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Many people assume that without a large pot of cash already saved, the dream of generating a second income from investing is out of reach. But the reality is that even starting from almost nothing, a disciplined approach can still build a meaningful income stream over time.
The key lies in consistency. Let’s imagine a new investor can put aside just £250 a month into a Stocks and Shares ISA. That’s £3,000 a year. If those funds are invested in a diversified portfolio that generates an average annual return of 7%, the portfolio could grow to around £125,000 after 20 years.
At that point, drawing a 5% income from the portfolio would provide more than £6,000 a year. While it may not replace a salary, it represents a valuable supplementary income stream, particularly in retirement.
Of course, the more we contribute and the more successful we are at investing, the larger the end figure. Indeed, £500 a month in contributions could build a pot in excess of £250,000 in the same timeframe, potentially generating over £12,000 annually at a 5% withdrawal rate.
The strategy isn’t about chasing quick wins, but about harnessing compounding. There are risks, of course. Stock markets are volatile, and returns are never guaranteed. But history shows that patient, regular investing has rewarded those who stick with it.
Even if starting with almost nothing, consistency and discipline can transform modest monthly contributions into a powerful second income portfolio over the long term.
Managing risk and investing for the future
Investors don’t have to take big risks to get stronger returns. However, some investments are inherently more volatile. My investments, for example, are definitely more volatile than most. However, they are driven by strong quantitive data, not blind hope.
One of the slightly less volatile companies I hold is Pinterest (NYSE:PINS). The visual discovery platform has steadily grown its user base to nearly 600m, with Gen Z now representing more than half of all monthly active users. That’s an important shift, as younger demographics not only shape consumer trends but also represent long-term monetisation potential for advertisers.
Management’s made impressive progress in turning Pinterest into a full-funnel advertising platform. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools such as Performance+ have enhanced advertiser ROI, while partnerships, like the tie-up with Instacart, open new monetisation avenues in the food and beverage vertical. This should contribute to resilience, as performance-based budgets are less cyclical than pure brand advertising spend.
Importantly, the valuation isn’t stretched. Pinterest trades on a forward price-to-earnings ratio of around 19.8, falling to the mid-teens by 2026 if consensus estimates prove correct. That looks attractive given revenue growth in the mid-teens and strong free cash flow potential.
The main risk is margin pressure if ad budgets tighten or AI investments overshoot. Still, I believe investors should consider Pinterest as a growth stock with strong balance sheet and a strengthening competitive position.
