First Foray into Live Trading

Time to Get Real 

After months of practice, Anika, a cybersecurity expert from Birmingham, is ready to step out of simulation mode. 

She's making steady progress with consistent results on her Forex demo trading app, but she knows the real test begins now. 

Let’s follow Anika as she discovers how to transition safely into live trading as an individual investor. 

Her trading journey shows how to build confidence and keep your trading edge in real-world conditions when your capital is at stake.

Demo vs. Live Trading 

A demo account is ideal for learning mechanics of an unfamiliar market: how to place orders, read charts, and test stops and targets.   

Once real money is at stake, everything changes. Live trading introduces strong emotions: greed, hesitation, fear, and overconfidence. 

These pressures can disrupt a solid strategy. Think of it this way: demo trading builds skill — live trading builds discipline. 

Plan the transition, start small, and manage position size to keep emotions in check.

Start Small 

The first rule of live trading: keep it small. 

Anika opens a live account with just £500. It’s not enough to retire on, but enough to make her feel the stakes. 

Her demo app plan applies in live trading too:  

• Plan your entry and exit.
• Decide your risk level.

She sets stop-losses, take-profits, and risk-per-trade just like before. 

Anika reminds herself: “Just because it’s real money doesn’t mean I throw out the rules. Consistency beats thrill-seeking."

Track Every Trade 

Anika starts keeping a trading journal. It shows her patterns, progress, and blind spots. 

After each trade, she logs: 

• Why she entered each trade
• Setup and strategy used
• Entry and exit points
• Risk/reward ratio
• Her emotional state before and after
• What went right or wrong

She reviews her journal weekly to spot habits and refine her plan. It’s not just record-keeping — it’s a feedback loop. