To The Moon

The first time I opened a brokerage account, I remember staring at the options: cash or margin. Some people might have been tempted by margin, imagining extra buying power, the chance to amplify gains. For me, the choice was clear from the start: cash. No borrowed money, no debt—just the money I actually had.

Using cash keeps everything straightforward. When I buy a stock, I know exactly how much I’m putting in and what I could realistically lose. There’s no interest, no margin calls, no hidden pressure from owing money I don’t have. The worst-case scenario is always clear: I can only lose what I invested, not more. That certainty allows me to focus on the companies I like, the ones I believe in, without any external stress or urgency forcing my decisions.

I still remember watching my portfolio during a rough week, a few positions down. Some traders might have panicked if they were using margin, forced to sell at the worst time. But I didn’t. I had no debt, no pressure—just my own money and my own decisions. That calm, that freedom to hold or wait, confirmed for me why I stick with cash.

Using only cash also brings its own kind of discipline. I can only buy what I can afford, which makes me think carefully about each position. Every purchase earns its place in my portfolio. I’ve held through dips, and I’m holding some unrealized losses right now, but I’m not worried—they’re all with my own money. The market can move however it wants, but my decisions stay grounded.

Trading and investing with cash feels freeing. I know exactly what I’ve risked, and what I stand to gain or lose. From that first account I opened to today, I’ve never used margin. Cash isn’t limiting—it’s steady, tangible, and mine. That simple fact has quietly shaped the way I approach money, risk, and growth, and it’s the way I continue to invest.