Do you get any matching funds from your employer in your 401k? With matching funds, even a bad 401k has an effective return that is hard to beat elsewhere. Also to consider, a bad 401k is still better than not saving at all!

You should also give consideration to ROTH contributions, either in the form of a ROTH 401k, or a ROTH IRA. Pay taxes now and all of the gains will be tax free. That's some serious, tax-free, compounding power if you have a few decades or more until retirement!

Skip the hobby, save the money. If you save only $100.00 per month with your original $700.00 in 20 years @5% you would have $43,002.22. Just invest in S&P 500 index ETF. Last year it returned 30% what you hope for is 5%.

I have saved all my life and I had a moderate income and now have well over a million.

I have $700 in saving, lol. I've never been good with money, I get it I spend it. After my bills I have about $200-$300 play money each month. I usually buy the newest smartphone or something else I don't necessarily need. I want to make my money start working for me, not against me.

So $700 plus I can add $150 a month of my play money to the cause.

I don't expect to get rich quick, painfully slow is fine. Looking for more of a retirement program.

My work has horrible 401k, everyone at work talks down upon it for not being Vangaurd.