If you finally started investing — or you WANT to — but feel stuck wondering “Okay… now what?” this episode breaks it down step-by-step. No hype, no confusing jargon — just a simple path you can actually follow.

In this In Detention breakdown, we talk about what to do after your first investment, how to build confidence over time, and the exact long-term system I make my own kids use. We’ll cover habits, Roth IRAs, S&P 500 index funds, diversification, contributing consistently, and how to invest even if you only have $50–$100 to start.

Getting started is the hardest part — staying consistent is where the magic happens.

📌 What you’ll learn in this video:
• How to confidently invest as a beginner
• Roth IRA vs traditional brokerage accounts explained
• Why the S&P 500 is a simple starting point for most students
• How to diversify without picking individual stocks
• How your money can double every 6–7 years
• Why time is the biggest superpower young investors have
• The rule I force my kids to follow with their money
• How to automate investing so you don’t have to think about it
• What to do when the market drops (hint: it’s not panic)

📌 Quick Start Plan:

Open an investing account (Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab, etc)
Consider a Roth IRA if you’re young and early in your career
Start with an S&P 500 index fund or ETF (VOO, SPY, FXAIX, etc)
Automate contributions monthly
Stay consistent for decades — not weeks

You don’t need to be perfect.
You just need to start → diversify → stay consistent.

If you enjoyed the $100 investing challenge episode, this is the next step.
So many comments said “I finally started — now what do I do next?”
This video was made for YOU. 🙌

—

💬 Question for you (reply in comments):
What’s the next investing goal you want help with?
Roth IRA setup? Index funds? How to invest $100 per month?
Let me know — I respond personally.

📌 Subscribe for more student-friendly money lessons.
New episodes on personal finance, investing, credit, budgeting & building wealth — without the boring tone.

#InvestingForBeginners #HowToStartInvesting #CollegeInvesting #RothIRA #SP500 #MoneyMisfits #ProfessorHeath

Three community college students. One $100 challenge. Zero investing experience.

In this episode of Money Misfits, I sit down with three of my students—Tyreece Bramwell, Kayson Dahl, and Kenyon Shabazz—to talk about what really happens when young people take their first step into investing. The confusion. The procrastination. The fear. The wins. The losses. The “is this normal?” moments.

No hype. No gurus. No fancy Wall Street language.
Just three students navigating money the way most of us did: blindly, nervously, and one Google search at a time.

What they discovered about investing, consistency, risk, and their own financial future?
Could genuinely change everything for them—and for anyone watching.

We break down:
(1) How to start investing when you feel clueless
(2) Why every student procrastinates (and how to push through it)
(3) Robinhood vs. Acorns vs. traditional accounts
(4) Why consistency beats “perfect timing”
(5) The JUCO mindset that translates into wealth
(6) What to do when your investments DROP
(7) The $100 hoodie flip that turned into a lesson about entrepreneurship
(8) How students can build wealth even before transferring

If you're a student, young adult, or someone who’s been avoiding investing because you feel unprepared—this episode is for you. They unpack the anxiety and procrastination that comes with being a first–time investor, how they actually got started using tools like ChatGPT and YouTube, and why they chose very different paths, from Acorns and tech ETFs on Robinhood to flipping high–demand hoodies. The conversation dives into why getting started young matters more than picking the “perfect” investment, the power of consistency and diversification, and how their “Bulldog way” mindset shapes how they handle market drops. They also wrestle with real–life tradeoffs like paying off credit card debt versus investing, and talk about retirement accounts, long–term compounding, and building wealth not just for themselves but for their future families. It is a raw, funny, and surprisingly deep look at money, mindset, and what it means to take your first step off the financial sidelines.

🎧 Money Misfits: where real students learn real money.
📚 professorheath.com for workshops & student resources.

#MoneyMisfits #InvestingForBeginners #CollegeStudents #FinancialLiteracy #StudentMoney #InvestYoung #PersonalFinance #ProfessorHeath

If you're getting your first credit card, this episode will save you from the mistakes almost every college student makes. I sat down with Hannah and Zion—both currently authorized users on their parents’ cards—and broke down the myths, the traps, and the real rules you need to follow if you want to build credit the smart way.

