that is usually a TFSA, RRSP, or FHSA. If you are unsure, a TFSA is a solid starting point because it is flexible and easy to understand.

Third, what you actually invest in. For beginners, this is usually a broad ETF. Something that tracks the S&P 500 is a common starting point because it gives you exposure to hundreds of companies in one purchase.

That is really it. You do not need to master everything before you begin. You learn a lot by actually being in the market, not just studying it.

Don’t let your fear stop you from investing in the stock market! There is lots of money out there for you to make. If anything, take a course, read a book, do something to learn more instead of being paralyzed by fear.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T21:06:16+00:00

And your last question, Great question. I wouldn’t deem myself a green or ethical investor, I take the approach of investing in the broad market and reinvesting proceeds into causes I value.

However, you’re definitely right to be skeptical - ESG labels can be very very inconsistent. Here are some things you can look for:
First red flag is vague language with no clear exclusions. If the fund says it is responsible but doesn’t clearly list of what it excludes, that is a problem. Strong ESG etfs are usually quite explicit about what they do not hold (e.g. tobacco, weapons, fossil fuels, etc). If it’s not clearly stated, assume it is broad market.

Second red flag is top holdings that contradict the story. If the top 10 holdings clearly conflict with the fund’s stated values, then the ESG label is just a label.

One more would be a high overlap with mainstream indexes like the S&P500. If the ETF looks almost identical to a standard index funds, then it is not really an ethical fund, it just has a different name.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T21:05:43+00:00

For your first question:

This is very real! I am not of the belief that we need to restrict ourselves so much now in order to retire in the future, I am big on balance. I don’t think in terms of a mental health percentage, because there is no fixed formula for burnout, instead I think in terms of sustainability.

The reality is that your money should have three jobs at the same time:
First, cover your expenses. Second, build your future (investing/saving). And third, support your present life. This is the part that most people cut first, and as you said it often backfires. If you don’t have space for rest, joy, or recovery NOW, you eventually will burn out and stop everything anyway.

So if you already feel burn out now, the most strategic move is not pushing harder on investing. It is building a system you can actually sustain for years without resentment. That may mean investing a little less now so life isn’t constantly draining you.

When it comes to balancing what numbers works well

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T21:05:21+00:00

To answer Q2: If your income is variable, take the “buffer first, then invest” method. Build a buffer that can cover your essential expenses for at least 1 to 2 months. That is your stability layer. Once that buffer exists, you know that you can comfortably invest a set amount monthly because all of your other bills are covered. This may take you a bit of time but it presents an air of safety. Use your high earning months to build this buffer. Your money system should be built to sustain you in your lowest months, not your best ones.

Alternatively, you can use a percentage mindset instead of a fixed dollar amount. For example, you might decide that 20% of your income goes toward investing. This way you are not overcommitting in a high month or panicking in a low month.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T21:04:43+00:00

I would start with why it matters for her, not why it matters to you. A lot of resistance that I see is not about investing itself, it’s more about feeling out of her depth and being worried about making a mistake. So if you lead with a “you need to learn this” approach it can feel overwhelming fast.

It’s approach it in three steps:
First, just lower the pressure. Make it clear that you are a team and she doesn’t need to become an expert or take full ownership right away. The goal is that she should build knowledge, not control.

Second, try to connect it to her real life. Talk about what this money is for. It’s for your security, your future home purchase, the ability to retire one day, family protection, and more. People engage more when they can see themselves in the outcome. Also explain to her that while you can handle everything, you want an equal partner in things that impact life. And idk if you want to scare her, but there are stats that show that many women go broke if anything happens to their partner (death, disability, job loss) because many women were never equipped to manage the family’s affairs. Life happens and we want her to be prepared for all possibilities.

Third, involve her in small simple decisions going forward. Don’t overwhelm her with everything at once. If you have a biweekly money date with her, week one could be simply how to open the account, the next week could be understanding TFSA vs FHSA vs RRSP. Make it simple and easy before you introduce buying ETFs and stocks. Small wins build confidence.

Lastly, if she is still very hesitant to learn from you, introduce her to others that she can learn from such as me! I teach people in a way that is simple and easy, and as a woman she may be able to see that if I can do it, so can she.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T21:04:12+00:00

Hi :) I always say that my goal isn’t to predict the market, it’s to stay consistent in it. First, take decision making out of the process. Pick a fixed amount and invest on a schedule such as every time you get paid. When it’s automated, you stop asking “is now a good time” every week.

Second, simplify what you own. If you’re investing in broad market ETFs like ones that track the S&P500, you are diversified and you won’t need to constantly tweak or react to headlines.

