Update: I finally opened a Roth IRA instead of just adding more to my savings account
For a long time, I kept putting any extra cash, like my yearly bonus, into my regular bank savings. Last week, I had $1,200 from a side job and had to choose: add it to the savings account earning almost nothing, or start a Roth IRA. I opened the Roth with a basic index fund. It felt weird to lock the money away, but seeing it actually invested is a different feeling. Has anyone else made that switch and felt a bit nervous at first?