When I started my Bitcoin journey years ago, I had nothing, yet, a day will not pass by, that I will not stare at Bitcoin value online, I came to know about Bitcoin when I was looking for how to make money online, and my desire to have some Bitcoin in my wallet grew so much that I started hunting for satoshis through faucets.
Looking for how to make money online was the thing that drove most persons I know and have spoken to into bitcoin investment. The most exciting the about it is that, that was the foundation of learning how to do your own research. I am totally impressed with how much intentional and detailed with your search and the actions you took in that direction.
If you are into Bitcoin in 2016/2017 these faucets should sound familiar to you, I am sure that these faucets are not working anymore today, even if they do, its not worth it anymore.
Lol, I did this faucet thing some time at the beginning. No sooner did I realse that it was just a was of my precious time and my phone's battery and internet data subscription. So, I stopped and looked for more legit and easy way to get in.
I did this for a whole year, from the mid of 2016, claiming every hours and some are every 30 minutes, after a year of gathering some satoshis I ended up losing them all because of free wallet and xapo wallet, I don't know they are custodial wallets, I couldn't even tell the difference between an open source wallet and closed source in that period.
You must have been really determined with this, I didn't even last a week with it. Maybe because I didn't have anyone guide me on how to really go about it.
After losing everything, I started buying some Bitcoins using my pocket money, I was suppose to use the money to buy some foods and transport myself to school, I was so obsessed that I prefer walking down to school almost everyday, but in the end I had to go back and sell some part of the Bitcoin, because the suffering was too much, believe me, Bitcoin investment is not easy for those that have no good source of income.
They were surprised how I got the money, I was asked some questions later as if I was in a courtroom facing a panel, they don't believe at first but later they did, we had an amazing Xmas, again, selling some part of my Bitcoin. In 2018 the bear market hitted so hard that I sold all my Bitcoin, the biggest mistake that cost me, I expected Bitcoin to keep growing and growing, with some ignorance in my body, how could I have known that Bitcoin will be volatile at some point? Lack of learning and doing some research I guess. I summoned my courage in 2018, I restarted my journey once again, by learning more than chasing, this was how I was able to finally understand more about Bitcoin, I should have known, and focus more on reading about every possible mistake someone could make. Till this day, i am still unable to get the exact amount of Bitcoin I sold at the time, all because of fear and panic, I should have just held than let the bear market scare me out. I hope someone learn one or two from my journey, if you can't afford Bitcoin, find a source of income first, enough to feed your needs and enough for savings or else you will go back to the last savior you have ( Your Bitcoin wallet) and spend it all to survive. There is nothing that beats learning, maybe I would have had a different outcome if I focused more on learning. Because I will understand how valuable Bitcoin will be in the future.
You really did surmount a lot of challenges to get to where you are now in your bitcoin journey. I am glad you didn't give because you may not have found this great forum. We learn everyday and I hope that the newbie reading this can learn a thing or two from your story.