I am 23 years old and have recently started learning about investing. I am still very new to this and want to understand the basics properly before I start investing seriously for the long term.
I had a few questions and would really appreciate advice from people who have been investing for a while.
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First, I am planning to start with a small SIP of around ₹500 to ₹1,000 per month. As a beginner, should I simply go with Direct mutual funds? Is there any situation where choosing a Regular plan would actually make more sense for someone like me? I would also like to understand what the practical difference becomes over many years.
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Second, for those who have been investing for several years, what mistakes did you make when you were starting out? Looking back, is there anything you wish you had understood earlier or done differently?
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Finally, I am also trying to find good sources for learning. Which investing books, YouTube channels, websites or podcasts have genuinely helped you understand investing better? I am more interested in resources that teach the basics, long term investing and how to think about money rather than channels that mainly promote stocks, trading or particular products.
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If you were starting from scratch today, what would you learn first, what mistakes would you try to avoid, and which resources would you recommend?
Thanks in advance to everyone who takes the time to share their experience.