u/Creative-Psychology4

Hey everyone,I’m 22 and finally got a ~$10k stock portfolio together. The problem is I keep having to sell shares whenever a big expense hits (mainly rent + other bills). My paycheck just isn’t enough to cover everything some months, so instead of going into debt or missing payments, I end up selling investments. I know this is the opposite of what you’re supposed to do, especially at my age, but I also don’t want to be broke or stressed every month. I’m trying to figure out how people actually stay invested when real life keeps getting in the way. A few things I’m curious about:

• Do most of you keep a separate emergency fund in cash/high-yield savings so you don’t have to touch your stocks?
• How do you free up money consistently for investing when your income is limited?
• Any systems or rules you follow so you don’t sell when things get tight?
• Did you go through this phase too? How did you get past it?

Would really appreciate any advice or what’s worked for you guys. Trying to stop this cycle before it becomes a habit. Thanks in advance.