How I lost $170 to a shady business, but learnt from it.

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Back in 2017, I lost $170 to a shady business and it taught me one of the biggest lessons of my life. At the time, $170 was not just money to me, it was my little capital, my “big start” into what I thought was going to be the world of investments and fast profits. I was younger, hungry to make money, and honestly, quite naive.

I came across this online opportunity that looked promising. The site had a clean design, fake testimonials, and claims of doubling your money within days. I mean, who wouldn’t want to double $170 in a week? The catch? You had to “invest” and then refer others to earn more. Classic ponzi stuff. But I didn’t know any better then.

I remember the excitement I had when I made the transfer. I thought I had just taken the bold step to financial freedom. The site showed my balance go up almost instantly, and I was told I would get my returns in 5 days. I waited. Day 1, 2, 3… then on Day 4, the website just vanished. No warning. Gone. My $170? Gone too.

The worst part wasn’t even losing the money, it was the shame. I had told a few friends about it, bragging about how smart I was for spotting a “rare” opportunity. That experience humbled me real quick.

But you see, that loss became one of the best teachers I ever had. After that, I promised myself I wouldn’t just chase shiny things again. I started learning. Slowly. I began reading about real investments, risks, savings, compound interest, and how real money is actually built, not overnight, but over time.

I started small, saving consistently even if it was just a few dollars. I got into legit platforms, did my research, watched videos, asked questions. I made it a habit to never put money into anything I didn’t understand.

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Today, I look back and smile. Not because I lost $170, but because that loss shaped how I handle money now. That painful moment pushed me to learn how to multiply money the right way. I’ve learnt that real investing is not a gamble, it’s a process. A patient and informed one.

I've also learned that every dollar has value, and losing money carelessly isn’t just about the amount, it’s about what that money could've grown into if handled wisely. That $170 today could’ve easily turned into so much more if I had invested it right, but it’s okay. Better late than never.

So if you’re reading this and you’re thinking of jumping into something because it looks too good to be true, pause. Do your homework. Don’t be in a hurry. Learn from people’s mistakes, especially mine. Because the real flex is not doubling your money in 5 days, it's watching your money grow slowly but surely, knowing you’re in control.

It’s 2025 now, and that $170 loss is history, but the lessons? They still pay me daily.