Have you heard about day trading and how much money others are making simply by pushing buy and sell buttons in the stock market? If so, you might be eager to get in on the action. Day trading is an exciting concept that many people want to be able to try out. What could be better than earning money from home on your computer while trading stocks? Well, it’s not always that simple. There is a lot to know before you just dive into the world of day trading and without taking the time to learn about the ins and outs, you could most definitely be putting yourself at unnecessary risk for losing money. With this guide to day trading, you’ll learn about the concepts and ideas that you will need to know before venturing into day trading and have the opportunity to consider whether day trading is the right path for you.

The Top Line

  • Day trading is a way in which investors trade stocks often multiple times in a single day.
  • It can be tempting to day trade because this type of trading seems like it could be a lucrative alternative to a nine-to-five desk job.
  • However, there are many unsuccessful day traders. Day trading requires research and discipline, and just as you may earn money day trading you may also lose money.

What is Day Trading?

The first thing to learn if you want to get into day trading is what exactly day trading is and why many people choose day trading as an investing strategy. Day trading refers to the trading strategy of buying and selling stocks on an intraday basis. This means that you would buy and sell a stock on the same day, sometimes seconds apart and sometimes hours apart. There are many different types of day traders, some that will try to take advantage of tiny market moves and others that play larger moves. The common theme is that all day traders want to make fast money and this will usually reflect in their trading strategy. They know their goal and often use several indicators and tools to help them know whether a stock is going to go up or down.

Is Day Trading Right For You?

Before you even start day trading or doing any of the steps that you will need to complete to become a day trader, you will want to consider whether being a day trader is even right for you. Most people that try to become a day trader fail and end up just investing for the long-term. Day trading sounds fun and exciting. At times, it can be. However, it can also be incredibly stressful and put you in high-leverage situations in which you might lose or gain a small fortune. If you are impatient, unwilling to put in the work, or frightened of the range of possibilities, then day trading is likely not the right option for you. If your heart isn’t in it, then it’s going to be tough to succeed as a day trader. That is why it is important to consider whether day trading is a good strategy for you before even starting.

Can You Make Money Day Trading?

A lot has been said about day trading, and because so many people fail when trying to day trade, it often gets a bad reputation. However, we can assure you that it is indeed possible to make money with day trading. Many people all over the world are able to do it every year. However, it is never an easy thing to do. If you are able to find a strategy that works for you, it can be a profitable living, but also carries a high amount of risk. Those that want to make money in day trading should start small and figure out a strategy that works for them.

Benefits of Day Trading

There are a lot of benefits of day trading. Here are some of the most common reasons that people pursue day trading as a career and ongoing job.

Work For Yourself

One of the great benefits of day trading is that it does allow you to work for yourself and not have to answer to a boss or supervisor. However, you do have to be a disciplined and self-motivated person if you want to have success with day trading.

Earn Money

Another common benefit is that the earnings potential is unlimited. While at a job you work for an hourly rate, many day traders can earn thousands of dollars for mere minutes of work--if they happen to succeed that day. The income potential is clearly a benefit of day trading.

Fun

Apart from the financial motivators for becoming a day trader, many people find it to be a fun and exciting way to make a living. With thousands of dollars at stake on a daily basis, it can be a very fun way to make money and invest for your future. However, it’s usually only fun when you’re making money.

Day trading has a lot of benefits, but it has some drawbacks too. It is a risky, stressful way to earn an income and doesn’t always work out for the trader in the end. It’s not a bad thing for people to dabble in day trading, but you should know when to quit if you find that you aren’t talented or disciplined at it. It can be a great way to earn income, but only if you know that you are able. In addition, you should only consider day trading if you have extra funds. You shouldn’t use this month’s rent money or mortgage payment to day trade because there is a risk of losing the funds.

What to Do Before Day Trading

Before you dive into day trading, there are a number of things that you should do that are considered to be essential. Here is a complete list of tasks to complete before you start your adventure in day trading.

Research

The first thing that you should do is come up with a strategy and research potential assets that you want to trade. Preparation is the best thing that you can do, since profitably trading is all about sticking to a plan.

Practice

Once you have a plan, test it out with small trades or simulated trades to ensure you are onto something. If these work out for you, then you can start to think about moving on to real trades with real money at stake.

Brokerage Account

Next, you need to find a brokerage account. You’ll want to use a brokerage account that doesn’t charge for trades, since you’ll likely be conducting a lot of them.

Funding

Finally, fund your brokerage account and get to work. Remember to trade responsibly, stick to your system, and know when to call it quits if it isn’t working out for you. Only use funds that you can afford to lose.