When You Trade For Luxury, I Trade For Freedom Of Time!

Hi GearZero,

I like your approach to trading very much ... it seems actually very similar to mine.
I also trade for freedom ... for having time and space in my life for real, internal quality of life and for personal growth.
I began trading in 2007 and learned a lot by going through the financial crises of 2007/2008.

As my goal with trading is having freedom and time, I only trade 2-3 hours a day, depending on the situation.
My style is low frequency scalping: the goal is to have only 1-3 trades during this time window, giving me enough for having a good salary.
On bad days I can have like 5 trades, but seldom it happens.
Most people think scalping is about high frequency trading. I absolutely disagree. For me it is identifying the situations with the best chances of success and only than getting into the trade. The length of holding the position depends on the wave situation - can last from 3 minutes to 1 hour.
At the end of the session I always stay flat - I would hate having to think of trading and positions the rest of the day. I want to be completely free from it.

Yeah, man. I feel like we are aligned for having the same goal.
i only started on 2016, I have thought, "What is the fastest way to buy a new car, pay off debts, and become financially independent?"
Trading is often the answer, but it ends up causing stress. Confusing analysis, consecutive losses, and failing prop firm challenges over and over again.

I remember, the goal is not to become a millionaire overnight. It is to have the freedom of life to enjoy your days without being tied to office hours. To be able to take a long leave without thinking about work. Maybe the result is the same $2000 monthly, and the only difference is we do not need to leave early in the morning and come home late in the evening.

This is where our movement begins. I am gathering people who have the goal of getting back their time by using prop firms capital to frequently get payout from it, so that our time truly belongs to us completely.

I understand that in this movement, we must cooperate and help each other specifically, sharing how to manage risk and drawdown to pass challenges, reminding each other to stay disciplined, and celebrating every withdrawal as a ticket toward time freedom.

This is not a goal to become a superstar trader. This is a collective support system to escape the RAT RACE. Every dollar earned from prop firms is not just about the amount, but about getting back more time to play with family, children, or booking tickets for a vacation trip that has only been a dream until now. Let us take profits calmly and with a plan, to buy the most luxurious thing, our time.

If you feel tired of living in the cycle of work, office, and waiting for payday, and you want to enjoy life, then this is the place.
This is my way to strengthen my true motivation, reminders, controlling emotion not by posting signals and charts but by being vulnerable. This way, i force myself to keep moving and avoid any validation seeking, it keeps me on track for the cause.

Now it is your turn to commit to this movement.
For the creation of a special community that looks out for one another, for those of you who do not want to work in an office and want to go on vacation with our beloved families more often.

This is a true story about when I felt like a failure as a trader.

In the past, I also often felt down when the strategy I used failed completely. It felt like I was the one who was not smart, like I was not worthy of being a trader. But over time I realized, the one at fault was not me. The thing that failed was only the plan or the strategy I used at that time.

I remember very well losing many times. At that time I thought, maybe I am just not suited for forex. But after thinking about it, I found an answer that made me feel excited again.

Failure only means the strategy I used was not a good fit, it does not mean that I failed as a person who trades. From that point, I learned not to be too hard on myself. Every loss, I always evaluate, finding out why the strategy did not work.

Sometimes it only takes a small change, and suddenly the strategy that did not work before actually gives a decent profit.
The important lesson I learned is that we must not give up.

I believe failure is part of the journey. And after failing many times, I can say, success will be sweeter when we have passed many obstacles.

Guys, it is now February 2026. Do not let us waste opportunities like in previous years. The thing I fear most is being in the same position without any progress at all by next year, 2027.

Four years ago, i got my first payout from a prop firm. But, is $2300 a big number? It depends on how we see it.
If we start with $100, it requires 2300% growth, a dream that is almost impossible and makes the mind aggressive. But, if we start with $100.000 dollars, a profit of only 2.3% is enough.

To be honest, I also scared when I first joined a prop firm 4 years ago. I remember the feeling very well. Afraid of failing, breaking rules, afraid of scams, afraid of losing, afraid the withdrawal would not be paid, afraid of everything.

At that time, my friend said this, "You have been thinking about the negatives this whole time. Trading has always been high risk, high return. Just think, what if you pass and they actually pay you? You could get a payout every month." Since then, my mindset changed. I am no longer someone who waits for safety. I became someone who always has choices.

If last year we felt like we wasted time because we thought, "Maybe later, when I am more ready." I dare to say that readiness only exists after we commit to starting. Let us make this February different. I am not saying passing a challenge is easy, but I ensure there is a chance that this might succeed.

And I am here, inviting traders to pass the challenge, supporting each other among people who also choose not to waste this year, to remind each other and share experiences. If you are seriously committed and ready to go through the process, take this opportunity for your future self. We will figure out how, together.

