I want to buy stocks

[BzyBee DH]

Billy - you can buy stocks from an online discount brokerage firm - (etrade, Charles Schwab, etc).


HOWEVER -

first read a book about investing - try one of the books in the "dummy" series by Eric Tyson....

In my opinion, you do NOT want to buy stocks, but rather mutual funds. They carry substantially less risk. In my opinion, single stocks should be less than 10% of your portfolio.

As a start to read online - try FundAdvice.com - Home

Here is an overall read as well - buy-and-hold-strategy

[joshmamabear]

Ditto what they said.

if you're 18, you can start buying/selling stocks on your own. BUT make sure you read/understand the basics first.

when you're ready to invest, check Scottrade, they have the lowest charge afaik @ $7 to buy/sell stocks.

one thing I don't like about stock trading is the start of the year when we have to make our tax returns. to say its a PITA is an understatement.....argggggghhhhh

[matipid]

You need to open an online broker account. I use ThinkorSwim which has cheap commissions and good service. Other brokers are just as good but, may cost more.
One thing you need to do first is learn about stocks. Buying any stock is easy enough however, you want to buy a good company so that, chances are the stock will go up and you can make money off of it! Study, study and study and paper trade (make believe trades which do not cost you any money).

[lburgess]

First, why are you wanting to invest in the retail sector when we are in a Credit Recession/Depression? This in not your typical recession but one very similar to the Great Depression where we are experiencing a contraction in the credit markets as well as liquidity. This type of crisis kills retail. In my opinion it is a sure way of loosing your money. This summer rally is a suckers rally.

[meems]

Where is Billy? I haven't seen him for ages!

[wealthybarney]

Op-I am glad you don't want to buy them in Rite-Aid. CNN Money had a special program in January listing the businesses in the red that were slated to go into bankruptcy for 2009-RA was one. They just closed over 100 stores last month. You may want to check out the list online before you invest. But you are saavy & probably have already.

[Nate]

Sharebuilder with ING has the cheapest trades at $4 per trade... but thats only on Tuesday they are actually offering some incentives now too. $50 free when you open up a sharebuilder account

[joshmamabear]

Where is Billy? I haven't seen him for ages!

BTK must have graduated college by now if he pursued his course