After His Fiancée Left Him, He Bet $87K On The Stock Market And Lost. Two Months Later, He's Back On Track, 'Debt Free With Money In The Bank'

A 29-year-old trader says he lost roughly $87,000 after “YOLO” options trades — including shorting SPY — expired worthless, wiping out most of about $60,000 in savings. His account swung from roughly $4,000 to over $50,000 before the losses; two months later he reports being debt-free with about $12,400 in his checking account after rebuilding income through seasonal contract work. The story highlights the outsized risks of short-term options and leveraged/inverse ETF strategies tied to the S&P 500 (SPY), sparking debate about gambling-like behavior versus disciplined investing and the need for risk management.