Investing shouldn't feel like gambling. If it does, it might be time to reassess your strategy.

In 2021, Bitcoin was recovering from a Bitcoin winter and started a bull run up to $65k. I, obviously, got FOMO hearing stories of people making thousands and more from this run. So, naturally, I decided to buy Bitcoin starting at around the cost of 40k-55k (fractional shares - no I did not invest 40k into Bitcoin lol).

Let me tell you, it was super fun watching my Bitcoin value rise on the way up to 65k. Addictive even. When I say I would check my Robinhood App five times an hour, I'm not exaggerating. It felt kind of like when you're playing a penny slot in Vegas and it's just giving you money. That is to say, I felt the same rush I get when I gamble and win. What could make this fast cash win even better? Buying more Bitcoin, of course! And so I did. And it was a blast.

That is until Bitcoin tanked all the way down to 15k.

Did I feel like I was going to vomit for a good week? Ya.

Did I sell at a loss? Absolutely not.

At that point, I figured I was either going to let it go to zero or hope that if I held on long enough, I'd at least break even. I had a well diversified investment portfolio, an emergency fund, and steady income, so I knew that if I were to lose my entire investment in Bitcoin it wouldn't drastically change my life (still, it would royally suck). I swore to myself that I'd sell once I broke even.

So I mostly ignored Robinhood like the plague until around December of 2023, when I noticed Bitcoin slowly creeping back up. I absolutely did not buy more (because from what I'd observed over the last bull run, when I buy more, the price goes down...that's called gambling logic). I watched it with a kind of side-eye, not wanting to spook it, until I finally broke even. And did I sell like I promised myself?

Hell no.

Why?

Because that fun adrenaline feeling came back. I was again checking Robinhood several times an hour, reading the Reddit Bitcoin Forum (which is hilarious btw, but that site will absolutely convince you to buy more Bitcoin lol). On a big earning day, my mood was excellent. When bitcoin tanked (bitcoin tanks and rises meteorically OFTEN), my mood was shit. I kept telling myself, I'll sell when it hits X. Except X kept moving.

Finally, after a day on vacation in Hawaii where I spent a good majority of my day checking Robinhood, I decided I had to be done. Bitcoin was just too unpredictable to vibe with my anxiety and questionable relationship with gambling. I sold at 63k and had a decent return on my original investment.

Do I still get FOMO when I see the price is up further than what I sold it at? Yes.

Is that normal? Yes.

Does that mean we buy at the top? No. We keep our head down and invest for the long term.

Couple of general takeaways:

>Don't buy a stock/crypto when everyone is talking about how much money they're making. That's potentially a good sign that it's overpriced.

>It's normal to feel FOMO watching Bitcoin or another stock take off. Give yourself permission to ignore it.

and finally:

>Investing shouldn't feel like gambling. If it does, it might be time to reassess your strategy.

A lesson I remind myself often of as well.

Thanks for being here,

Mariah

New Blog Post

Navigating flexible hour work in healthcare

Ever dreamt about going part-time? Are the demands of a 40-hour workweek leaving you burnt out as a healthcare provider? Been there, done that. Just a year ago, I found myself dragging through the workweek, unable to provide the quality care my patients deserved due to sheer exhaustion. Recognizing the need for a change, I opted for more flexibility in my work hours by transitioning to part-time employment.

This guide outlines the actionable steps I took to shift towards a more accommodating schedule, whether it be part-time or per diem. Click here to discover the roadmap to alleviate burnout and embrace a healthier work-life balance.

In this blog I discuss:

→ financial considerations for going part-time so you don't go broke.

→ healthcare insurance considerations.

→ how to get your boss to view you going part-time as a win-win.

→ building in flexibility to account for financial variation.

Want my roadmap to going part time?

Read the blog →

TRAVEL HACK

I got 2 nights free at the (normally $1000/night) Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. Click the link to see how I did it!

Get the guide →

📍EASY MONEY WIN: Your Weekly 10 step (or less) Money Win.

6 Easy Steps to Score Free Nights at Hyatt Hotels

Picture it, Hawaii, 2024. You're drifting in the lazy river overlooking the ocean, drinking a pina colada, watching whales jump in the bay. Somewhere in the distance, you hear a well known ukulele rift, "somewhere over the rainbow" starts playing. You are one with the island.

Oh whoops, excuse my imagery going off the rails. Looks like that creative writing class I took freshman year of college is finally coming out to play.

This week's Quick Money Win: 6 Easy Steps to Score Free Nights at Hyatt Hotels.

I used this exact strategy to score 2 free nights at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (normally $1000/night).

Read the full post here →

I'm currently working on next week's Money Win: 5 easy steps to find a great Hyatt Hotel Redemption to maximize your savings.

It includes:

Examples of how to calculate the value of a reward stay with Hyatt.
Exact steps to calculate your cash savings on different luxury Hyatt stays.
A list of my best and worst Hyatt Hotel Redemptions.
Hotel details and pictures.
How much money I saved on each night of the redemption.
PLUS my top 10 Dream Hyatt Hotel Redemptions that I'll be working towards this year.

Keep an eye out for next week's newsletter!