I used an app to start investing and it made me realize how little I know

This past February, I decided to try investing for the first time.

Putting money into a system that could change any and every second is a scary thought. In fact, the only investment I've ever made was probably in a gym membership. I was just like my peers who didn't want to put their money at risk, a popular trend among millennials, as reported by Business Insider.

But since investing historically shows higher returns than storing your money in a checking or savings account, I decided to give it a try. But I was going to play it safe.

I downloaded Acorns, a smartphone app that automatically invests spare change after you make purchases with your credit or debit card. I had to go through some security measures before my account was live: I received an email that the company was setting up and reviewing my account and 12 hours later, my account was open.

A month later, I can't believe how little I know about investing. Even the most basic rules about investing were foreign to me, and I had no idea.

I decided to start my investment with just $20, and here is what I've learned so far: