The simplest way to own the stock market is to hold the classic S&P 500 Index fund. But I now recommend a total stock market index fund that includes virtually every stock in the U.S. market. Why? Because it eliminates the risk that the S&P 500—largely composed of giant companies—will falter, while smaller- and mid-sized stocks thrive.

Stop feeling ashamed about your money situation and start taking control with this compassionate, practical guide. Erin Lowry transforms financial literacy from intimidating to accessible, offering millennial-tested strategies for debt, budgeting, investing, and the awkward conversations nobody teaches you. Discover how to align your spending with your values, build emergency funds that actually work, and create a financial life that supports your dreams, not someone else’s definition of success. Your journey to financial confidence starts here. Summary powered by VariableTribe

Money can buy freedom. Freedom to work or not. Freedom to explore. Freedom to live life on your terms. The path isn’t complicated: Spend less than you earn, avoid debt, and invest the rest in low-cost index funds. Then wait. The market will rise and fall, but history shows it always climbs. Stay calm, stay the course, and let compounding work its magic. Wealth isn’t about getting rich quick. It’s about getting rich surely.

Do you know Ronald Read? A gas station janitor who quietly saved small sums for decades—and left $8 million to charity. His story isn’t about stock picks; it’s about time, restraint, and ignoring Wall Street’s noise. Money’s greatest paradox: The flashy rarely stay rich, and the boring often thrive. Why? Because finance isn’t math, it’s psychology. And your brain is your biggest asset… or liability.

Most personal finance advice is crap. ‘Cut out lattes’? That won’t make you rich. The real money is in optimizing big wins—your career, investing, and automation. I don’t care if you spend $500/month on shoes if you’ve automated savings and investments. The goal isn’t to save every penny; it’s to spend extravagantly on the things you love and cut costs mercilessly on the things you don’t. That’s how you design a Rich Life.