Over the past two years, I've developed a growing intuition: In the next five years, for ordinary people, while making money is certainly important, what's even more crucial is not to lose the money they've already earned. The environment has really changed. On one side, income growth is slowing down, raises are hard to come by, and opportunities are scarce; on the other side, temptations are increasing: Consumerism that says "enjoy now and worry later," flashy financial products, and high-return schemes disguised as "projects" or "side hustles"... If you let your guard down just a little, you could be skinned alive. My own judgment is quite simple: in the next five years, ordinary people need to protect their money, and the first priority is not to be led by others. When it comes to spending, the issue has never been about buying, but about why you buy. Some money is meant to be spent; if it can improve efficiency, reduce internal friction, and help your body and mind function better, then that's a worthwhile investment. The real danger lies in: Not intending to buy something, but after seeing a few recommendations suddenly thinking, "I need to have that too"; Not feeling much pressure, but scrolling through and starting to doubt, "Am I living too frugally?". This kind of consumption driven by emotions will only turn you into a debt slave and a spendthrift over time. Investing is the same. Many people don't fail because of the risks themselves, but because of the high-return stories. ...