How I Overcame My Fear of Investing (And You Can Too) 💰

Issue #05 of the Chidera Peters Dispatch

Hi friend,

I get it—investing can feel scary. I used to feel the same way. From hearing horror stories about people losing money to not even understanding terms like stocks & shares ISAs, ETFs, AUMs and index funds, I felt completely lost 😰.

But here’s the truth: I wasn’t afraid of investing itself—I was afraid of what I didn’t understand.

So I made a decision: instead of letting fear hold me back, I invested in learning first. Once I understood the basics, the fear slowly faded away. Then, in December 2022, I decided to dip my toes into investing with just £5 each in two stocks. A few days later, on 12th December 2022, I bought my first index fund with £10 🥳. That’s how I started—small but consistent.

And now I have a five-figure investment portfolio, just in the space of 2 years.

This screenshot shows the first set of stocks and fund I invested in as a beginner. P.S. This is not a recommendation.

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💰 Money Corner

If you’re feeling the same way I did, here’s how you can overcome the fear of investing and start taking control of your financial future:

1️⃣ If you don’t understand it, learn it
My biggest fear came from not knowing what I was doing. If that’s you, spend some time learning before you invest. I watched YouTube videos, read books, and followed finance creators (like me 👀) to get comfortable with the basics.

2️⃣ Start SMALL—literally £1-£10 is enough
When I first started, I didn’t throw in £1,000 🙅🏽‍♀️. I started with £5 each in two stocks. You don’t need a lot of money to begin— there are lots of investing platforms that allow you to invest with as little as £1.

3️⃣ Use low-risk options first
Although I started with stocks, I later moved to index funds because they spread the risk across multiple companies and are less volatile. If you're worried about losing money, start with index funds or ETFs instead of picking individual stocks.

4️⃣ Turn it into a habit with ‘set and forget’
Once I got comfortable, I set up a direct debit using a payday feature in my investment app. Now, money for investing leaves my account before I even see my salary, making it non-negotiable. This is one of the best ways to stay consistent.

5️⃣ Remember: Not investing is actually riskier
Inflation is silently eating away at your money every year 😬. Keeping all your savings in cash means it loses value over time.

Think of it this way—if £100 could buy you 50 packs of milk last year but now it only gets you 40 packs, it means things have gotten more expensive and your money hasn’t grown. That’s inflation at work. Investing helps your money grow so that in the future 🌱, it can still afford what you need (or even more!).

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New Video This Week 🎥

This week, I’m sharing how I made £3,201 from investing—what funds and stocks I hold, my investing strategy, and what I’ve learned along the way. If you’re still on the fence, this will give you an inside look at what’s possible!

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What’s Coming Next? 👀

Here’s what you can look forward to in the next few weeks:

📌 How to Invest With Confidence: Avoid These Common Beginner Mistakes

📌 Top 5 Apps to Help You Save Effortlessly

📌 The Best Savings Accounts for 2025

📌 How to spend money without guilt (my best budgeting method)

Excited? Stay tuned for these! 😁

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That’s it for now. What’s been holding you back from investing? Hit reply and let’s chat.

Until next time, please drink lots of water.
Chidera