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
312
tf/daytrading•Posted by u/newbie_investor••1 min read

I want to start day trading — what do I actually need? Complete beginner with $15,000

I've been reading about day trading for 3 months and I think I want to actually try it. I have $15,000 I can afford to lose (well, I won't be happy about it, but it won't ruin me).

What do I actually need to get started? I mean everything — broker, platform, hardware, education, etc. I see people with 6 monitors and Bloomberg terminals and I'm sitting here with a MacBook Air.

Also, should I quit my job to do this full-time or try to do it on the side first? For context, I work 9-5 so market hours overlap with work hours completely.

4 Comments

Connectez-vous pour laisser un commentaire

Sort by:
trader_mike·edited

DO NOT quit your job. I cannot stress this enough. Trade on the side first, even if it means just watching the market during your lunch break for 6 months. You need to prove to yourself that you can be profitable in a simulator before risking real money, and profitable with real money before even considering going full-time.

Minimum viable setup:

  • Broker: IBKR or Schwab (for stocks). Or Tradovate/NinjaTrader for futures (no PDT rule)
  • Hardware: Your MacBook Air is fine to start. Add a second monitor when you can — $150 on Amazon. You don't need 6 screens.
  • Charting: TradingView ($15/mo pro plan) — best retail charting platform by far
  • Education: Start with "Trading in the Zone" by Mark Douglas. Free YouTube: SMB Capital, Jared Wesley
234
swing_king·edited

+1 on the "don't quit your job" advice. I went full-time too early and the psychological pressure of NEEDING to make money every day destroyed my trading. Took a job again, and ironically started trading better because I wasn't desperate.

143
algo_trader_42·edited

$15k is under the $25k PDT threshold for stocks, so you can only make 3 day trades per 5 business days. Options: (1) trade futures instead (no PDT rule, MES/MNQ are great for learning), (2) add $10k more, or (3) open accounts at 2-3 brokers to get 9 day trades per week total (a workaround but annoying).

112
chart_wizard·edited

The most important thing nobody tells beginners: your first 6-12 months will be about learning, not earning. Budget for losses. If you can keep your losses to $3,000-5,000 during the learning phase, that's basically tuition for a trading education. Way cheaper than an MBA.

98