A Retiree’s Day Trading Journal

4 Trades, $390 Down, Countless Lessons Learned

Day trading is often glamourized as a fast path to riches. What rarely gets highlighted are the bruises along the way — the small wins, the painful losses, and the lessons that come only with experience.

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I’ve just completed my first four trades, all in the same stock (OPEN). The results? A net loss of $390. But beyond the numbers, what I’ve learned in these early sessions has been far more valuable. This post is my attempt to document those lessons for myself, and other retirees thiking of walking the same path.

[Important Note: As a retiree, I day trade for the experience, not for the income.]

Performance Snapshot After 4 Trades

Trades taken: 4 (all in OPEN)

Results:
5 Sep: -$200
9 Sep: +$50
12 Sep: -$320
1 Oct: +$80

Net P/L: -$390
Win Rate: 2 wins / 4 trades = 50%
Average per trade: -$97.50
Biggest Win: +$80
Biggest Loss: -$320

The story in one line: I’m winning about half the time, but my losses are larger…