In this in-detention episode, I explain why utilization matters more than your card type, why paying “whenever you remember” is a disaster, how annual fees actually work, and the exact system I’d force my own kids to follow. This is the simplest, clearest walkthrough of credit card basics for students, period.

You’ll learn how to keep your credit score high, avoid interest entirely, pick the right first card, dodge subscription traps, and build a real emergency fund so you’re not leaning on your card every time life punches you in the face.

If you’re 18–22 and thinking about getting your first credit card, this episode is your blueprint. Professor Heath sits down with two real college students — Hannah and Zien — to break down what actually happens when you’re an authorized user, how to choose your first card, and the biggest mistakes students make when building credit.

We cover EVERYTHING your friends, parents, and TikTok never explain:

💳 Authorized user vs your own card
💳 Why credit cards feel like “free money” (and how that traps students)
💳 What builds your credit score at 18: utilization, history, payments
💳 The truth about secured credit cards and student cards
💳 How to pick your first card without getting ripped off
💳 How missing one payment affects your score
💳 A simple way to never miss a due date again
💳 The “closing date” hack that can instantly increase your score
💳 How to build your first emergency fund as a college student
💳 Why subscriptions quietly destroy your budget
💳 How to avoid lifestyle creep before it ruins your finances

This episode mixes real student honesty, financial literacy you can actually use, and laugh-out-loud moments (like the Quizlet+ and Snapchat+ confessions).

Whether you're getting ready to apply for your first credit card or trying to fix your credit early, this conversation gives you the tools to start strong — and avoid the mistakes that follow students for years.

🔥 Try the 1-Week Credit Challenge:

Turn on auto-pay
Cancel 2 unused subscriptions
Build a $250 emergency fund
Identify your card’s closing date
Make a small payment before the closing date
Comment your biggest takeaway

This is the episode every college student should watch before opening a credit card.

Most people don’t fail at budgeting — they just never start tracking. In this Money Misfits episode, Professor Heath breaks down how to build a budget that actually works in real life — no spreadsheets, no guilt.

🔥 Whether you’re just opening your first bank account or figuring out how to manage your post-grad paycheck, this episode will help you:
✅ Track your spending without overthinking
✅ Cancel what doesn’t serve you and automate what does
✅ Save and enjoy your life
✅ Avoid lifestyle creep as you earn more
✅ Build peace of mind through intentional money habits

🎧 Money Misfits — Real conversations about money, mistakes, and leveling up.
Subscribe for more episodes that help you master your money without losing your personality.

👉 Watch more:    • What College Students Say About Budgeting 
👉 Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @ProfessorHeath
👉 Learn more: ProfessorHeath.com

#budgetingforbeginners#howtostartbudgeting#budgetingtipsforbeginners#lifestylecreepexplained#emergencyfundbasics#MoneyMisfits #ProfessorHeath #PersonalFinancePodcast #CollegeBudgeting #BudgetingTips #PayYourselfFirst #503020Rule #BudgetingWithoutRestrictions #TrackYourSpending #MoneyHabits #FinancialFreedom #SmartMoneyMoves #MoneyInCollege #CollegeMoney #StudentFinance #StopWastingMoney #SubscriptionsDrain #BudgetChallenge #WealthMindset #BudgetingMadeSimple

Welcome to Money Misfits: In Detention, where Professor Heath breaks down real financial lessons from college students—no guests, no fluff, just straight talk.

In this solo episode, we follow up on the powerful conversation with Areefa and Dayana to uncover the six money topics every student needs to understand before life hits harder:
1️⃣ Budgeting & conscious spending
2️⃣ Building an emergency fund
3️⃣ Credit cards & credit scores
4️⃣ Starting to invest early
5️⃣ Navigating financial aid & FAFSA
6️⃣ Money and relationships

🎯 Whether you’re trying to stop spending leaks, build financial confidence, or just figure out how to make smarter money choices in college, this episode lays the foundation for everything ahead.

👉 Subscribe for more real stories, real numbers, and real conversations about money from the college perspective.

🧠 “Budgeting isn’t about restriction — it’s about direction.”
💬 “Your emergency fund is your permission slip to quit a bad job.”

#MoneyMisfits #CollegeCashConversations #FinancialLiteracy #ProfessorHeath #Budgeting #CreditScore #Investing #CollegeFinance #PersonalFinance #CommunityCollege #MoneyMisfitsPodcast

What really happens when college students look at their bank statements? Spoiler: it gets ugly. 😬My second installment of Money Misfits: College Cash Conversations.

