Friends keep cash, curious about investing

Most of my friends either keep cash in savings accounts or say they'll "start later."
I'm curious how many people here are actually investing every month.
For those who are:
How much did you start with?

What made you finally take action?

What would you tell your 20-year-old self?

I've spent the last couple of years learning about investing and personal finance while studying in university, and I've noticed a lot of misconceptions that stop people from starting.

If anyone wants a second opinion on their current plan or wants to compare different approaches, feel free to DM me.