Welcome to week 15 of the Grow Your Money by Investing journey. I’ve had a couple of weeks away—on holiday and working hard as we approach the end of the financial year. During this time, I haven’t made any investments, so there’s been little progress. That being said, it’s now time to get back to the grind and refocus on advancing this journey.
The updates in this article will see this portfolio reach 24.9% of the goal
Change since last update: +1.3%
⚠️ Disclaimer ⚠️
I am not a financial adviser, and the information I share is based solely on my personal investment journey as an average individual. Please remember that past performance of the market is not a guarantee of future results. Always do your own research and consider seeking advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. Only invest what you are willing to accept losing.
Last Month’s Portfolio Performance
We are currently in a bearish market, with reports of many investors selling their stock holdings in favour of bonds. Bonds are considered a safety net during times of market unpredictability, geopolitical tension, threats of war, or fears of a market crash.
Personally, bonds are something I’ve never purchased, and the slower returns don’t align with the goal of reaching £10,000 in this portfolio by December 2025.
Because of the above, stock valuations have been falling, and the only growth in my portfolio has come from the cash I’ve added to it.
Some of the biggest losses impacting my portfolio over the last month include:
- Amazon: -9.76%
- Vanguard S&P 500: -8.82%
- NVIDIA: -7.38%
- Cameco: -6.67%
All in all, my rate of return for the month was -6.8%, costing me £164.77 in unrealised gains.
Seeking Opportunity
It’s not all doom and gloom though. During uncertain times, there are still opportunities to be found—and we must look for them diligently, using our own research and the knowledge we have at the time.
Some people are highly skilled at spotting these opportunities. It’s always impressive to see how they respond to trends and make moves that work in their favour.
A good example of this is Richard Branson, who has launched businesses targeting the needs and interests of the baby boomer generation, capitalising on their strong spending power as they move through life.
What opportunities can I identify with my limited knowledge?
- The UK’s GDP is low, and the US economy is slowing down. This could lead to lower interest rates in the near future to encourage spending. That would be especially beneficial in the housing market, where companies like Realty Income could reduce their costs and grow their portfolios.
- Tariffs implemented by the US—and the retaliatory tariffs that followed—are slowing down the economy. While this puts smaller businesses at serious risk, larger, well-established companies with strong cash flow and international operations are more likely to weather the storm. They could even benefit by capturing market share from smaller competitors that fail.
History gives us a relevant comparison in the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, introduced in the 1930s to protect the US economy during the Great Depression. It’s widely viewed as a failure, with many saying it had the opposite effect and worsened the economic situation.
While Trump’s reasoning differs—focusing on reducing US reliance on foreign goods—the reintroduction of tariffs is once again aimed at protecting the US economy. Just like in the 1930s, affected countries have introduced retaliatory tariffs, and US GDP is falling as a result.
Of course, I might be completely wrong in my thinking here. Those of you with a better grasp of politics and history will form your own opinions, which might lead to more successful outcomes.
What matters most is that you’re paying attention to global events, reviewing the reports published by the businesses you’re invested in, and—armed with that insight—allocating your money across companies and ETFs you believe have the potential to grow your wealth.
This Week’s Investments
With that in mind, this week I’ll be investing £80, split equally across two stocks only:
- The S&P 500 – VUSA.L. While this ETF has struggled recently, I’m keen to keep buying more in order to reduce the average cost per share.
- The second—can you guess? It’s Realty Income. As well as the reasons mentioned above, since buying a small holding at the start of January, I’ve already received £1.13 in dividends. Even at this early stage, it’s exciting to see your money working for you.
Next Week…
Keep an eye out for another update next week as we continue the journey towards the £10,000 goal.
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Have a great week!
