tf/daytrading•Posted by u/trader_mike•about 2 months ago•1 min read

Is day trading actually worth it? 2 years of data from my trading journal

I've been day trading NQ futures full-time for 2 years. I track everything obsessively. Here are the cold hard numbers:

Year 1 (2024)

Starting capital: $25,000
Ending capital: $18,200
Total trades: 1,847
Win rate: 44%
Net P/L: -$6,800
Commissions + fees: $3,200

Year 2 (2025)

Starting capital: $25,000 (reloaded)
Ending capital: $41,300
Total trades: 1,126 (traded less, better)
Win rate: 51%
Net P/L: +$16,300
Commissions + fees: $2,100

So after 2 years, I'm net +$9,500 ($16,300 - $6,800). That's about $4,750/year or $396/month. For full-time work.

Is it "worth it"? Financially, not yet — I made way more at my old job. But I'm on an upward trajectory, Year 2 was dramatically better than Year 1, and I own my time. I'll check back in after Year 3.

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chart_wizard·about 2 months agoedited

The fact that you went from -$6,800 to +$16,300 in year two tells me you actually learned and improved, which is rare. Most people plateau or quit. Your trade count dropping from 1,847 to 1,126 while your results improved dramatically is the key stat here — you learned to be selective.

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macro_man·about 2 months agoedited

This. The best traders I know take fewer trades, not more. Quality over quantity. The transition from overtrading to selectivity is literally the turning point for most successful traders.

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algo_trader_42·about 2 months agoedited

The honest answer is: it's not "worth it" yet by any financial metric. $396/month for full-time work is brutal. BUT — compounding returns are nonlinear. If you keep this trajectory, Year 3 might be $30-40k, and Year 4 could be $60-80k as your account grows and your skills compound. The question is whether you can afford to keep going until then.

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swing_king·about 2 months agoedited

Massive respect for sharing real numbers. 95% of people online only show their winners. The fact that year 1 was a loss and you openly admit that is more valuable than any "I made $10k in a week" post.

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