Set-and-Forget Investing: The Lazy Person’s Guide to Growing Money
AKA Because managing finances shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. (Unless you’re into that. I am not.)
The Opening Smear
We live in an era of financial influencers, endless investing strategies, and way too many choices.
Everywhere you turn, someone is telling you:
🚨 “You need to invest in real estate!”
🚨 “Crypto is the future!”
🚨 “Index funds are the safest bet!”
🚨 “No, wait! Dividend stocks!”
And instead of making a decision, you just… do nothing.
This is called decision fatigue—where your brain gets so overwhelmed with choices that it defaults to inaction.
And when it comes to investing, inaction is the scariest thing.
My Two-Year Black Hole Era
I used to work in a finance company, where everyone seemed to have a successful stock portfolio.
Every day in the office, I would hear people boast about their investments, flexing their stock tickers.
I, being a wide-eyed, bushy-tailed fresh grad, felt a sense of awe and panic.
So I went home and started researching everything.
Everything was so daunting. And because I hate uncertainty, I spiralled.
For two years, I:
• Read endless company reports
• Scrolled through finance forums
• Studied earnings reports
• Tried to track market trends
And after all that? I never actually invested.
Becoming a Stock Market Hostage
When I finally did invest, I became obsessed.
• Constantly refreshing stock charts
• Feeling anxious if the market was open and I wasn’t watching
• FOMO whenever I saw a price change
It was exhausting. And the funniest part?
Despite all my stress, effort, and analysis, my super fund (aka passive investing) made the same amount of money.
The White-Collar Gambling Realisation
Investing started to feel like white-collar gambling.
Yes, stats, financial reports, and modelling all play a role, but at the end of the day?
Nobody really knows what’s going to happen.
That’s when I had my lightbulb moment:
Instead of stressing, I should just set up an automatic transfer to an ETF and move on with my life.
The Lazy Wealth-Building Plan
This is where automation comes in.
Sounds fancy. Sounds complex. Sounds like some finance bro tech stack nonsense.
But in reality, it all comes down to two words: Direct Debit.
If you’ve ever set up a direct debit to pay your bills, congratulations—you already know how to automate investing.
The only difference? Instead of making sure your bills are paid, you’re making sure your future is paid.
Here’s the simple formula:
📌 Pick an ETF. (Literally just pick one and don’t overthink it.)
📌 Set up an automatic transfer every paycheck.
📌 Forget about it.
That’s it. That’s passive investing.
Tools to Start (Australia Edition)
If you’re in Australia, here are a few platforms that make it easy:
• Vanguard – Offers direct debit for ETFs
• Pearler – Great for automated long-term investing
• Betashares – If you want niche ETF options
But honestly? Just pick one and go.
A year from now, you’ll check your account and say:
💰 “Wait, I actually have money now?!”
The Final Peanut Butter Smear 🥜
Invest Like You Pay Your Bills
Stop overcomplicating it. Set it. Forget it. Move on with your life.
Because future you? Will thank you.
