When it comes to asset growth, many people think about "how to make big money," but the first issue to solve is "how not to lose money."

**Holding onto the principal is more difficult than finding opportunities**

There's a rather sobering statistic—most people's financial failures are not because they missed the windfall, but because they stepped into obvious pitfalls. What are these pitfalls? Blindly entering the market, high leverage operations, being lured by projects promising "guaranteed profits"… these are all killers of the principal.

Practical ways to protect your assets boil down to these points:

**First, enforce savings.** Don't wait until the end of the month to see if there's leftover money before saving; instead, set aside 10%-30% of your income immediately, and only spend the remaining. Treat this money as if it doesn't exist. Repeat this process, and over time you'll accumulate an "emergency fund" and "investment capital."

**Second, get insured.** Prioritize basic coverage like health insurance and accident insurance. Paying small premiums in exchange for the ability to hedge against major risks is the most worthwhile investment.

**Third, stay away from high-yield traps.** Phrases like "earning thousands per month, earning passively without loss" are just talk. Real asset growth is a slow and boring process; promises of quick wealth are often signals of risk.

**Invest in yourself; it's always the most cost-effective business**

The most valuable capital an ordinary person has is actually just one thing—yourself. Skills, knowledge, experience, reputation—once these are accumulated, they are hard to take away. Instead of chasing hot trends, focus your energy on strengthening your own abilities.

Operationally, you can think of it this way: don't deliberately learn those trendy new things, but instead transfer your existing skills to new scenarios. No matter what your identity is, the skills you currently possess are reusable.