Ok, I am not going to take any advice from you on to use less or more money to trade a contract. I am going to stick to the numbers that I want to. Thanks for your input, but I am going to decline. If you want to keep giving suggestions and feel this is a good use of your time, feel free.
If you really hardly ever lose on your trades then it is a no brainer really. But your lack of confidence shown in the last few posts hints you lose more often than you have been saying. Risking $160 per $10K, if you hardly ever lose, is no risk at all.
It's not that risky I agree. But it's not like I have a year worth of results either. I have very strong context read, so market environment (outside of complete lack of stability) isn't a concern for the strategy, it's effective short and long. I still don't feel comfortable being that aggressive and have no issues admitting that. Is this is unacceptable to you, it's possible I don't have an IQ as high as you to make the best decision. However, with that said I'll still be ok even if I can only net 20-30 points per day. Currently it's averaging much higher than that. As always I send you my best.
Make hay while the sun shines. We have had good trading markets since covid started in March 2020, elevated VIX, not been below 15 and spends most of its time above 20. NQ ATR rarely drops below 200 points. YM has a 500+ point ATR. I expect these good markets to continue for another couple of years, but out beyond that who knows. There have been really crappy/slow market years in the past. I say go for it. The only thing holding you back is your fear. Emotional control is what separates the best traders from mediocre ones. I include myself in that, absolutely fearful when it comes to discretionary trading, at automated i am much better, can risk $10,000+ when taking automated signals no problem. Hate losing even $250 when i trade manually. Want to win on every manual trade i take. Do you have the emotional strength to take 4 losers in a row and still be relaxed when taking the fifth, many people cant even take 3 losers in a row without getting mad and going into revenge mode, doubling up size etc.
Just make sure you don't quit your job too soon, i.e., where working one more year or even just 6 months would increase your chances to make it that much more. Quitting your job to go full-time also depends on how easily you can get your old job or a new one back. If it's extremely easy (like have been the case with me), the risk is small. If it's very hard it's likely a bad idea. Could you instead reduce your work hours/position to 50-60%? I think that would be a better option.
I don't need a nurse, I can still do a 20 hour day. Of course now getting older and up to 4 hours to sleep. You still gulpping Pina coladas instead of hot tea for breakfast?
You have to wonder if they trade at all, and if they do, do they almost always lose? It is all math. Even someone who doesn't day trade should be able to work the math.