Basically I'm saying it's not easy,
what a shocker that is.
(PsychoChomp, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 11:36, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

that is a shocking revelation
I don't have a grand, and if I did, and didn't have a wedding to spend it on, I'd probably spend it on a guitar.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 11:40, Reply)

I'm currently trying and failing to save a grand to start
but I've got some imaginary shares for the last 6 months and I'm about 9% up but that's before charges so it'll mean a whopping profit of about 4%.
(PsychoChomp, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 11:43, Reply)

I'm finding my large mortgage payments get in the way of saving
it's inconvenient

imaginary shares?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 11:45, Reply)

His imaginary girlfriend manages his portfolio.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 11:51, Reply)

Spreadsheet where I say I will buy £200 of these shares at this price on this date etc
then some free software that checks the price movement. It's more annoying when I make imaginary money than lose imaginary money.
(PsychoChomp, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 11:56, Reply)

ah I see
seeing how you get on before actually investing?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 12:04, Reply)

Yeah it's not that much effort really, I check it about once a week or so,
if it was real money you're talking about spending maybe an hour a day though.
(PsychoChomp, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 12:07, Reply)

I don't have that sort of time
unless I did it instead of going on b3ta when at work I suppose
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 12:10, Reply)

I did it once
when I was younger. (The fake one obviously) was quite fun really, helps if you read the papers thoroughly
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 12:12, Reply)

If you work with spreadsheets all day you can get away with it at work.

(PsychoChomp, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 12:16, Reply)

can I just say
(and I say this as someone who works in financial services)
That is a really bad way to invest. You can do well for a few months and think it's down to your own decision-making. But the events of 2008 show that outside factors have the power to make or destroy your portfolio. If a single investor wants to play the stock market (and make a decent profit over and above transaction charges) then only way to do so sensibly is to take a long position i.e. keep hold of your investments for at least 5 years, and only invest what you can afford to lose.
( djtrialprice, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 12:35, Reply)

There's an inherrent risk to every way of investing
but as long as you're not investing any more than you can afford and you know that any day you could lose it all then I don't see the problem.
(PsychoChomp, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 12:38, Reply)

I do agree on the long positions though.
no transaction charges make a big difference.
(PsychoChomp, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 12:40, Reply)

aye
well best of British young Buffett.
( djtrialprice, Fri 16 Jul 2010, 12:49, Reply)