Most beginners enter the stock market dreaming of financial freedom. They follow YouTube gurus, try "proven" intraday strategies, and set out to double their capital.
But soon, reality hits — not because they are wrong in analysis, but because the game is rigged with charges that no one talks about.
🧾 The Hidden Cost of Trading: Charges Explained
Let’s say you do a basic intraday Nifty options trade:
- Buy 1 lot (75 qty) at ₹100
- Sell at ₹105
- You make ₹5 x 75 = ₹375 gross profit
Now the charges kick in:
| Charge Type | Approx. Amount |
|---|---|
| Brokerage (₹20 x 2) | ₹40 |
| STT (on Sell) | ₹19.69 |
| Exchange Transaction Charges | ₹5.62 |
| GST (18% on ₹45.62) | ₹8.21 |
| SEBI Charges | ₹0.15 |
| Stamp Duty (Buy side only) | ₹4.50 |
| Total Charges | ₹78.17 |
| Net Profit | ₹296.83 |
🔻 So, even when you're right, you lose 20%+ of your profits to charges.
❌ What Happens When You Lose?
Suppose your trade goes the other way and you lose ₹375. Do the charges go away?
No — you still pay ₹70+ in costs.
Your real loss: ₹375 (market loss) + ₹78 (charges) = ₹453 total loss
This is how most retailers bleed slowly, even when they think they’re doing everything right.
🎥 The Brutal Truth Most YouTubers Won’t Tell You
Today’s trading influencers often show:
- "Live" profits
- Big returns
- Exciting setups
But they never show full cost breakdowns, especially the charges.
💣 1. They Ignore Charges
“Buy at ₹100, sell at ₹105 = profit!”
Wrong. Not after:
- ₹40 brokerage
- ₹20+ STT
- ₹10+ other fees
Small wins = wiped out.
Losses = amplified.
🤐 2. They Use High Capital — You Don’t
They trade with ₹10+ lakh capital, making ₹1000–₹2000 per trade.
You copy them with ₹10,000–₹25,000 and face the same charges, but with much smaller returns.
💰 3. They Make More From YouTube & Courses
Here’s the punchline:
“If they earn so much from trading, why sell courses or upload videos daily? Think about it.”
That’s because:
- YouTube ads
- Broker referral income
- Paid Telegram/WhatsApp groups
- Online courses
…generate far more consistent, low-risk income than trading itself.
Trading is their content — not their income.
🚨 Why Most Retailers Fail
- High fixed charges on small trades
- Overtrading due to emotional swings or false confidence
- Low R:R trades (1:1 or 1:2)
- Blindly copying YouTubers or Telegram signals
Even with a 60% win rate, you can still be net negative after charges.
🧠 What Can You Do to Survive?
- 💡 Journal every trade with charges
- 🧘 Trade less, aim more — go for 1:3 R:R or better
- 🔐 Use spreads in options to reduce cost and risk
- 🧾 Focus on positional or swing trades where charges are relatively lower
- 🧠 Learn risk management, not just entries
✅ Final Thought
The stock market doesn’t just test your strategy — it taxes it.
Next time you see a ₹500 profit screenshot, ask:
- How much went to brokerage, STT, and GST?
- What was the capital used?
- How many losses came before and after that screenshot?
Until you're honest with yourself, you'll be stuck in a game you think you're winning — but you're actually paying to play.
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