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SwingKong01
07-14-2014,
So i stared reading and learning about 1/2 weeks ago about all this investment world, but im having a bit of an issue on on what type of investment to focus/learn on.. Buy stocks vs options.. So basically im low budget, and i dont want to buy a stock today and wait 1 year to make money on it.. Most books i have read kinda state that to buy stocks and make profits from them one must hold them for about a year, that will be kinda boring no? specially since i only have 2.5k-3.0k to invest.. So is my only choice options?

SwingKong01
07-14-2014,
Like i watched the videos on dough.com and tastytrade, they suggest 100% to go into options, also i have stared the optionseducation.org training, but i bought few books recommended here like: Rule #1 and the little Book That Still Beats the Market which recommend buying stocks.. but i feel like i would need more time and patience to buy stocks compared with options?

BlaineTarr
07-14-2014,
Option strategies can be used in conjunction with stock purchases. Just buying a stock and holding it is a 50/50 shot....maybe you win maybe you lose. However with option strategies you are able to define your risk and probabilities, lower you cost basis, etc. Options also allow you to trade smaller thus spreading your risk around and trade more often. This is especially important for smaller accounts. If you create an account with TDA through the dough.com link you will get a substantial fee reduction and then will be able to use the Thinkorswim platform which has realistic paper trading where you can test your strategies with fake money in real time.
Tastytrade has archived videos for beginners in the "Where Do I Start" and "Back To Cool" series. Also Thinkorswim has archived and daily seminars that are all free.
Even if all you do is buy stock you should still understand things like options volatility, probabilities and covered calls etc.