The instability of the market makes people nervous about investing for a good reason. But if the people in the United States want the market to grow, investing has to resume. And if you're interested in investing, now may be a good time to start.

The way that we gain the confidence is through knowledge. While there are many programs out there that claim to train you - like the Investools Scam or Smart Money - the truth is many people don't understand the basics.

There is no need to purchase anything to understand the basics of the stock market. Free information is available online to help you with what you need. For more information, check out your local library.

You are ready to think about investment strategy after you know the basics. At this point you may want to look into a program or book that will lay out investment strategy.

But understand that there investment scams out there that you want to avoid. Investment companies have produced some programs that are a safer bet than a never heard of company.

For example, TD Ameritrade is partnered with Investools, Smart Money is partnered with the Wall Street Journal, and Investopedia was created by Forbes.

The time to look at actual stocks comes once you feel comfortable with the knowledge you have. Before you look into buying stocks, considering looking in areas where you feel you already have knowledge and a comfort level.

If you love cooking and baking, it's probably not your best bet to invest in a company that specializes in pool equipment just because someone else thinks it's a good idea.

After you get an investment program from Investools, Smart Money, Investopedia, or another credible company and determining what areas of the market would be your best fit, you can consider putting your money into the market.