This page is an English translation of the original Dutch version.*
You’re here because you want to start investing now, soon, or whenever you’re ready. But when are you really ready? The answer is surprisingly simple. Just like investing (Dutch only) itself can be, by the way. There’s no such thing as the perfect moment to start investing. However, it is recommended to begin as early as possible. More on that later.
There are 3 important things you need to do before you start investing:
"}},{"componentType":"productFeatures","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/1fe10c10-1446-4c33-8c47-93ef829036fd/mortarboardhateducation","type":"image","width":160,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/4f76be0f42e0ec4e/original/mortarboardhateducation.svg","extension":"svg"},"highlighted":false,"items":[{"title":"Pay off your debts first"},{"title":"Make sure you have a savings buffer"},{"title":"Define your investment goal"}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"1. Pay off your debts first"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Investing while still having debt? Buying that new designer bag with “buy now, pay later”? Or falling behind on your health insurance payments? That’s not smart. You should only invest with money you can spare. And if you still have debts to pay off, you don’t have money to spare, especially if those debts come with high interest rates. An exception might be your student loan. But make a solid plan to pay that off quickly too. Doing so will give you peace of mind and financial freedom.
"},"alignedImage":{"position":"left","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/8c86e3ed-fc6a-4f8b-8b5f-501d293cf2fb/Terminal-phone-hand-2-spot","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/24b92edb40657a97/original/Terminal-phone-hand-2-spot.svg","extension":"svg"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"2. Make sure you have a savings buffer"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"What if your washing machine breaks down? Or you suddenly get a big dental bill? That’s what your savings are for. You invest with money you won’t need for a long time.
Want to quickly calculate what a combination of saving and investing could bring you? Click here.
The advice is to keep about three months’ salary in your savings account. That’s more than enough for one washing machine. But imagine you get laid off or decide to quit that terrible job, having that savings buffer will make the stress much easier to handle.
Very simple: what do you want to invest for, what’s your goal? A world trip? Your first home? Your retirement? Anything is possible, but make sure you have a plan. That plan should include the amount of money you want to reach and the number of years you want to take to get there. More on how to calculate that smartly later.
Investing requires patience. Want something within the next few years? Then it’s better to save for your goal. And for short-term needs: use the money in your checking account.
Short term | Medium term (saving) | Long term (investing |
|---|---|---|
Tonight sushi | A new sofa | Closing costs for your first home |
New sneakers | Winter sports trip | A one-year sabbatical in 10 years |
Energy bill | New MacBook | Education for your newborn child |
Gym membership | Racing bike | Extra savings for your retirement |
| Health insurance | Replacing a broken washing machine | A boat for your leisure time later |
Not fully meeting the conditions above yet? Don’t worry, you can always start investing with a small amount. This way, you train your investment discipline with a fixed monthly contribution, without taking a big bite out of your finances.
Starting small lets you see in practice what market movements can mean. And when prices rise, you’ll see your modest portfolio grow too. You can find more about investing with small amounts in Step 2 (Dutch only).
"}},{"componentType":"cards","cards":[{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"small","title":"Starter Kit home (Dutch only)","intro":"Back to start","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/bbb4776b-e8db-4ac1-9f01-b65db06cadd4/Box-lamp-spot","type":"image","width":160,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/bc241149818b190/original/Box-lamp-spot.svg","extension":"svg"},"link":{"url":"/particulier/beleggen/hoe-werkt-beleggen/beleggen-starterskit"}},{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"small","title":"Step 1 (Dutch only)","intro":"The basics of investing","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/f9cd5bac-d118-4e09-8e42-5230335300d5/Women-business-chart-scene","type":"image","width":1200,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/4076ec149c85d810/original/Women-business-chart-scene.svg","extension":"svg"},"link":{"url":"/particulier/beleggen/hoe-werkt-beleggen/stap-1-de-basis-van-beleggen"}}]},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Ready to put your knowledge into action? Open your investment account!","richBody":{"value":""}},{"componentType":"cards","cards":[{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"small","title":"Easy Invest","intro":"Our ready-made solution","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/fb02d4f9-a424-4cfd-a887-02af0057dc48/Young-adult-female-laughs-while-looking-at-mobile-phone-in-front-of-chalkboard-with-whimsical-writing","type":"image","width":5616,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/23290af957098917/original/Young-adult-female-laughs-while-looking-at-mobile-phone-in-front-of-chalkboard-with-whimsical-writing.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"link":{"url":"/en/personal/investing/investments-at-ing/easy-invest"}},{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"small","title":"Self Investing (Dutch only)","intro":"Trade with competitive pricing","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/7a2701fc-94f0-4107-a7a4-9c8d5d06c556/Large_Web-and-Screen-Smiling-business-man-using-his-mobile-phone-and-relaxing-in-his-chair-at-the-office","type":"image","width":1920,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/5ecb5382208b3f79/original/Large_Web-and-Screen-Smiling-business-man-using-his-mobile-phone-and-relaxing-in-his-chair-at-the-office.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"link":{"url":"/en/personal/investing/investments-at-ing/self-invest"}}]},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Things to know about investing"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Investing comes with risks and costs. You may lose all or part of your investment. The value of your investments can fluctuate, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Learn more about the risks of investing and how to manage them.
Investments that support environmental or social goals can be included in our investment options: Portfolio Management (Vermogensbeheer) and Easy Invest (Eenvoudig Beleggen). However, these options do not exclusively focus on such investments, financially attractive companies remain important. For more details on ING’s Sustainable Investing policy, visit ing.nl/ESG.
*This translation is intended for the customer’s convenience only. In the event of any inconsistency between the English translation and the original Dutch version, the original Dutch version shall prevail.
"}}]}}}