Ever since your first job out of school, you've likely heard that you need to save for retirement. The most recommended way to do that is to invest in the stock market. Let's say that you have $1,000 set aside, and you're ready to enter the world of investing. Or maybe you only have $10 extra a week, and you'd like to get into investing. In this article, we'll walk you through getting started as an investor and show you how to maximize your returns while minimizing your costs. KEY TAKEAWAYS - Investing is defined as the act of committing money or capital to an endeavor with the expectation of obtaining an additional income or profit. - Unlike consuming, investing earmarks money for the future, hoping that it will grow over time. - Investing, however, also comes with the risk of losses. - Investing in the stock market is the most common way for beginners to gain investment experience.