Those of you who are considering forex trading professionally would surely have wondered what the bare minimum funds are that are required to start trading. In this article, we address this question and provide a few tips and tricks that can assist you in get going.
How much money do you need to start with forex trading?
The honest answer is – it depends. How much money you need to start trading will vary from your account type and the type of services that come with it. However, for the most part, one can start trading by opening an account with as little as $200 (or equivalent sum in another currency).
Of course, one can get some trading knowledge and understanding of the market by trading on demo accounts that don’t require any money. One can have virtual funds up to $10,000 and gain enough experience in simulated trades without risking actual funds. By working on simulated market conditions, one can hone the skills required to succeed in the real world and minimize the losses.
Tips for forex trading on a budget
Trading forex on a budget is quite possible. However, some planning and discipline are of paramount importance when one is not trading with a large account. Here are a few ways by which one can improve one’s chances of trading success with a small budget.
Educate yourself
One has to have some understanding of what one is doing when one is trading forex. Regardless of whether you had a trading account before that crashed or you have no experience whatsoever, educating yourself about the essentials of forex is a must.
There are some fundamental aspects that you ought to be acquainted with, such as how to properly manage risks. There are many books on the fundamentals of forex learning that one can look into. These will provide you with the jargon and the cant of professional traders who work with banks or funds. Even without the books, you should look to make headway into the market and get exposed to those traders who have a successful track record and have something to teach.
Choose the right broker
There are many forex brokers in the industry with their own benefits and drawbacks and you should look to get the broker that works for you. While selecting a broker, do consider the following:
- Security level
- Regulation
- Transaction fees
- Minimum funds required in the account
Traders should be wary of brokers who are not regulated and avoid them at all costs as they don’t provide the same security features that are associated with regulated brokers and they may be fraudulent as well. The transaction fees and required minimum amounts must be considered in accordance with one’s investment goals. Consider all these things thoroughly before you get involved with a broker.
Invest regularly
When you invest frequently, you refine and update your skills. Even if you add $10 every week, you can reap the gains over time and grow your account to a decent size. It may not sound like a lot but regular investments, coupled with compounded gains, do end up fortifying your account.
Thus, you will get acquainted with the process of trading and can do so with amounts comfortable for you. As such, even if you lose a few trades, it won’t create too large a hole in your pocket. Before long, even though you’ll be operating on a small scale, you’ll be trading like a pro. Over time, these investments and returns will add up and allow you to make bigger gains.
Control your emotions
One of the requisites of trading forex is emotional stability. This is a difficult endeavor but has very tangible effects. A new trader can very easily be swept away by the whirlwind of emotions and let greed, fear, and stress take over. These open the way to greater risks and increase the chances of losing a lot of money. It is hard to recognize these signs in the heat of battle and one can get carried away, which is what makes it a tricky thing to get hold of, let alone master.
However, one can be sure that one is venturing into the unknown territory when one moves one’s stop-loss in an open trade or exits prematurely. Those who have gained some experience can use high leverage in trades but if you start doing so from the start and go too far, it is a sure sign that one is being led on by strong emotions.
Be Patient
If there is one thing that secures long-term success in trading, it is patience. Those who practice patience in the business of forex trading remain disciplined and do not get agitated when things don’t go their way.
Plus, those who have smaller trading accounts have an advantage as they don’t focus on the dollar value but the percentages of the transactions. This keeps them well organized and enables them to grasp the basics better, which can be leveraged later on when they have bigger amounts to trade with.
Is small budget forex trading lucrative?
Contrary to what most will say, trading forex on a small budget is very much possible. Over time, one can build up profitability, especially if one is utilizing all the necessary risk management strategies. However, one must not expect to make a living off of trading alone. Beginners are better off getting a hold of the basics and attaining experience first before looking to make enough profits to live off.
Final Thoughts
Trading on a small budget is a great way for traders to get acquainted with the strategies involved in trading without having to necessarily focus on the dollar value earned. As long as one is utilizing the strategies mentioned in this article, one can, over time, learn the ropes of the trade and compound one’s savings and trade account balance.