Don’t Cutoff Investing During a Cash Crisis
Mar 27, 2025
5 Smart Rules for Tough Times
🖥️ Reading time: 5 minutes
If you’re barely covering your bills, investing might feel like a luxury. I get it. When you’re in survival mode, every dollar counts. But here’s what most people won’t tell you, but I will:
Sometimes, the best time to invest is when it feels the hardest.
Why? Because small habits built in tough times become powerful systems when times are good. Here's when and why you should still invest—even if you feel broke.
This is something I share in my FREE Beginner Investing Master Class. Sign up today.
1. You Have Your Essentials Covered
Let’s start with this: if you can’t cover food, shelter, or transportation, investing can wait. But if you’ve got the basics handled and you still have a little margin—even $5 a week—investing is still on the table. Because investing isn’t about how much—it’s about how often.
Pro Tip: Start small and automate it. Even $25 a month into a Roth IRA or brokerage account can make a huge impact over time.
2. You Want to Build the Habit—Not Just the Account
Discipline doesn’t start when you have more money. It starts when you have less. If you can learn to invest consistently with $100, you’ll be unstoppable with $1,000.
- Use investing apps like Fidelity or Schwab.
- Treat investing like a bill. And prioritize it!
- Let automation do the work.
Pro tip: When an app is doing all the work, you can focus on budgeting, auditing your assets, or even a side hustle.
3. You Have Employer Match Opportunities
If your job offers a 401(k) match, get that free money. Even if you're tight on cash, contributing just enough to get the full match is 100% return on day one.
- Example: You put in $50, and your employer matches $50. That’s $100 invested for $50.
- Don’t leave free money on the table. Period.
Pro tip: It’s not just about investing—it’s about not missing guaranteed gains.
4. You Want to Avoid Lifestyle Creep Later
If you don’t prioritize investing now, it only gets harder. As income goes up, so do expenses—unless you build the system early.
Investing through hard times forces you to live below your means and develop what I call money momentum. Once that’s in place, wealth becomes automatic.
Pro Tip: Even if you don’t suffer from lifestyle creep, inflation will get you unless you continue investing.
5. You’re Chasing Long-Term Security, Not Short-Term Relief
Here’s the game-changer: money invested now works for you forever. Even small amounts compound into something real over 10, 20, or 30 years.
Skipping one night out to invest $50 could be worth hundreds down the road. Trading 4 frappachincos today to save you $20 a month might mean $10,000 later. Read this blog for more money-savings ideas.
Pro Tip: Remember, you’re on your journey toward financial freedom. Your investments today will map out what your future looks like tomorrow.
Final Take: Invest Anyway—Start Ugly, Start Small, Just Start
You don’t need to wait until you “make more” or “feel ready.” Start with what you’ve got. Investing when it’s hard trains you to win when it’s easy.
Even in the leanest seasons, consistency beats intensity. Don’t try to catch up later—start stacking now.
✅ Join My Beginners Investing Master Class
✅ Take advantage of my FREE Financial Freedom Faster eBook
Hard times don’t last, but wealth built in hard times does.
- Steve
Disclaimer:
The following article is strictly the opinion of the author and is not to be considered financial/investment advice. CTL Community LLC and the author of this article do not claim to be a registered financial advisor (RIA) or financial advisor. Please visit our terms of service and privacy policy before reading this article. "Call to Leap may earn affiliate commissions from the links mentioned. Call to Leap is part of an affiliate network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites such as ImpactRadius, CardRatings, MyBankTracker, and more."
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