It comes to a point when the old 9 to 5 just doesn’t cut it anymore. For some it comes sooner than others, and for some that means they can’t just retire and enjoy some well-earned downtime. If the itch to do something other than work for the man comes at an early age (or even if it does hit later on, to be fair), and you want to try trading for a living, it really can be done. Honest.
If It was That Easy Everyone Would Be Doing It!
Now we didn’t say it would be easy. Far from it. There is a lot of time, effort and research – not to mention investment – that goes into trading for a living. You can’t just jump in feet first and assume all will be well. But then, there are many careers where you can do that and get away with it. As for everyone doing it, well, that’s up to them – they could if they knew the secrets!
You’ve Got To Love It!
Trading is one of those things that can be terribly exciting at the beginning and then that excitement fades away as the reality – and hard work – kicks in. Not everyone is cut out for trading for a living; it’s only the ones who truly, deeply love trading that get to do it for the long term. It makes sense. After all, why would you want to do a job you don’t like? That’s why you’re giving up the 9 to 5,remember?
Wait For It… Wait For It!
Patience is most definitely a virtue when it comes to trading for a living. Making sure the form is correct, checking that your chart really does match up, waiting, waiting, waiting for the right trades to come along… It can get the best of some people, especially those who don’t have it in them to be in it for the long haul. It’s okay not to have that kind of personality, it can’t be helped, but it’s not okay if you’re trading for a living because you’ll find that you begin to make crazy trades simply to have done something that day. And that’s how the money runs out.
You Must Be Disciplined
Don’t be tempted to stray from your set plan if you’re getting anxious about not trading. Discipline means sticking to the plot no matter what. You’ve spend a lot of time making sure it’s right, and now is not the time to forget all of that hard work and rush headlong into something that will net you a big fat loss.
Take A Risk… But Be Sensible
Trading for a living means constantly taking calculated risks, and, despite everything, there is always a chance that you could lose. Doing your homework beforehand, making sure your chart matches the trade and not picking something that falls short of your target will all help, but sometimes things happen that will be out of your control – and it happens to everyone. The key is only to trade with what you can afford to lose (just in case). Otherwise your ‘living’ won’t be paying the mortgage for very long.
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Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD moves sideways below 1.1800 on Christmas Eve
EUR/USD struggles to find direction and trades in a narrow channel below 1.1800 after posting gains for two consecutive days. Bond and stock markets in the US will open at the usual time and close early on Christmas Eve, allowing the trading action to remain subdued.
GBP/USD keeps range around 1.3500 amid quiet markets
GBP/USD keeps its range trade intact at around 1.3500 on Wednesday. The Pound Sterling holds the upper hand over the US Dollar amid pre-Christmas light trading as traders move to the sidelines heading into the holiday season.
USD/JPY corrects further to near 155.80, gives up entire BoJ policy-led gains
USD/JPY surrenders its entire gains made on the BoJ policy announcement day, and retraces to near 155.80. Investors are in vogue over the outlook of the BoJ’s monetary tightening campaign. The Fed is expected to cut interest rates by at least 50 bps next year.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD Price Annual Forecast: Growth to displace central banks from the limelight in 2026 Premium
What a year! Donald Trump’s return to the United States (US) Presidency was no doubt what led financial markets throughout 2025. His not-always-unexpected or surprising decisions shaped investors’ sentiment, or better said, unprecedented uncertainty.
Gold Price Annual Forecast: 2026 could see new record-highs but a 2025-like rally is unlikely Premium
Gold hit multiple new record highs throughout 2025. Trade-war fears, geopolitical instability and monetary easing in major economies were the main drivers behind Gold’s rally.
GBP/USD Price Annual Forecast: Will 2026 be another bullish year for Pound Sterling? Premium
Having wrapped up 2025 on a positive note, the Pound Sterling (GBP) eyes another meaningful and upbeat year against the US Dollar (USD) at the start of 2026.
US Dollar Price Annual Forecast: 2026 set to be a year of transition, not capitulation Premium
The US Dollar (USD) enters the new year at a crossroads. After several years of sustained strength driven by US growth outperformance, aggressive Federal Reserve (Fed) tightening, and recurrent episodes of global risk aversion, the conditions that underpinned broad-based USD appreciation are beginning to erode, but not collapse.
Bitcoin Price Annual Forecast: BTC holds long-term bullish structure heading into 2026
Bitcoin (BTC) is wrapping up 2025 as one of its most eventful years, defined by unprecedented institutional participation, major regulatory developments, and extreme price volatility.
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Making money in forex is easy if you know how the bankers trade!
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Top 10 Chart Patterns Every Trader Should Know
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What Are the 10 Fatal Mistakes Traders Make
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The challenge: Timing the market and trader psychology
Successful trading often comes down to timing – entering and exiting trades at the right moments. Yet timing the market is notoriously difficult, largely because human psychology can derail even the best plans. Two powerful emotions in particular – fear and greed – tend to drive trading decisions off course.