Markets
SPY5,248.32+0.35%
QQQ18,432.10+0.52%
BTC98,420+1.27%
ETH3,812-1.10%
NVDA952.30+1.36%
AAPL178.42-1.19%
TSLA168.90+2.62%
EUR/USD1.0892-0.21%
GC2,342.50+0.36%
CL82.15+1.17%
SOL178.50+3.36%
DXY104.82+0.14%
SPY5,248.32+0.35%
QQQ18,432.10+0.52%
BTC98,420+1.27%
ETH3,812-1.10%
NVDA952.30+1.36%
AAPL178.42-1.19%
TSLA168.90+2.62%
EUR/USD1.0892-0.21%
GC2,342.50+0.36%
CL82.15+1.17%
SOL178.50+3.36%
DXY104.82+0.14%
TF
tf/daytrading
567
tf/daytrading•Posted by u/trader_mike•

6 months of full-time day trading — the honest review nobody gives

Quit my $72K/year accounting job in October to trade NQ futures full-time. Here's the unfiltered reality.

Numbers:

  • Starting account: $30K
  • Total P&L over 6 months: +$14,200 (47%)
  • Green months: 4 out of 6
  • Worst month: -$3,800 (December, choppy market)
  • Best month: +$5,200 (January, nice trend)

What nobody tells you:

  • The loneliness is crushing. Former coworkers don't understand what I do anymore.
  • Private health insurance costs $620/month in the US.
  • Red months make you question everything.
  • You actually work more hours than before (prep at night, post-close review).

I'm continuing, but it's not the dream life YouTube sells.

7 Comments

Connectez-vous pour laisser un commentaire

Sort by:
chart_wizard·edited

$14,200 over 6 months is $28,400 annualized. Less than your old $72K salary. Do you have enough runway to hold out while it scales?

189
trader_mikeOP·edited

I have 18 months of savings and my wife works. The goal isn't to match my salary year one, it's to build a track record and then trade a prop account.

78
swing_king·edited

The prop account is the right strategy. If you prove 6 months of consistent profitability, Topstep or Apex gives you $100-150K to trade. That changes the math.

45
swing_king·edited

The loneliness point is so true. I solved it by joining a coworking space. $200/month but my mental health improved dramatically.

134
options_queen·edited

Thank you for the honesty. 90% of day trading posts are "I made $10K this week in 2 hours" without showing the red months. This is refreshing.

98
newbie_investor·edited

Question: what do you do on non-trading days? Weekends when the markets are closed? Boredom is a real trap for full-time traders.

56
trader_mikeOP·edited

Backtesting, reviewing the week's trades, exercise, reading. Sunday evening I prep my watchlist and key levels for the week. Keeps me busy.

31