Having navigated this circle for so many years, I've seen too many people treat trading as gambling, especially those with limited initial capital, always thinking they can "turn things around" with a single big bet. But the harsh reality hits hard: the tighter your capital, the more costly mistakes become, and the more you need to focus on proper operation rules and strategies.

Today, I want to share some practical insights I've repeatedly validated when mentoring beginners. These tips are especially suitable for ordinary traders with around $3,000 in hand who don't want to get liquidated.

**First Tip: Divide your money into three pockets, each with a clear purpose**

The biggest mistake beginners make is being "greedy"—thinking that with limited capital, they must bet big to turn things around. My approach is completely opposite: the less capital you have, the more important it is to stay alive, followed by accumulating trading experience.

Suppose you have $1,500 in capital; you can allocate it like this:

- $500 for intraday quick trades: focus on Bitcoin and Ethereum, the main cryptocurrencies. When price fluctuations exceed 2%, that's an opportunity. Take profits of 3 to 5 points immediately—don't fall in love with the market. This method emphasizes frequency and certainty, not aiming for huge profits on a single trade.

- $500 for medium-term positioning: only act when the market shows a clear direction, such as breaking through important moving averages or stabilizing at support levels. Hold for two to four days, with a profit target of 8 to 12 points, then exit. Don't be greedy.

- The remaining $500 as a safety net: keep this in your account untouched, only use it in extreme market conditions—like "lifesaving money." No matter how much someone calls for trades in the group or how tempting the market looks, this portion must remain inactive.

Why split like this? Simply put, it's about controlling each operation's risk exposure. Many people panic when the market drops because they have all their chips on one type of operation—when they lose, they lose everything.

**Second Tip: Do nothing 80% of the time; only trade during clear trending markets**

Cryptocurrency markets fluctuate daily, but most of the time, it's just ineffective sideways movement and noise. If you trade frequently, you're basically working for the platform—transaction fees and slippage can eat up your profits.

I once mentored a beginner who started with $1,500. Over the first two months, he only made three trades. How did it turn out? Each of those three trades was at a critical point of trend initiation. In contrast, those who traded daily and frequently cut losses didn't see much account growth.

So, the second rule is: stay out of the market 90% of the time. Only participate when the market truly breaks out into a clear trend.

This means you must learn to resist temptations. Rebounds during downtrends, sudden news-driven surges, a coin suddenly skyrocketing—these are not the markets you should touch. They may look promising, but in essence, they are "bone-chewing" operations with high risks that aren't worth it. The real "fish-body trend" is the phase with volume, direction, and strong continuity.

The market is like a fish: you don't need to eat the head and tail (too hard to pinpoint), but the middle part is the most tender and stable. Ordinary traders should patiently wait for this opportunity and stay patient otherwise.

Why is it so hard? Because of human nature. Seeing others make money makes you itchy; when you have no position, you feel uneasy. But this mindset is exactly the source of liquidation. For those with less capital, a major mistake can end the game. Therefore, your trading frequency must be much lower than the market’s volatility.

These two core principles are: when capital is small, safety and discipline outweigh returns. Survive first, then accumulate capital and experience during the process. That’s the right approach. Many people don’t fail because of technical issues but because of mindset and fund management.