I love reading all this common wisdom from everybody on how to trade. I do the opposite of what most preach around here.
Papertrade and triple- three separate times, $8 bucks a trade is way too low, I only have automation and scalping I do $12 to $35 per. And last system I backtested had over 20,000 sample size of each signal over fourteen years of tick data, but least amount I would consider is 3,000 sample size. Anything you can dream up, programmers can write code so long as you have some type of rules. What you rather trade one market a dozen contracts or watch 40 markets at one time? Name of the game is make on consistent basis and don't take it personal, system makes or losses. Good luck, but 31 days of trading is like a vacation and you want to turn Pro? Anyone else would never take you serious testing so little.
nakachalet that's a cool idea. I do send a screenshot to my mentor. As for seeing my setups, it would be difficult. I watch a screen that has three time frames - 500 ticks, 1500, and 4500 ticks, a screen that has all three combined, and the DOM. When the indicators show agreement, then I execute & enter a stop. I record my trades only on the 1500 tick bar chart, otherwise it takes too long. But, seeing how many comments this thread has generated, I'm sure posting my screenshot would also generate some laughs, etc.
FWIW I really am 64, that's how I'm able to collect SS. At this point being real is the only way to get past all the crap on the internet.
I'm still here! I thought I caught all the wisdom in the first flurry of replies. Was shocked to see all the additions. Busy taking notes of the nuggets here.
I appreciate the thoughtful comments here. No offense, but y'all are back up. I will make my own decision (together with my wife, obviously )
When you can conclude, "you know what you're doing", go live trading only 1-lots. You'll learn some things trading with real money that trading sim doesn't reveal. IOW... it's easy to be non-disciplined and sloppy when "it's only paper trading". After you've had some success with real money and the confidence that brings, you can always bump up your size... and then again later when success warrants.
@nakachalet I will try to post a screenshot of yesterday's and today's trading (it will be 1500 tick bar chart with Barry Taylor's "Better Indicators" - all mistakes and poor trades are mine, not Barry's), I will also try to post snips of my spreadsheet tracking my results. Obviously yesterday's trading was much better than today's. With the exception of a couple of partial fills, the trades for these two days were three contracts each. Prior to that I was trading all singles. Let the BBQ begin!
Numbers are looking good Doug. I am not familiar with Barry Taylor or his method but I use the 3000 tick as my smallest TF and it prints a lot less noise but that is absolutely a personal thing.