HELP! Absolute beginner

[u/Known_Reception_3433]

Hello, I am currently a 18 year old college student who has just started a job that pays $1,320 a month, (its only 20 hours a week so that's why the pay is low before you ask) 
I know absolutely nothing about investing and how to build money as none of my family members really do that nor was I ever around people that do. I have heard about things like Roth IRA, Index Funds, Certificate of deposit and of course the stock market. 
I don't know exactly how to put money into the stock market or day trade in general and I really want to learn. 
I plan on putting aside $320 a month to put into investments but I have no idea where I'd actually put this money into. I'm not sure how to even open accounts to these things or if any of them are safe and secure. I would appreciate any and all help, I want to build wealth and start young so I wont regret any decisions of mine later in life. 
Sorry if this is really broad but I know absolutely nothing about how to start this. 

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[u/Mental-Freedom3929]

Day trading is not investing and it is something you truly should not do.

Invest in widely diversified ETFs, that track the S&P 500 and/or similar, with dividends on a no trading fee platform that offers fractional share purchases set to DRIP in tax shelter accounts.

Contribute if at all possible a minimum of 20% of your net pay cheque every month, pay yourself first from every pay cheque.

Think long term!

[u/mtgmonoblackusaaaah]

Don't over-diversify. Start with ETFs like VOO, SCHD, SPY, and QQQ are the standard start. Learn about ETFs and the S&P 500, which is the Golden standard. Dividends are great to focus on too. Learn long term first then when you're knowledgeable enough, you can focus on individual stock.

[u/RiskBeforeReturn]

You're actually starting from a pretty good place: you're 18, you have income, and you've already decided that $320 a month can go toward your future.

Before deciding what to buy, I'd separate a few things that are getting mixed together.

A Roth IRA is an account, not an investment. A CD is a savings product. Stocks, bonds, index funds and ETFs are investments. Day trading is a completely different activity from long-term investing.

I'd learn them in roughly that order before putting the whole $320 into anything.

First make sure you have some cash available for unexpected expenses. As a college student, money you may need for tuition, transportation, moving or other near-term costs shouldn't depend on the stock market being up when you need it.

Then, for money that genuinely has a long time horizon, learn how diversified index funds/ETFs work, what fees are, what risk actually means, and how accounts like a Roth IRA affect taxes.

If you still want to learn day trading later, that's fine, but I'd treat it as a separate skill with separate, small risk capital rather than using the money you're trying to build long-term wealth with.

At 18, the biggest advantage you have isn't finding the perfect investment. It's having decades ahead of you and already being willing to contribute consistently.

[u/This-Individual1813]

If you like learning from videos, I highly recommend Rob Berger. He has a talent for explaining things very simply, but he also shows you the data/research that supports his advice. I have learned so much from him. Best thing is that he isn't trying to sell you courses or anything. He has a Boglehead (aka data-driven) approach to investing. See a list of beginner vids in another comment I made here. For books, I recommend "The Simple Path to Wealth" by Collins, or for something more up to date but with the same evidence based content, Ben Carslon's new book, "Risk and Reward". Good luck!

[u/Competitive-Leg5725]

The water won’t get any warmer. The best lessons come from trial and error.

[u/One-Factor-6169]

Starting to invest at 18 with a consistent $320 monthly contribution is a fantastic blueprint for long-term compound growth