This is the danger of Forex trading that I have felt after several years!

Throughout my journey of learning forex trading, I thought it was only about learning analysis, building strategies, and chasing profit. But, after several years, I realized there is another side that is not visible from the outside. It turns out that trading can be addictive.

Every day, I could never be far from the charts. Every time I had a moment, I would check the market, look for entry opportunities, and monitor price movements.
Moreover, when the market moves according to my analysis, wow, the feeling of satisfaction is extraordinary. That is why, even when I can recover from a loss, it feels like winning a big door prize.

What is even more unique is that once I decided to be a trader, life without trading felt empty. Even Sundays, which should be relaxing, actually made me impatient for Monday so I could trade again, hahaha. Maybe, this is what people mean by, "Once a trader, always a trader."

But, I also started to realize that this feeling can be a double edged sword. The market makes us forget about life outside of trading.
Because of that, I learned to maintain balance.

Trading is not just about chasing profit. Because the ultimate goal is to live a life that is calm, happy, and remains balanced.
So, do not let trading actually ruin other important things.

I almost wanted to quit trading because I felt it was pointless! Here is the full story!

There was a time when I felt all my efforts in trading were in vain. Continuous losses, capital getting thinner, and my head felt so full of analyses that were never right. It got to the point where I thought, "That is it, just stop. Trading is probably not for me."

But when I was at that point, I remembered that everything is never easy from the start. Even in other businesses, many people fail first before finally making a profit. But still, it felt very heavy at that time.

Finally, I tried to stop for a while. I did not trade for a few weeks, while thinking, what was actually wrong? It was here that I finally found that the problem was not with the market or my strategy. The problem was in the way I handled losses. I was chasing profit too much without managing risk properly.

So, I started again slowly. Small entries, fixing risk management, and learning to be more patient. I also remembered again why I started trading in the first place.
My goal was to change my life for the better and I did not want to work in an office.

So, every time I feel bored and wonder. I always take a short break, see what can be improved, and start again.

This is my favorite way to break it down for people who think trading is just gambling.

Trading is honestly just like running a stall at the market. Imagine you are selling rice, sugar, eggs, or meat. The prices go up and down every single day based on everything from the weather to how many people are hungry. To make it work, you have to use your head, look at the data, and have a game plan. You need to know exactly when to stock up and when to sell so you can get the most bang for your buck.

Forex trading is the exact same deal. It is all about using analysis, facts, and a solid strategy to figure out the right time to jump in. Plus, in trading, we have this thing called risk management. We can control how much skin we have in the game, just like a smart shopkeeper decides how much inventory to buy so they do not go bust.

So, at the end of the day, trading is way more like a real business than a game of chance. Just like a pro merchant who knows how to read the room and manage their stock, a trader has to master analysis and risk.

With the right strategy, you can keep your capital safe and chase those profits the smart way.

I think trading is literally the best job on earth, here is my take on it!

Just imagine for a second, a business where you do not have to deal with the headache of employees, and the best part, zero bosses breathing down your neck!
It is just you calling the shots. No paying salaries, no training costs that burn a hole in your pocket, and you do not have to stress about building a team or hitting some target set by a boss.

In trading, we are free to make our own rules. The schedule is flexible, you can start with whatever capital you have, and you can trade whenever you want without anyone bossing you around. You are the one who decides when to jump in, when to quit, and how much profit you want to chase.

The remote is in your hands!

I just realized that 5% profit a month is actually more than enough.

At first, I was always dreaming of huge gains like 20%, 50%, or even 100% a month. I thought it would be so cool to double my capital in no time.
But the longer I stay in the game, the more I realize that those kinds of expectations just burn you out and lead to losing streaks.

There was a time when I was chasing those sky high targets. I ended up going in with huge lots, sloppy analysis, and zero emotional control. It looked smooth at first, but when the market did not go my way, I totally flipped out. That is why wanting huge profits so badly usually just ends up blowing the account.

Think about it, if we have $10.000 and can consistently hit 5% every month, that is a solid $500 without having to go full throttle on lots or use some crazy complicated strategy. In a year, with compounding, the results are actually massive.

Trading with a 5% target makes me way more chill. There is no pressure to enter a trade every second, no need to rush for profit, and for sure, the risk is way easier to manage. So, I learned to enjoy the ride, not just chase the destination. Small but steady wins are worth way more than one big hit followed by a total meltdown.

Now I get it, trading is not a get rich quick scheme. Even 5% a month is plenty to live a comfortable life if your capital is healthy. And the best part is, this mindset keeps me in the game for the long haul without sacrificing my sanity, my health, or my money.

I once hit rock bottom and totally lost my mind because of trading. I went on a full tilt because I was desperate to win back my losses. Every time I hit a loss, I just cranked up the lot size. I thought it was the fast track to recovery, right?

