Getting Started

I started investing in the stock market about two weeks before President Trump declared Liberation Day and the first round of tariffs were announced. The market dropped about 20% over the following two or three weeks, and I lost around $20–$30 immediately. I started with roughly $50 and kept going, investing every dollar I could. I was told it would come back up — and slowly, over time, it did.

I began with an ETF, but quickly got bored. For the record, the platform I use is Robinhood. An ETF is a fund of mini-companies, usually in the same industry sector. I wanted to invest individually. One company that IPO'ed around this time was CoreWeave, priced at about $34.50 initially. It stayed in the $35–$50 range for about a month. I did something many people would think was silly: I put every dime I could into this one company. As it went up, I slowly took money out and invested it elsewhere to safeguard the returns. Those investments also went up. Repeating this process over several months increased my portfolio significantly.

Risk Tolerance and Technique

Being blind and physically limited, I get a steady check from the government — roughly $16,000 a year. Losing what I invest is not catastrophic; another check comes next month. My approach has always been learning through experience.

The core of my technique is simple: make a dollar multiply. I invest a dollar in a company when it's down. When it goes up, I take that dollar out and put it in another company that's down. I wait for it to go up, then repeat the process. I don't sell until a stock has made a little money, even just a couple of cents. Selling at a small gain drives down my average purchase price per share, which is my main goal. When a stock reaches a bottom, I leave it alone and let it grow. Volatile stops require attention, but this technique ensures that I consistently make money over time.

I also use AI tools to help pick companies and track where a stock's current price fits within its 52-week low and high. I only buy stocks on the lower end of that scale.

Living Off the Returns

Most of my basic needs are covered by food stamps and an insurance over-the-counter benefit card, so at this point, I can practically live off the interest generated by my investments.

Crypto is a different beast. You can trade it on the same platforms and use similar techniques, but you need to understand the market first. Unlike stocks, crypto trades 24/7, 365 days a year. Stocks are open Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 4 PM Eastern Standard Time, excluding major holidays. Crypto doesn't follow a schedule and often moves with hype and volume. I've made money from it — not a lot, but enough to cover web server bills.

I focus on young tech companies at first, then diversified into battery technology, solar, EVs, and even electric lawn equipment. Following the news is key. For example, when Tesla has bad press, that's my cue to buy. I bought a small amount just under $300, and now it's over $400.

A Gemini Perspective

A little fun fact: when President Trump was boarding a helicopter and asked about the effect of tariffs on the market, he said, *"I bet a lot of people just got rich. We are both Geminis. You should listen to what we say. Lol."* I like that. Confident, like me.