Here we are, the moment we turn our heads back to the year that is finishing and we see how things evolved. It has been a fantastic year full of challenges especially investment related ones. And I count amongst the ones who felt this roller coaster ride.
I know people who lost their job. This can be more daunting than you think, even if you have money set aside for rainy days. It happens because we in life need a greater purpose, need to work towards a goal, we need fulfillment. Without it, we just aimlessly wander about.
That's why I'm grateful that I still have my day job. I still cannot say I'm ready to pursue working for my AFIEther project on a full time basis. My plan for 2026 is to dedicate more time and find more meaningful ways to connect with my audience.
Certainly, it's a good approach to build multiple sources of income. That's what I'm after. Just relying on the full time job puts you in a vulnerable position. So go ahead and don't be afraid to start a side hustle.
I did invest in crypto because of my vision of having a small passive income. But the small became smaller and I still have positions which are down 70% of the original value! That's cruel, I know. I also know that the money I invested had a great chance of being doomed. It first started around March-April due to international tariffs. Then in summer the portfolio recovered only to go downhill again this fall. It's the nature of the game.
Today, safer assets include ETFs like S&P500 or Vanguard, government bonds or even gold. The latter I don't particularly like since it doesn't give you dividends. It's actually the reason why I pursued more crypto in my portfolio because I see regular inflows on staking. I also noticed that real estate performs quite good, the demand is high and supply low. Rents have gone through the roof, so it'd be nice to have a place to rent out and simply cash in the rent.
There are a lot of assets you can invest your hard earned money. But the real asset is actually you! Investing your money in yourself will definitely help you in the long run to achieve more, get a promotion or move on with your dream career. Experiences, places and warm people is what we really need. I recommend you to invest in lessons, courses and certifications related to your field.
Nowadays, it seems that earning passive income is simply more of a dream for normal people. By working actively to earn more, you will accelerate the investment process. Passive income will slowly pour in faster allowing you to build financial freedom.
It's quite tough to see through the emotions of 2025. Seeing my portfolio skyrocket just to plunge in a matter of weeks was not easy. Using the DCA strategy was useful to mitigate the associated risks, but did not eliminate them completely. I managed to stay focused and need to be able to keep my heads up next year as well.
I learn on my own skin that markets do not behave according to any prediction. If Trump imposes tariffs, how come these make the crypto plunge down? The answer lies in the inherent behavior of people when they panic: they SELL! And when they do, the market-economy rule is that price goes down.
I'm no clairvoyant but I believe that 2026 will not bring that much good when it comes to crypto investments. I advise you to invest in stable assets like ETFs and government bonds which also give you regular payouts. I wish you all nice holidays and lots of patience in 2026! All the best from AFIEther!
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