But the reality, my account was on life support, I was stressed out of my mind, and worst of all, I started beating myself up. I felt like I just did not have what it takes to be a trader. Every single entry made my heart race, I was scared of being wrong, scared of losing money, and terrified of repeating the same mistakes. It got so bad that I actually walked away for a few months.

I started digging to find out how others were crushing it while I was stuck. Was my strategy just trash?
Turns out, the issue was my own mindset and emotions that were not ready to handle the heat. From that moment, I flipped the script on everything.

I started entering with tiny lots so I could learn how to keep my cool. I also started tracking my vibes after every entry, like the fear, the panic, the hype, and the greed. Over time, I figured out how my own emotions work. And slowly but surely, I got my groove back. Now, every time I take a loss, I can actually smile. Because I know it is just part of the game.

I learned that a goat trader is not the one who always wins, but the one who is tough as nails and can still make smart moves even when the pressure is on. So for those of you feeling the weight right now... just chill. I have been in your shoes. And if I can bounce back, I know for a fact we all can.

So, I just travel out of town this morning. The whole way there, the roadside was just packed with durian stalls, and man, they looked so good. I am a total sucker for durian. Without even thinking twice, I just pulled over. I grabbed a few, whatever I could get, to enjoy with the fam and my close circle.

And honestly, that moment made me realize something. While we were opening the durians, one of my close relatives who has always been a bit skeptical about what I do was watching. In their head, trading is probably just this weird thing, a bunch of red and green charts, sitting in front of a laptop for hours, with results that feel totally abstract just numbers ticking up and down on a screen.

But when they saw me just pull over and buy durian in the middle of a trip, without stressing about the budget or waiting for payday, something shifted in how they looked at me.

Turns out, the best way to explain the perks of trading is not a screenshot of your profit. It is simple stuff like this, being able to buy durian on the side of the road whenever you feel like it for an unplanned get together. Visible freedom. Being able to show up for those tiny, unexpected moments. Treating your family without a second thought. Just being spontaneous without asking for anyone for permission.

That is why every time I get a withdrawal from trading, I always set aside a bit specifically for surprise moments like this. It does not have to be huge. But it has to be consistent. It makes sure that gratitude is not just sitting in a bank account, but in the memories made with people you love.

Trading is the freedom to choose your moments. Want to buy durian on a whim? You can. Want to play with your kids without work on your mind? You can. Want to stay in your hometown longer without worrying about getting fired? You can. That is a win you cannot measure with just a percentage. So, if people around you are still skeptical, try showing them by being present. By being spontaneous. By showing off those small freedoms that used to feel impossible.

Because at the end of the day, i believe that happiness is simple. Just sitting together, eating durians.

I used to wonder too why the big time traders are so low key and never spill the tea on their strategies, like they are being super stingy or something.
But for real, that silence actually goes pretty deep.

The way I see it, the first reason they stay quiet is not because they are being greedy, it is because they know that what works for them might be a total flop for someone else. They do not want us catching the wrong vibe and getting stuck in that whole "get rich quick" illusion.

Second, every trader has their own vibe, so they do not want to give out false hope by sharing a strategy that just is not a good fit for you.

Third, they are not being quiet because they do not give a damn, it is just because winning at trading is a personal journey that you cannot just copy paste from someone else.

So, back then, I was talking about trading while hanging out with the boys, and man, everyone looked so guarded.

One guy even blurted out, "Why even bother with trading? That is just online gambling!" But I just kept my mouth shut and smiled because I knew they were only hearing the bad stuff from the headlines.

In reality, I was lowkey struggling through long nights learning candlesticks and trying to keep my cool while my account was sitting in a deep floating minus.
The early days were rough, for real. I was just catching losses left and right. But I kept grinding because I was sure that if I stayed consistent, the market would eventually pay off.

Somewhere around 2022, I got into prop firms. A few months later, I started getting regular withdrawals, bought a new phone, treated my buddies, and even copped a laptop with my trading gains.

The funny part? The same people who were talking smack suddenly started asking, "Yo, is that trading thing of yours still going?". It is kind of a joke, but that is just how it goes. I learned one thing for sure, people will talk down on you until you actually have something to show for it. I saw it firsthand—they only believe it once they see the results.

So, instead of wasting energy clapping back at the haters, we are better off just focusing on ourselves and enjoying the profit in peace.

A lot of people hit me up asking, "If I have 100k in capital, how much can i pull in a month?", But im keeping it real, man. Aiming for 2 percent a month already gets you around 2000 dollars. Trading is a wild ride, the results are gonna swing every month. The main focus is keeping your capital safe, do not go chasing huge gains for a quick fix.

