biggles,
You'll do well and remember YOUR $25K might be a much BIGGER punt in relative terms than someone else's $500K punt if you get my drift. I have a very good friend that literally put his last $20K into DOWNER (DOW)at $4.85. Now in my eyes he is a much bigger player than me. To risk your entire savings on a stock is a massive play and one I would never contemplate.