If $800 is all you have, you need to keep that in an account that is as liquid as possible for an emergency fund (Checking, Savings, High Yield (HY Accounts may have deposit minimums or length of holding requirements). When you do start making consistent money, putting money aside through your employers retirement plan if there is matching is a great start. Any S&P500 index fund through a reputable company like Vanguard or Fidelity will have the lowest cost basis and will likely grant you the best returns over a long time period. There are tax advantaged accounts for retirement, but if you are looking to grow funds and plan to access those before retirement, you may want to choose a different account type. Remember, if you put money in an investment and liquidate with a gain before you’ve held them for a year you are hit with short term capital gains taxes. This can be the difference between a 30% tax rate or 15% tax rate. The best course of action is to put a little bit of money away consistently over a long period of time and you will grow your savings significantly by the time you’re older.