How I Started Investing with My Gaming Budget – And You Can Too

I used to spend almost every extra dollar on gaming — skins, battle passes, gear upgrades, the usual. But a few years ago, I decided to try something different. Instead of blowing all my spare cash on digital loot, I started investing just a little bit of that budget. Fast forward to now, and I’ve built a small investment portfolio that’s actually growing — and the best part is, I didn’t stop gaming to do it.

If you’re a gamer like me, there’s a high chance you’re already spending money regularly — whether it’s $10 here for cosmetics or $60 there for a new release. What if you reallocated just a fraction of that to invest in your future?

Step 1: I Realized I Was Already Budgeting — Just for Games

Gaming taught me how to budget in a weird way. I always knew how much I could spend on Steam sales or how many skins I could afford per month. That’s when it hit me: if I could do that for in-game content, I could easily set aside $20 or $30 a month to invest.

I didn’t start big. I picked one goal: invest the same amount I usually spend on my monthly Game Pass and battle pass subscriptions — around $25. That small shift changed everything.

Step 2: I Picked the Right Investing App

I had no clue where to start, but I wanted something simple. After researching a few options, I landed on Robinhood for stocks and Acorns for automated investing. Acorns was a game changer — it rounds up your everyday purchases and invests the spare change into diversified portfolios.

It felt like a background buff for my wallet. I didn’t have to think about it — it just ran quietly in the background, slowly growing over time. Later, I also tried Wealthfront for more automated options and tax-smart investing.

Step 3: I Started with Stocks I Knew

To make it fun, I started investing in companies I actually cared about. Nvidia, AMD, Microsoft — basically the titans of the gaming and tech world. It felt natural. I wasn’t just investing in random finance companies; I was putting my money into brands I used every day.

This made tracking my investments way more interesting. I actually looked forward to checking my portfolio, just like I would check a leaderboard or monitor in-game stats.

Step 4: I Learned the Power of Compound Growth

One of the most eye-opening moments was when I saw how my small, regular investments added up over time. I used an investment calculator and realized that $25/month could turn into over $5,000 in 10 years — without me doing anything extra. That’s just from letting it sit and grow through compound interest.

It reminded me of grinding in a game. The early levels are slow, but eventually you snowball — same with investing. It starts small, but it builds. And once you see results, it becomes addictive (in a good way).

Step 5: I Automated Everything

Gamers love automation — macros, auto-loot, bots (don’t worry, the legit ones). So I did the same with my money. I set up recurring transfers to my investment accounts so I didn’t have to think about it.

With Acorns and Wealthfront, I barely even noticed the deductions. But the results? I was building wealth while grinding in Apex or chilling in Baldur’s Gate 3. That’s passive income at its finest.

Why Investing Was Easier Than I Thought

Before I started, investing felt like some complex, intimidating system. I thought you had to study charts, read financial news daily, and stress about every market dip. But in reality, the best strategy is often the simplest — consistent, long-term investing in things you understand.

You don’t need thousands of dollars to start. You don’t even need a finance background. If you can plan your next PC build or decide which class to main in an RPG, you have the skills to manage your own investments.

The Tools I Still Use Today

Acorns: For automated investing and spare change roundups.
Robinhood: For buying stocks I like and checking charts.
Public: For community-driven insights and zero-commission trades.
Wealthfront: For long-term, tax-efficient investing with automated portfolios.

Each of these has their own pros, and most offer bonuses just for signing up. If you’re curious, you can test them out with $10 or less — no pressure, no stress.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Build Wealth

Investing always sounded like something you did after making a ton of money. But in reality, it’s how you get there. Just like leveling up in a game, it’s a slow grind — but one that pays off in the long run.

So if you’re like me and spend $50+ a month on gaming, try this: take $10 or $20 of that and invest it instead. You don’t have to quit gaming. You just have to play smarter — in-game and in life.

Level up your finances. One small investment at a time.