In this Money Misfits: College Cash Conversations episode, Professor Heath sits down with three real students — Umit, Sophia, and Michael — for a brutally honest talk about budgeting, spending habits, and what it really means to “adult” with money.

From sports betting and snack runs, to subscriptions that won’t cancel and gift-giving guilt, this episode is packed with the money mistakes, mindset shifts, and small wins that every college student can relate to.

We talk about:

💰 Why budgeting isn’t about restriction — it’s about priorities

🧠 How to actually track your spending without hating it

💳 The truth about subscriptions, impulse buys, and emotional spending

🚗 Michael’s $5,000 Mustang mistake (and what it taught him about emergency funds)

🌱 Umit’s early lessons in saving, from envelopes to financial coaching

✏️ Sophia’s frugal mindset — and how it might be her superpower

Whether you’re a broke college student trying to save, or just want to understand how to actually manage money in your 20s, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen to more Money Misfits episodes:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc6ViY7W3mOuAWRlPV_eWLFilohgIz40m

💬 Join the community:
Follow @Professor_Heath on Instagram & TikTok for daily clips, real student stories, and no-BS financial tips.

Guests: Dayana Romero & Areefa Ali
Host: Professor Stephen Heath

In this kickoff episode of Money Misfits: College Cash Conversations, Professor Heath sits down with two of his online managerial accounting students, Dayana Romero and Areefa Ali, to create the blueprint for Season 1 — the six money topics college students actually want to talk about.

Dayana opens up about moving out at 18, learning financial independence the hard way, and how credit card debt and job struggles reshaped her money mindset. Areefa shares a powerful story of growing up with deaf immigrant parents, translating adult financial decisions as a child, and how those experiences shaped her understanding of money, independence, and responsibility.

Together, they dive into:

The real struggles of budgeting and savings as a college student

Why financial literacy feels like trial by fire

How credit cards, roommates, and subscriptions can sneak up on your bank account

The emotional side of money — from burnout and toxic jobs to relationships and spending habits

Why investing early (even just a few dollars) might be the most powerful habit to build

By the end, the group locks in the six student-picked topics for Season 1: investing, budgeting, financial aid, buying a car, credit & credit scores, and relationships + money.

I had the chance to sit down with Cainã Barbério, an 18-year-old professional skater from Brazil, along with translator Liza dos Santos. We talked about:

 🛹 Cainã’s journey from skating at age 4 to competing professionally.
 🎶 How punk rock and skate culture fuel his passion.
 📚 Balancing college, competitions, and sponsorships.
 💰 The real challenges of managing money as a young athlete—travel, family support, and trying to build a future with limited resources.

Ive always felt at home with skaters. My time with Caina was no different. Even with financial struggles, he thinks about investing in himself first—saving for competitions, building his brand, and creating opportunities through education and skating.

This episode is about more than skating—it’s about resilience, hustle, and making tough financial choices while chasing a dream.

When i set out to create Money Misfits, I didnt realize how cool the people I met along the way would be. I wish i had friend like Caina when i was 18.

hashtag#MoneyMisfits hashtag#Podcast hashtag#Skateboarding hashtag#PersonalFinance hashtag#GenZ

🎙️ Just wrapped an inspiring Money Misfits episode with Isabella Vaka, a former student of mine who’s charting an incredible path.

From community college at CSM → transfer to Cal Poly → internships in D.C. → now on Capitol Hill, Isabella shows what’s possible when you mix grit, financial discipline, and a willingness to pivot.

We dug into:

Why she chose community college during the pandemic — and how financial aid, scholarships, and support programs shaped her journey.

The challenges of being a Pacific Islander in spaces where few looked like her — and how she let her work speak for itself.

Landing internships through persistence (even unpaid at first), then turning them into meaningful opportunities in advocacy and policy.

How budgeting, overspending on food (we laughed at this one), and slowly building credit all became part of her real-world money education.

Choosing fulfillment and impact over a big salary — with her eyes set on law school and political campaigns in the near future.

💡 Isabella’s story is a powerful reminder: community college can be the launchpad to Capitol Hill.