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Investing foundations

Investing basics, from scratch

The wider money ideas a beginner needs: shares, bonds, the market, inflation, compounding, diversification.

In short

Before ETFs come the basics: a share is a slice of one company, a bond is a loan to a government or company, and the stock market is simply all of these trading together. Understanding inflation, risk and how money compounds over time makes every ETF decision clearer.

Start here

Compound interest: how small monthly amounts grow

See how a modest amount each month can snowball over time when the growth itself starts to grow.

More in Investing foundations

Read them in any order — each one takes a few minutes.

How much money do you need to start investing in ETFs?

Often surprisingly little — many savings plans and fractional shares start around €1 to €25. But the real first step is not money; it is being ready to leave it alone.

Read → · 2 min

What does diversification actually mean?

Don't put all your eggs in one basket: here's what spreading your money across many companies really protects you from, and the one thing it can't.

Read → · 2 min

Common questions

What is the difference between a share and a bond?

A share makes you part-owner of a company; a bond makes you a lender who is paid interest. ETFs can hold either — or both.

Why does inflation matter for investing?

Inflation slowly reduces what your cash can buy. Investing aims to grow your money faster than prices rise.

How does compound growth work?

Your returns earn their own returns over time, so money can snowball — which is why starting early often matters more than starting big.

Key terms on this page

Total Return Accumulating TER Equity Holdings Index Tracked

Where to go next

ETF basics What they are & how they work Choosing & comparing Picking the right one Costs & fees What it really costs Risk & safety What can go wrong Buying & owning Doing it

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Finance Hamster provides educational information about ETFs and investing. It is not investment, tax, or legal advice, and not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Markets carry risk; do your own research or consult a licensed adviser.