Spread betting as a full time occupation...

[f13ldy]

Not for a company, but on your jack at home with your own cash.

Assuming a 6/12 month knowledge of markets and a reasonable initial investment of say circa £2k.

Do you think you could turn a profit of £1500 net a month?

Treating it as a full time occupation for say 6-7 hours a day.

[f13ldy]

My initial thought was that 2k was certainly too low to take into account an early loss.

Mainly looking at commodities, precious metals and maybe a dabble with fx.

[f13ldy]

Thanks Tim. Cleared it up very well.

Maybe I can use it to supplement another home-based income instead...

[f13ldy]

Excellent input.

As far as £1500 goes that looks like a very optimistic figure indeed. Now I can see although possible in a ideal situation with larger capital, with my scenario it's not really do-able.

Again, if it was that easy, everyone would do it.

[f13ldy]

Well not quite a month since I posted...

Researching and reading for a few days before placing my first bet with a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

I'd selected gold on daily spot and futures as my selected markets. Others (fx looked far to volatile for a beginner).

There has been a few downs, mainly when starting out and dabbling in stuff I'd no experience of (platinum and fx) but overall my profit is 30% that of my original investment...

Whether that'll will continue remains to be seen. I'm sceptical.

There have been moments where I've had to bite the bullet and close a position when it's moving against me to minimise my loss (that hurts), times I should have closed on a profit but waited for more only for for it never to come and leave me nursing a loss and times when my limited risk account starts me in a negative position and my limits haven't been high enough (the market moves past my stop point and recovers well leaving me out of pocket)...

Researching though is my friend and my last big wins have come off the back of reading what the experts are forecasting and being comfortable with ratios and the little and often mentality and not waiting for 'big' one to roll in.

It's nerve wracking though at times. I feel comfortable enough losing some of my disposable income. Doing it as a full-time occupation (either on my own or for a company, would be exceptionally difficult I think as if it goes wrong I've got no contingency).

Overall it's gone well. The IG index iPhone app has been invaluable at times as well.