I have been through those greedy phases myself. I would snag a decent profit, but it never felt like enough. I would think, "Man, if i can make this much now, i can definitely kill it even more!"

Eventually, i started chasing bigger numbers and totally ignored the risks. Every time i jumped into a trade, instead of watching my back on the risk side, i was just daydreaming about how fat the payout could be. i did not end up ahead, i ended up totally wrecked! All because of that split second of greed that turned out to have a massive, ugly impact.

It is so easy for people to say, "Hey man, you should have used a better risk to reward ratio!" But in reality, when that greed kicks in, your brain is like it is under a spell and you are not even aware of what is happening. Next thing you know, your capital is gone, and you are left feeling like a total mess.

From that experience, i learned that if you only focus on the money, greed will sneak up on you out of nowhere. But if you focus on the risk, you stay chill, patient, and in control.

In my opinion, trading is not about who makes the fastest or the most profit, it is about who can stay in the game the longest!

Honestly, I almost give up trading. I am telling you this because so many traders end up quitting halfway. Real talk, only about 5% actually make it big, while the other 95% just crash and burn.

But I learned that trading is like a steep, rocky road that totally tests your mental toughness, your know how, and your experience. If you feel like you are taking more Ls than wins, maybe it is time to hit the brakes and check your strategy.

Failing is just part of the deal, but what separates the pros from the rest is whether you can bounce back and learn from those mistakes or not.

I used to feel like a total small fry when I was only pulling in $5 a day. Deep down, I was like, "Why am I even busting my tail trading if this is all I get?"

But after a while, I realized it is not about the size of the bag, it is about the grind I put in to get those results. The second I stopped comparing my wins to everyone else and started being grateful for every tiny bit of progress, I felt way more solid.

I am stoked when I can stick to the plan on an entry, keep my cool when the market is acting crazy, and just sit tight waiting for a setup. That is the real proof I am leveling up as a trader.

So now, I truly believe that success is all about hanging in there and staying consistent. I just take it slow, one entry at a time, day by day. If I stay grateful for the process, I know the big payouts will follow as I get more skin in the game.

Is it actually possible to get rich from trading, or is that just a total pipe dream?

Real talk, I used to be a skeptic too. I thought the idea of making bank from Forex was just some myth people told. But after I really went down the rabbit hole, I realized that getting wealthy from this business is not impossible, but it is also not the walk in the park people make it out to be.

So many people jump thinking they are going to hit the jackpot overnight. But the truth is, this is not some magic money tree. It takes time, real world experience, and serious discipline to actually make it.

I have taken my fair share of heavy Ls, and there were times I was ready to just call it quits. But I kept pushing, learned from every single screw up, and slowly but surely, my profits started to stay in the green. The cool thing about trading is not just the chance to get loaded, it is the whole learning process.

If you can keep your risks on a leash, manage your bankroll like a pro, and not get greedy, the door to success and a fat paycheck is definitely open. Plus, these days there is so much info online, you can use copytrading, or even get funded through prop firms.

Back in town, I know a few traders who are living the dream just from trading. Some of them even ditched their 9 to 5 for good because their profits are doing all the heavy lifting.

I used to think that as long as your technique was on point, you were guaranteed to get some profit. But man, it is definitely not that easy.

I remember this one time when the market was trending hard right as the London session kicked off. I was so sure of myself, thought I nailed the entry perfectly. The profit started rolling in, and I got way too hyped, so I started averaging up and cranking up the lot size to catch a massive payday.

But in just a few minutes, the market pulled a total U turn, and all that green turned deep red instantly. To make matters worse, my capital took a huge hit because I forgot to set a hard limit on my risk.

That was the moment i know that we really need to plan for the worst case scenario so we do not blow our entire account. I see it all the time, traders going way too heavy on their lot size, and one bad move leads to an instant margin call.

In my book, you have to protect your trading capital, not just go full throttle to show off or hunt for validation from others. That is why nowadays, every single time I jump into a trade, I make sure I know exactly how much heat I can take before I even start thinking about the profit.

I used to think trading was all about hitting those massive home runs, like bagging 20%, 50%, or even 100% in a single month. Because of that, I was always going all in with huge lots and my emotions were totally all over the place. The result, I did not get rich. I just kept getting slapped with margin calls.

Turns out, having sky high expectations just leaves you burnt out, emotional, and ends up wrecking your account. I mean, sure, hitting those big targets looks cool and lets you flex on other traders, but in reality, it just had me chasing the market like a headless chicken.

Nowadays, I am just vibing with the process and aiming for a chill 5% a month. With $10.000 in prop firm capital, that is an expectation of $500 monthly. The best part is that trading feels peaceful now, the risk is under control, and my account actually stands a chance in the long run.

cool stuffs. Great