Yeah but that whole "wait until you have more knowledge" line is the trap, honestly. You never feel like you have enough, and the best lessons come from having some skin in the game, even if it's just a tiny amount each month. Starting small with a boring, broad index fund lets you learn the emotional side without risking your rent money, and the time you're supposedly using to research is actually time your money could be working. The balance isn't between action and patience, it's between informed action and paralysis, so setting up automatic contributions is the hack that forces you to start while letting you feel patient.