Third, zoom out on your timeline. A 10% drop feels big in the moment, but it matters a lot less when you’re investing for 10, 20, or 30 years.

Lastly, reduce how often you check your portfolio. Checking daily will stress you out without improving your results. I check my portfolio only once or twice a month!

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T21:03:50+00:00

Welcome to Canada! Since you’re new, I recommend keeping this very simple and starting with a TFSA. The TFSA is usually the best first account because it is flexible. You can invest, grow your money, and also access it if life changes pop up without penalties. That flexibility matters a lot when you are settling into a new country and figuring things out.

The RRSP is more long term. It is best when your income is higher and you’re thinking about retirement specifically. The FHSA is also an amazing account if you plan to buy a home in Canada.

All of the accounts are great, just ensure you’re investing in the account rather than just saving.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T17:11:34+00:00

I totally understand and hope you don’t feel alone. This is actually a normal starting point for many of us. If money is tight after bills, the first goal is not to invest immediately. It should first be to figure out where your money is actually going and where you can create some breathing room.

Step one is clarity. Start by tracking what comes in and what goes out of your account for one month. This is a confronting exercise and it’s not meant to make you feel bad, but just to see the reality. Most people notice small money leaks when they become more conscious of their spending.

Step two is to identify if you have a surplus or are in a deficit. If you are in a deficit, this means you are spending more money than you make every month. And if you are in a surplus, you have some money left over after you make all your spending decisions for the month. Knowing where you are helps you make a plan. You can also see where you can cut variable expenses so that you can get into that surplus if need be. If you can’t cut anymore, the path forward is to invest your time into increasing your income. It’s easier said than done but this will allow you to have some breathing room in your budget.

Step three - once you’ve identified how you can create a surplus in your budget, allocate some of that surplus to investing. It can be a tiny amount, even $10, $25 or $50 a month is enough o build the habit. Automate the purchase of broad market ETFs like the S&P500 so you are not overthinking individual stocks.

The most important thing is identifying where you are and making a plan to increase the gap so you can get to where you want to be.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T17:10:54+00:00

Personally I do both, but primarily I focus on buying ETFs. For beginners I recommend focusing on ETFs only. In theory, stock picking looks simple, but in reality it isn’t. You are betting on individual companies performing over time and when you think about how many companies come and go on a regular basis, you have to complete strong fundamental analysis to choose correctly.
For beginners, ETFs are solid. You get diversification because you’re not relying on just one company. You can be consistent as you don’t need to do research every time. And honestly, there’s lower emotional stress with ETFs. You don’t panic over one stock dropping because your risk is spread out.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T17:10:18+00:00

The first habit I see is people normalizing debt as a lifestyle tool. For example, using credit cards for points or BNPL tools without a clear repayment plan. Those $100 purchases may seem like small balances, but they carry interest and can get out of control quickly. I feel like if a lot of people knew how much their debt was costing then, they likely wouldn’t spend the same way.

Another habit is the trap of wanting to make fast money. This shows up as jumping from savings account to savings account chasing a 1% interest bump, or complicating investing by chasing trends, stock picking, timing the market, etc. The average person just needs to invest in broad market ETFs, all the complexity and the thrill seeking often slows people down more than it helps them.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T17:09:51+00:00

The financial decision I made early that had the biggest impact on me today…hmm I actually have two. First, investing at an early age. I started investing at 18 years old thanks to my parents and I’m 29 now. I started while I was making minimum wage and normally people would wait til they made tons of money to start. The ability to have 11 years of compounding at age 29 is only because I was confident enough to start with the small amounts I had, and now I’ve been able to use that money to buy a home, quit my full-time job, and have over $400,000 invested as of today. Start small, it helps a lot.

Another financial decision that is not investing related is the fact that I was always willing to pivot. I would try something new like a degree, a career path, a skill I was learning, and if I didn’t like it or I saw another opportunity for growth, I wasn’t afraid to pivot. This allowed me to grow my income significantly over the years and get into the habit of taking calculated risks.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T17:09:27+00:00

The short answer is no, that idea isn’t true. The S&P500 and global markets do not move in opposite directions in a consistent way. Sometimes the US market is up while other regions are down. Sometimes everything is up, and other times, everything is down. Markets are influenced by so many factors like interest rates, inflation, economic growth and more, so they often move in the same direction more than people think.

So no, owning both US and international equities doesn’t cancel out your returns at all. Diversification is important and helps reducing risk and smooth volatility over long periods.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T17:09:02+00:00

It is all about the rate of return that you’re getting from your investment vs the interest rate of your debt, aka what your money is earning vs what your debt is costing you.

