HOW TO INVEST WITH LOW MONEY AND LOW SALARY?
Many people after watching Alden's sharing about the correct mindset about money and assets, why we should invest, and why the investment potential in the Vietnamese market lies in stocks, left some comments or messages saying:
“My salary is too low, how can I have money to invest…”
“I will wait until I have a large capital to invest…”
So Alden wants to tell you: those are the wrong mindsets. And if you continue to hold onto these mindsets, you will always be on the sidelines and will never build any wealth.
Investing does not start with money; it starts with the mindset. If today you have a low salary and do not learn about money or how to invest, even if tomorrow you have more money in hand, you will soon lose it. How many people win the lottery, sell land, hold a few billion, and after a few years return to zero because they lack an investment mindset.
In an era where everything changes as quickly as today, in a fiercely competitive market in a developing economy like Vietnam, 'lifelong learning' is no longer an option; it is a mandatory condition for survival. As long as you keep learning, you keep progressing. But the moment you stop learning, you will be left behind immediately. Society does not wait for you, and the market does not stop for you to catch up if you do not try. That is a given.
Alden has traveled through many countries where people do not have to endure much competitive pressure. They live peacefully, slowly, content with what they have. A very gentle rhythm of life because society there is like that, but it also means they accept their limits, do not dream big, do not break through. But in a developing economy like Vietnam, it is different. We are in a fierce market where every opportunity and challenge appears simultaneously. Here, if you do not strive, do not learn, do not upgrade yourself every day, you will be quickly left behind. Meanwhile, those who dare to make an effort, dare to step up to a new level will have the opportunity to develop their lives. If you continue to sit still and wait for opportunities to come to you, that will not happen here.
For those who are earning too little, the issue is not about waiting for your boss to raise your salary or for society to bring you a better opportunity. The root of the problem lies in the value you are bringing to society, to the community, to the organization, and to the company you are working for. You have not received a high salary because your expertise, skills, and the value you contribute to the collective are not yet significant enough; this is very understandable.
So instead of complaining and waiting for your boss to raise your salary, ask yourself: How can I increase my own value? How can I develop deeper expertise, better skills, so that the company needs me, society needs me? When your value increases, your income will certainly increase as well. Keep learning and constantly gaining experience. That's all!
Don't forget, investing is not just about investing in stocks or real estate. The first and most important investment is in 'yourself.' When you are stronger, have more knowledge, and provide greater value, money and opportunities will naturally come to you.
And having a small capital is not a problem. What matters is the habit of managing cash flow. You can start with a very small amount: a few hundred thousand, one million... to buy books, gain knowledge, and learn how to invest in yourself. That is also an investment. And when you have the right mindset, you can continue with smaller amounts in stocks, mutual funds, real estate, or any suitable assets. What is important is not the initial amount, but the mindset you develop: every single penny must work for you.
Use a small amount of money to form habits and cultivate your mindset. Most people, on the contrary, always wait for 'when they have more money to start' and the result is that they never start at all in their lifetime.
With a salary of 7 million, the first thing to do is to find every way to focus on improving your abilities and enhancing your own value. Then set aside consistently each month 500 thousand to 1 million to learn and test your skills in investing. The important thing is not to rush; every path needs time to accumulate and build momentum. Your experience of 6 months cannot demand you to run as fast as someone with 10 years of experience; that is ignorance.
By setting aside a little each month, after 5 years, you will not only have more money but also the mindset, skills, and confidence to manage larger capital. While others with higher salaries may spend and save, after 5 years, they will still be stagnant.
Let's start slowly and safely; initially, there will naturally be mistakes that come with a cost, which is unavoidable in any field, including investing. But pay that cost within your own limits, and importantly, after a mistake, you must learn the lesson so that it does not repeat next time.
And of course, investing in knowledge and your own intellect is the highest yielding investment of all time. Study enough, read enough, and you will see the path becoming clearer. A child just learning to walk will inevitably stumble if they want to run after a ball right away. So start with the most certain and persistent steps!
Alden Nguyen