You want to start investing monthly, but you're stuck on the big question: how much? Short answer: there’s no one “right” number.
The internet is full of generic rules like "invest 10-20% of your income" or "start with whatever you can afford." But these one-size-fits-all answers don't help when you're staring at your bank account, trying to figure out if €50 is too little or €300 is too much.
Here's a simple framework that works: start with your actual budget, check it against your goals, then automate the whole thing so you never have to think about it again.
Why investing monthly works (and feels good)
Investing the same amount every month helps you build wealth by:
- Staying consistent: You invest through the ups and downs, and benefit from compounding over time.
- Making fewer decisions: You’re not stuck waiting for “the perfect moment”.
- Fitting your budget: Smaller, regular amounts are easier to manage than big lump sums.
This is called dollar-cost averaging (or DCA for short). It means investing a fixed amount at regular intervals, no matter what the market is doing. It’s popular because it stabilises returns and keeps you going.
Research shows that investing everything at once often leads to better returns. But DCA can be easier to stick with, especially when you’re starting out. It helps you avoid the stress of market timing and the regret that can come with it.
Step 1: Get your budget basics right
Before choosing how much to invest, check these three basics:
- Emergency fund: Keep 3 to 6 months of essential expenses in a savings account. It’s your safety net, so you don’t have to sell investments if something unexpected happens.
- High-interest debt: If you have credit card debt or other expensive loans, pay those off first. The interest you save is like a guaranteed return.
- Bills and must-pays: Make sure your rent, utilities, taxes, and other key expenses are covered. If you're unsure what to prioritise, there are simple tools to help.
Once you’ve got these covered, you're in a good spot to choose an amount to invest each month, one you can stick with comfortably.
Step 2: Pick a starting amount you can stick to
A common rule is to invest 10 to 20% of your take-home income. But your situation matters more than any rule of thumb.
- Just getting started or money’s tight? Begin with €50 to €100 a month. The key is to build the habit.
- Budget feels solid and you’ve got an emergency fund? Aim for 15% or more. Then try to increase it each year. Even a 1 or 2% bump adds up over time.
For context, European households typically save more than 10% of their income (it fluctuates). In early 2025, the euro area household saving rate was around 15%. Your own monthly investing target is a personal slice of that broader saving behaviour.
Step 3: Sense-check your number against goals (quick maths, no spreadsheet)
Let’s use illustrative assumptions (not forecasts): a 5% yearly return and monthly contributions.
How much could your monthly amount grow to?
- €100/month for 20 years ≈ €41,000
- €200/month for 20 years ≈ €82,000
- €300/month for 20 years ≈ €123,000
What if you’re aiming for a specific target amount?
Monthly contribution needed to reach €100,000 at a 5% yearly return:
Compound interest means that the interest earned on the original capital over a given period is reinvested with this capital in the subsequent period to generate additional interest. Play around with a compound interest calculator yourself to figure out how much you could make and align it to your goals.
Step 4: Automate and make it effortless
Automation is your friend:
- Direct debit on payday (pay yourself first).
- Hands-off portfolios so you don’t need to pick stocks.
- Automatic increases each year (e.g., +€10/month or +1–2%).
How much do most people invest every month?
Your income, family situation, and goals all play a role. But here’s a practical way to choose how much to invest:
- Start with a percentage (like 10–20% of your take-home pay)
- Do a quick goal check (see the table above)
- Then do a comfort test: pick an amount you can stick with, even in a tough month
If that number is €75 today, that’s totally fine. The most important part is starting. You can always increase it later.
Common mistakes to avoid (so you stay on track)
- Waiting for the “perfect time”: Even professionals struggle to time the market. DCA helps you stay invested and ignore the noise.
- Skipping the emergency fund: One surprise expense and you might have to sell your investments at a bad time. A buffer keeps your plan on track.
- Tweaking too much: Constantly changing your strategy can hurt more than help. Pick a schedule and stick with it.
- Overlooking costs and taxes: In Belgium, frequent small ETF trades can trigger transaction taxes (TOB) and broker fees. The right automated setup helps keep those costs down.
What's the best investment?
It's difficult to choose the "best" investment as it depends on you and your tolerance for taking risk. However, when you're setting money aside each month, you want an investment that's:
- Easy to understand
- Well diversified
- Low cost
- Flexible, whether you're investing €50 or €1,000
That’s where ETFs come in. ETF stands for Exchange-Traded Fund, and it’s one of the best options for both beginners and more experienced investors.
With a single ETF, you own a small piece of thousands of companies. So you don’t have to guess which stock will win. You’re already invested in all of them. ETFs also have low costs, especially compared to traditional mutual funds. That means more of your money is actually invested.
ETFs also work really well with monthly investing. Thanks to fractional investing on platforms like Curvo, your full contribution goes to work, even if you're only investing €50. Everything happens automatically. No need to calculate or place orders each time.
Most people start with a global stock market ETF. It gives you access to thousands of companies around the world. To make your investments more stable, you can add bond ETFs too. The best mix for you depends on your goals and how much risk you're comfortable with.
A simple plan you can copy
- Pick your amount: Just starting out? Go with €50 to €150. Already saving regularly? Aim for 10–20% of your take-home pay.
- Build your buffer: Save 3 to 6 months of expenses in a separate account. This is your emergency fund, not part of your investments.
- Automate it: Set up a direct debit so investing happens every month without you needing to think about it.
- Increase it each year: After a raise, bump your amount by €10 to €25 or 1–2%. Over time, this helps keep pace with inflation.
- Review once a year: Check your goals, timeline, and contribution. No need to tweak things every month.
Curvo makes monthly investing easy
Through Curvo:
- Automate your contributions via direct debit.
- Invest in a diversified, long-term portfolio designed for European investors.
- Benefit from fractional investing, so every euro is put to work each month.
- Avoid the friction of per-trade fees that can punish small, frequent investments.
👉 Start your monthly plan with Curvo in a few minutes and let compounding do the heavy lifting.
Summary
The beauty of monthly investing lies in its simplicity. You don't need to be a financial expert or have thousands saved up to start building wealth. By investing a fixed amount each month in diversified ETFs, you're putting one of the most powerful wealth-building strategies to work for you.
The hardest part is often just getting started. Once you've automated your monthly contributions and chosen a well-diversified portfolio, you can step back and let compound interest do the heavy lifting. Your future self will thank you for the discipline you show today, even if you start with just €75 a month. What matters most is that you begin.