Investing an extra $50 every few months is useless. Having a place to live that you control is priceless. I have not invested anything in years (my husband does a bit through his work) and I honestly think I should never have invested a dime. Every dollar I put in is a dollar I desperately needed for a dozen other things that didn’t get taken care of, and for what? It’s supposed to provide some teeny monthly payout that won’t be enough to make much difference in my life, if I even live long enough to get it. Most likely, it’ll be claimed for a medical bill that might be written off if I had no means at all. I’m 56. Adding a few more bucks into my sad little 401k isn’t going to make any difference anyway. I’m not foolish to look for growth. I’m looking for survival.