Newbie to bitcoin here.
I started stacking in March once I determined bitcoin was no longer a risk, it was a sure thing.
your first mistake might be treating bitcoin like a sure thing
there are still risks and bitcoin is still volatile but it all depends on how you go about your investment and that is what makes a difference on the profit you will make
Bitcoin dominates --> Regular John sees writing on the wall as fiat currency crashes --> Bitcoin is too scare and pricey to get any amount equal to the dollars they've saved --> large companies, governments, and early adopters become hyper wealthy --> major wealth gap and misery for most of the world except us --> sad state
you do not need to equate the amount of fiat you have or have had just keep trying to invest through dca or whatever strategy fits you