When Stella Harris lost her job unexpectedly at 24, she was caught off guard. “I had no savings, no backup plan—just stress,” she says.
That experience lit a fire under her to become financially secure.
Once she found new employment, Stella set a goal: build a six-month emergency fund.
She started small—just $50 per paycheck—and used a high-yield savings account to earn interest. “Watching that number grow gave me so much confidence,” she recalls.
She reached her emergency fund goal in a little over a year. Then, she turned her focus to investing. “I was nervous at first, but I realized I couldn’t let fear stop me,” she says.
Stella opened a Roth IRA and began investing in low-cost index funds through Charles Schwab. “I wanted something simple and stable. Index funds let me grow my money without stressing over daily stock prices.”
Now, at 27, she has both peace of mind and a growing investment portfolio. “I sleep better knowing I’m prepared,” she says.
Stella also shares financial tips with friends and encourages others to build a safety net first.
“Don’t wait for a crisis to start saving,” she advises. “Even $10 a week can make a difference. Your future self will thank you.”
