Everyone repeats the golden rule: “Only invest money you can afford to lose.”

But the reality? Most people don’t follow it.

📊 A 2022 survey by Finder showed that 45% of retail crypto investors used savings they actually needed for living expenses. Another study by Pew Research found that 16% of U.S. adults who invested in crypto admitted it harmed their personal finances.

Here’s the pattern we see every day:

  • Someone waits weeks “watching” a random token.

  • No clear strategy, just fear of missing out. (#FOMO ).

  • They finally jump in — not with extra cash, but with rent money, bills money, or even borrowed funds.

Example? During the Terra/LUNA crash in May 2022, thousands of investors lost their entire savings because they believed it was a “safe bet.” Some reports showed individuals losing over $100,000 overnight.

👉 The truth is simple: the idea of “extra money” rarely exists for most people. Instead, they gamble with what they cannot afford to lose — and the emotional cycle begins: stress, regret, and panic selling.

Discipline beats luck. Strategy beats impulse. The market punishes emotion but rewards planning.