I was similar to you many years ago. The saving grace for me was...

I was similar to you many years ago. The saving grace for me was learning not to punt on every "good share tip" I was offered (where I lost a good deal of money), but to research and have conviction about what I invested in.

I was a little lucky because I like cars and was reading a lot about where the future of cars was going. I decided that battery tech was going to be a big game changer. After researching what minerals went into batteries for the future i got into lithium, graphite, copper, cobalt, etc companies.

I invested in companies that I thought had good management and opportunity. Some I got very right (PLS, RNU, LTR for example), a couple I got very wrong (CLA, AJM for example). Do your homework, be brave, keep an eye on what is happening, but ride out the day to day, week to week fluctuations.

I started with $5000 way back when and losing $500 in a day made me panic and lose sleep. Now, some days I can be down $20,000 down, but I don't panic, because I have chosen my investments soundly and reasonably and I know that the market fluctuates and with a good company, $20,000 will come back just as easily as it went down.

If you believe, hang in there, the opportunity is there for you. I wish you all the best.

V.