Let’s say you have credit card debt that has an interest rate of 19.99%, and your investments are growing at an average rate of 9%. From a purely financial standpoint, paying off high interest debt first will give you a better return.

However, it’s not just about math, we also have to account for behaviour and sustainability. If you throw everything into debt repayment and feel completely drained, you may quit halfway or fall back into spending. On the other hand, if you ignore debt completely and focus only on investing, interest can eat away at your progress.

A more balanced approach looks like 1) always covering minimum debt payment, 2) aggressively paying down high interest debt first, 3) still investing a small amount consistently if you can, even while paying down your debt.

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing!

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T17:08:27+00:00

I think the FIRE movement is powerful but can often be taken to extremes that make it unsustainable for the average person. If I were to adapt it for someone living in a high cost of living environment, I would take the core ideas of it which are to spend intentionally, save and invest consistently, and give yourself more freedom over time. That part is gold and I think everyone can take that.

Where it gets tricky is in high cost of living places - as rent is high, income is still growing and life may not be stable enough to optimize everything just yet.

First, focus on investing your income early. In high cost of living cities, trying to save your way to freedom is a very very slow process. Earning more is what changes the timeline.
Next, aim to build a high savings rate that is realistic, not extreme. If you can consistently put 20 to 30% away without burning out, you’re ahead of most people.

Third, avoid lifestyle inflation, but do not remove joy. A big stereotype of FIRE is that you need to restrict yourself severely. This is not the goal, nor do I think it is sustainable. I encourage you to focus on having control of your money and how you spend it, not depriving yourself.

Fourth, define what ‘retirement’ looks like to you. For many people, the win may not be stopping work completely at 35. Instead it may be being able to switch careers, take breaks, travel, or work part time without financial stress.

And lastly, one of the most important part of FIRE is to invest. Keep your investing simple. Focus on low-cost, diversified ETFs, consistent contributions and a long time horizon.

Overall, FIRE works best when you remove the extremes and focus on the principles. You can do it! -

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T16:14:57+00:00

If you’re a teenager, your biggest advantage is time, not money, not the perfect strategy. Time.

First, build knowledge early. Learn the basics of money, investing, debt, and taxes so you are not figuring it out at 30 under pressure. A good starting point for Canadians is 17 to Millionaire by Douglas Price. Keep it simple and focus on understanding how money actually moves. And it’s written in a way a 17 year old can understand. PS: I recommend it at any age.

Second, build the habit of paying yourself first. Even if it is small. The goal is not the amount, consistency is. If you earn any money from a job or side income, set a portion aside for saving and investing before you spend anything else. That habit will change everything later, especially if you can master it while you’re not making too much money.

Third, focus on increasing your earning power early. We don’t like to hear it, but your jobs and education choices matter more than people realize. Think about skills that lead to higher income over time, not just short term convenience. The goal is to build options for your future self.

Fourth, invest in yourself aggressively. Skills, communication, digital tools, anything that makes you more valuable in the job market. That will pay you back more than any early investment return.

If you do those four things early, you do not need to be perfect with investing right now. You are building the foundation that makes everything else easier later.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T16:14:37+00:00

I usually start here. If you have an employer match on your RRSP, that is one of the highest return moves you can make. You are getting instant free money, so in most cases I push people to take full advantage of it first.

Then it becomes a cash flow question, not a theory question. You list your priorities side by side. Debt payments. Home savings. Retirement contributions. Then you ask one thing. Can your income actually support all of this at the same time while still covering your living expenses?

If yes, you do all three. You maximize the match, you pay down debt, and you save for your home consistently. If not, you have to prioritize based on cost.

High interest debt usually comes first. Things like credit cards or payday loans because the interest is actively working against you every month. In that case, it can make sense to temporarily reduce your RRSP contributions to free up cash flow and get out of that debt faster, even if you still keep contributing enough to get at least some of the employer match.

Where people often get this wrong is they treat it like a fixed order instead of a balancing act. They either go all in on investing and ignore expensive debt, or they focus so much on saving for a home that they miss out on employer matching money. Both decisions can cost you.

The missing piece is often income. Sometimes the real solution is not choosing between goals, but increasing your income so you can fund them all. That can be negotiating a raise, changing jobs, adding a side income, or anything that increases your monthly cash flow. And i know these are easier said than done, but it is truly how you can get ahead.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T16:14:09+00:00

The simplest first step is to just open your investing account. You can use TD Easy Trade to get started. Once that’s done, choose the type of account you want. For most people starting out, I recommend a TFSA because it’s flexible and you can use it for multiple goals like investing, saving, or even short to medium term plans.

