Keep Losing Money😿 Do You Have These Bad Habits?
It’s said that 85% of people don’t make money trading stocks. Even someone as brilliant as Newton wasn’t spared. That’s because trading isn’t just about technicals and fundamentals—it’s a game of human nature.
Let’s take a look at the five key habits that lead to losses. Which one sounds familiar?
1. FOMO: Sell and then buy again—and always go all-in, never holding cash
The moment you sell, you’re itching to buy something else, afraid of missing out. This is classic greed. But remember: as long as the market exists, opportunities will always come. Ironically, when the real opportunity does arrive, you probably won’t have any cash left.
2. Wrong take-profit and stop-loss method: Take quick profits but hold onto losing trades
This is a classic retail investor trap—taking tiny profits out of fear, and holding onto losses out of hope. It's a short-term, impatient mindset. When a stock drops, many console themselves by saying, "It's not a loss if I don’t sell." But if the fundamentals have changed, getting out sooner means losing less.
3. No patience: Think the stocks you don't buy is better and then switch
Sometimes when you buy a stock during its consolidation phase, but feel frustrated when it doesn’t rise. Meanwhile, watching other stocks soar feels unbearable, like you're missing out while others cash in. This leads to constantly jumping between sectors, chasing heat—and usually, compounding losses.
4. Buy penny stocks: Ignore market leaders and chase cheap, speculative stocks
People love “bargains” and cheap stocks, fantasizing about catching a turnaround or reorganization that makes a penny stock soar. But the truth is, leaders are leaders for a reason. Speculative stocks rarely become leaders. Buying them is like betting on a miracle.
5. Betting on the small odds: Catch falling knife
It feels smart to buy something that's fallen sharply—like you’ve found a bargain. But that’s just self-deception. If the bottom hasn’t formed, the dominant trend is still down, and you’re likely catching a falling knife. A 50% drop can still become 80%.
Many people feel personally called out by this list—and that’s the point. These are the traps of human nature. To succeed in the stock market, you must learn to rise above them.
What do you think is the hardest emotional bias to overcome in investing?
Which bad habit do you have in your investing?
Join our topic and post directly: Keep Losing Money 😿 Time to Change These Bad Habits? or leave your comments to win tiger coins~
Plus, you can stand a chance to get $5 stock vouchers. Event detail to click: [Event Reward] Join Hot Topics Everyday to Win $5 Stock Vouchers & Tiger Coins!
Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.
I’ll admit I’ve also fallen into the trap of taking profits too early while holding onto losing trades for too long. It’s easy to justify a loss by saying “it’ll bounce back,” but that’s usually just hope talking. Now, I try to focus more on the actual fundamentals and stick to my stop-losses.
Overall, I’ve realized trading is more about managing emotions than analyzing charts. Recognizing these bad habits has helped me become more disciplined—and hopefully, more profitable over time.
@Tiger_comments @TigerStars @Tiger_SG
I prefer to go for blue chips as they have proven themselves. however, there were times where my itchy hands tend to buy those "cheap" stocks (normally 52 weeks low) with the intention of selling them when they rise. thing is, when they rise emotions get the better of me thinking perhaps they may rise further and start holding onto them. till somehow I get "bonded" with the stocks... that isn't good, is it [Doubt] [Doubt] [Doubt] dangerous to get "bonded" with stock...
It’s said that 85% of people don’t make money trading stocks. Even someone as brilliant as Newton wasn’t spared. That’s because trading isn’t just about technicals and fundamentals—it’s a game of human nature.
What do you think is the hardest emotional bias to overcome in investing?
Which bad habit do you have in your investing?
leave your comments to win tiger coins~
One of the best examples is Top Glove $Top Glove(BVA.SI)$. This stock is particularly popular during the Covid 19 Pandemic. However its share price has dropped like a rock to the bottom of the ocean.
I should have sold my shares of Top Gloves when it was riding high, but I held on till now, as a reminder of my loss aversion bias when the tide reversed for the stock.
So now I have learnt a valuable lesson on loss aversion and being aware of it helps me to recognise when I am falling into its trap.
@Tiger_comments @Tiger_SG @TigerStars @CaptainTiger @TigerClub
hope I have more patient with better holding power for great companies
Tigers, how about you? come share to win Tiger's 🪙🪙 & stand a chance to get voucher! [Smile]
Thanks for participating in discussion. Your coins have been sent through the topic! Check notification in community and find the coins[Lovely]
至于坏习惯，说实话，我曾长期受“盲目补仓”困扰。亏损的时候，总觉得越跌越该加码，幻想摊平成本、反弹解套。但很多时候，事实是趋势已经反转、基本面恶化，继续补仓只是把自己越套越深。尤其在成长股下行周期，这种补仓更像是“硬撑”。
后来我学着接受亏损，告诉自己：错了就认，不能让情绪替我操作。投资最终是理性的事，但理性往往被情绪打败。克服偏见和坏习惯，靠的不是一时觉悟，而是长期警觉。
有時，當你在一隻股票盤整階段買入，但當它不上漲時卻感到沮喪。與此同時，看着其他股票飆升讓人感覺難以忍受，就像你在別人獲利時錯過了機會。這導致不斷在扇區之間跳躍，追逐熱量——通常，複合損失。
：这适用于超级赌徒
错误的止盈和止损方法：快速获利但持有亏损的交易：这只有上帝才能做到...那些说他们能做到的人只显示了胜利，而不是失败。
没有耐心：认为自己不买的股票更好然后切换=要看运气
购买细价股：忽略市场领导者并追逐便宜的投机性股票：取决于运气。
赌小赔率：接住掉落的刀=这只是作者的想法🤔
second worse habit is buy good stocks when it's going up and sell when it's going down.
当你卖出的那一刻，你就渴望买别的东西，害怕错过。这是典型的贪婪。但切记：只要市场存在，机会总会到来。具有讽刺意味的是，当真正的机会到来时，你可能已经没有现金了。
2.错误的止盈止损方法：快速获利但亏损的交易持有
这是一个典型的散户陷阱——出于恐惧获利了结，出于希望持有亏损。这是一种短期的、不耐烦的心态。当一只股票下跌时，许多人安慰自己说：“我不卖也不亏。”但如果基本面发生了变化，越早退出就意味着损失越少。