No Savings? $350 Is All You Need to Retire Rich

There is absolutely no reason for you to have nothing by the time you want to retire, even with no savings. All you need is $350 a month and this solid blue-chip stock.

| More on:

No, this isn’t a trick. I promise you. If you’re looking to retire with a solid, rich nest egg in your pocket, even without savings, then there is a way to get there. It all comes down to one thing: automatic payments.

If you can put aside $350 every month to put towards your investments and create automatic payments into those investments, there is no reason why you can’t retire rich. All it takes is choosing the right stock. And, of course, I just so happen to have an excellent choice.

No Savings? Pick CP

What you need right now is consistency. The markets have been volatile for well over a year, and this new crash isn’t likely to be the last. So, if you’re someone looking to invest and see that investment grow for decades to come before retirement, you want a blue-chip stock to get you there.

That’s what I would choose Canadian Pacific Railway (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP). CP is a great defensive stock in today’s market. While others fall, CP remains steady as a, well, train. Even since the last economic recession in 2008, the stock hardly had a fall as other stocks plummeted. In fact, since 2011, CP has taken off. As of writing, the stock has grown 522% since that time.

That’s because the company has completed its reinvestment into its infrastructure as well as cut costs. CP sold assets, closed rail yards, and even changed leadership. This has put cash both in the pockets of management and investors. That means the company has been looking at new investment opportunities, even during today’s downturn.

Future funds

So, let’s get down to that $350. If that’s all you can afford, that means today you can buy just one CP stock. But that’s totally fine, because what you’re really going to be doing is taking that stock and adding another, and another, and another month after month. On top of that, you’ll have the company’s amazing dividend to reinvest. Right now, that dividend is at 1.06%, with the company increasing it about 30% on average each and every year. This should continue as long as the company is in business.

The company should not only continue to grow its dividend, but its share price has been doing exceedingly well recently. While other companies reported losses, or at least flatlined, CP announced growth. That drove growth of almost 30% in the last year alone.

But if we look at the average during the last decade and use that as a guiding light, then we can still expect the next two decades to be incredibly strong for CP. So, if you take that $350 and add to it every month, here is what you end up with.

Year Portfolio
1 $4,634.47
2 $10,972.11
3 $18,303.66
4 $27,485.74
5 $39,041.60
6 $53,658.52
7 $72,244.76
8 $96,008.31
9 $126,566.88
10 $166,102.48
11 $217,580.83
12 $285,065.38
13 $374,171.39
14 $492,728.86
15 $651,760.65
16 $866,942.06
17 $1,160,803.91
18 $1,566,099.37
19 $2,131,015.77
20 $2,927,353.24

Foolish takeaway

That’s right. With only $350, you can turn your no savings into almost an unbelievable $3 million in just 20 years. Granted, this is based on the past performance of the last decade and the numbers that have been associated with that performance. So, this is a best-case scenario in my book. But if you buy during today’s crash and hold on tight, making re-investments throughout the next two decades, there is no reason you won’t see numbers similar to those above.

Fool contributor Amy Legate-Wolfe owns shares of CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY LIMITED.

More on Dividend Stocks

A worker drinks out of a mug in an office.
Dividend Stocks

2 Magnificent TSX Dividend Stocks Down 35% to Buy and Hold Forever

These two top TSX dividend stocks are both high-quality businesses and trading unbelievably cheap, making them two of the best…

Read more »

happy woman throws cash
Dividend Stocks

This 7.5% Dividend Stock Sends Cash to Investors Every Single Month

If you want TFSA-friendly income you can actually feel each month, this beaten-down REIT offers a high yield while it…

Read more »

dividends grow over time
Dividend Stocks

1 Smart Buy-and-Hold Canadian Stock

This ultra-reliable Canadian stock is the perfect business to buy now and hold in your portfolio for decades to come.

Read more »

the word REIT is an acronym for real estate investment trust
Dividend Stocks

This 7.7% Dividend Stock Pays Me Each Month Like Clockwork

Understanding the importance of dividend-paying trusts can help you effectively secure monthly income from your investments.

Read more »

space ship model takes off
Dividend Stocks

2 Top Dividend Stocks for Long-Term Returns

Explore how investing in stocks can provide valuable dividends while maintaining your principal investment for the long term.

Read more »

Woman checking her computer and holding coffee cup
Dividend Stocks

How I’d Structure My TFSA With $14,000 for Consistent Monthly Income

Learn how to effectively use your TFSA contributions in 2026 to create consistent income and capitalize on market opportunities.

Read more »

a person watches stock market trades
Dividend Stocks

Analysts Are Bullish on These Canadian Stocks: Here’s My Take

Canada’s “boring” stocks are getting interesting again, and these three steady businesses could benefit if rates ease and patience returns.

Read more »

delivery truck drives into sunset
Dividend Stocks

Undervalued Canadian Stocks to Buy Now

These two overlooked Canadian stocks show how patient investors can still find undervalued stocks even after a solid market rally.

Read more »