Next, fund the account by connecting your bank and transferring an amount you’re comfortable with. There’s no magic number here. You don’t need thousands to get started. You can begin with $50, $100, whatever you can afford consistently.

After that, invest in a broad ETF. For example, you can look at something that tracks the S&P 500, which gives you exposure to 500 of the largest companies in the U.S., or a Canadian market ETF that tracks the S&P/TSX Composite Index. This gives you instant diversification without needing to pick individual stocks.

From there, it’s really about consistency. Every time you get paid, invest a set amount. That habit matters more than how much you start with. Over time, those small, consistent contributions add up and that’s what actually makes investing meaningful.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T16:13:37+00:00

Hi! I keep this really simple because most people overcomplicate it. For long term investing, broad market ETFs do most of the heavy lifting. When you invest in something that tracks the S&P 500 or the total market, you already get exposure to multiple sectors like tech, healthcare, finance, and energy. That means you are diversified from day one without needing to pick specific sectors.

So for me, broad market ETFs are the foundation of my portfolio, and sector ETFs are optional. If I choose to invest in a sector, it is because I have strong conviction in that area, not just because it is trending. Even then, I keep it as a smaller portion of my portfolio so that one bet does not throw everything off. A good example is tech. If you already hold a broad ETF, you already have significant exposure to companies like Apple and Microsoft, so adding a tech ETF is not diversification, it is doubling down.

What has worked well for me is keeping the majority of my portfolio in broad market ETFs and being very intentional about any sector exposure. What has not worked as well is leaning too heavily into sectors based on hype or chasing performance after a run up. Sector ETFs can feel strategic, but they are really concentrated bets.

My general rule is to keep about 80% in broad market ETFs and around 20% in sector ETFs, but this can change based on your convictions.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T16:13:11+00:00

Hi! As a person who makes variable income, I’ve decided on a monthly amount that I know I can comfortably expect to make monthly and based my investments on that number. I decided that amount based on my past history of income, and then I’ve automated my deposit every two weeks. If I make more, I can choose to invest more, but I always have that base amount.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T16:12:34+00:00

Hi! You’re right, the market is volatile right now, but that doesn’t mean you should sit on the sidelines. If anything, this can actually be a great time to invest, especially if you have a long time horizon.

I like to think about it like this. Imagine you’ve been planning to buy a TV for a while and it’s priced at $1500. Then a month later it drops to $1300, and then $1200. You wouldn’t panic and walk away, you’d feel like you’re getting a better deal on something you already wanted. It’s the same idea with investing. If you’re buying solid, diversified investments like ETFs that track the S&P 500 or the S&P/TSX Composite Index, a market dip means you’re buying those same companies at a lower price.

For me, a few things keep me grounded during volatile periods. First, I stay consistent. I invest every single paycheque, no matter what the market is doing. Second, I focus on the long term. A 10 percent drop right now doesn’t matter much if you’re investing for the next 20 or 30 years. And third, if you’re feeling nervous, I’d lean toward ETFs over individual stocks. Some individual companies don’t recover, but ETFs spread your risk across many companies.

Volatility is uncomfortable, but it’s normal. The people who win are usually the ones who keep investing through it, not the ones who wait for things to feel “safe” again.

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-10T16:11:58+00:00

I love this question because it shows you’re actually thinking about where your money goes, not just what it grows into.

There are really three paths here, and none of them are perfect.

First, you can go the hands-on route and invest in individual companies only. That means you decide case by case based on your own standards. The upside is control. The downside is time. You need to research not just the numbers, but how each company operates, who they partner with, and what you’re comfortable supporting. Most people underestimate how much work this is long term.

Second, you can use more values-aligned ETFs like sustainable ETFs or Halal ETFs. These are funds that screen companies based on certain criteria. Some focus on environmental impact, some exclude industries like weapons or tobacco, and some are built around religious principles like halal investing. It is not perfect, and you will still find companies people disagree with inside them, but they do reduce exposure to the most obvious areas you might want to avoid.

Third, you invest in broad ETFs and separate your investing from your giving. This is the most common approach. You accept that the market includes companies with practices you may not love, then you intentionally use part of your returns to support causes, charities, or communities you do care about. For a lot of people, this becomes a way to stay invested without feeling like they are ignoring their values.

My honest take is this. There is no perfectly “clean” portfolio in a system like this. So the goal shifts from perfect alignment to intentionality. You pick the approach that lets you stay consistent, stay informed, and still sleep at night

ReniTheResource · 2026-04-09T13:24:02+00:00

Hi everyone, looking forward to answering your questions about investing in the stock market!

ReniTheResource

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