My Investing Journey in 2025

My investments for 2025

Investing has been a part of my life ever since 2020. That is the year where I got curious about personal finance and my financial life really started. I started a Roth IRA that year and put in enough to get admiral shares in a Vanguard index fund. I also added a brokerage for greedy investing.

Life has thrown me from investing over the next four years. I was investing minimal amounts. Avoiding employer sponsored plans and spending more than I was earning. I finally started at 2% when I finally became stable. This 2% into a 401(k) turned into an IRA once I left the job and it was a way to turbocharge my Roth IRA when I converted it. I was able to hit $10,000 into my Roth IRA in the 2024 tax year. Max it out for the year and the conversion allowed me to do this. Typically, the limit is $7,000. 2024 was a good year for investing. The stock market was up, my income increased, I was able to afford life and put some away for the future. It made me feel wonderful to see the number increase.

2025 my expenses increased, I lost a tight grip around my wallet and different life events…. And five vacations sort of threw me all over the place. My income has dried up but what are my investments so far this year? It hurts that I haven’t been able to put in as much but lets see in black and white.

In my newest account, my health savings account that I parked into the market is at $2,147.71. This was opened in January, and I am on schedule to max out contributions this year. I love the HSA as I can use it for health expenses tax-free at any age or I can start withdrawing from it like a traditional IRA once I hit 65 years old.

My 401(k) balance is at $1,240.82 on the year with the 3% match. I am on track to have 3% of pre-tax salary parked in there.

My Roth IRA is my largest account. It has been with me for five years and is a great way to get tax-free gains. I have only contributed $1,485.70 for this tax year, and I am not on pace to max it out. Still a long way to go. Almost 10 months more but I need to save $550 a month for exclusive Roth IRA savings which has been tough as I had to replenish my emergency fund after February. It still stands at my largest amount. Still a little more to go towards having my annual salary in retirement savings by age 30 but I should have hit that goal a little bit earlier.

It seems hard to believe but I have invested $4,874.23 in six months. In a down year at my income level. I feel slightly better on the numbers once I really looked into them. All while taking vacations and refilling my emergency fund.