Gabrielle Olya

Tue, Jun 24, 2025, 10:35 AM7 min read

Building your investment portfolio up to a six-figure balance over a short time frame when you don’t even earn six figures might seem like an impossible task. However, YouTuber and frugal living expert Austin Williams was able to do just that.

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“Right now, my investment portfolio stands at $103,499.51,” he shared in a recent YouTube video.

“This is something I am very proud of, but what makes me most proud is that 90% of it was built on incomes below $50,000, which is a story you don’t often hear when it comes to building wealth,” Williams continued. “Most advice assumes you have a high income, can save half your paycheck, max out retirement accounts, buy rental properties and build a thriving side hustle.”

Williams broke down the exact steps he used to build a large investment portfolio on an ordinary salary.

To get from $0 to his first $1,000, Williams said he learned how to invest by simply doing it.

“I knew absolutely nothing about investing, and I had no one to guide me through the process,” he said. “When I was first deciding how to start, I considered taking an expensive online course, choosing a robo-advisor or talking to a professional.

“However, eventually, after further thought, I came to the conclusion that the best way to learn is by putting my own money on the line.”

Williams knew that he would be more invested in his success than anyone else, so decided to just go for it on his own. He started by investing a small percentage of his money, sticking with an amount he was willing to lose.

“I took $1,000 of my own money and invested in the market, and I bought individual stocks,” Williams said. “I bought Carnival Cruise Line, renewable energy [stocks] and Aaron’s.”

Williams decided on these stocks based on what he had heard others talk about and his sheer intuition.

“I was met with beginners’ luck, because due to the stock market crash of 2020, all my stocks were up, and like most people at that time, because they were up, I thought I knew what I was doing and was smart,” he said. “However, I was just making blind decisions with no logic, but that was still a huge win, because I got started and I was beginning to learn about investing, because my own money was on the line.”

While this may not be a great long-term strategy, Williams advised that you just get started with a small amount of money, and see what you can learn along the way. “As the days pass, you will get more experience and start to understand the market more, and then can ultimately make better decisions with more money,” he said.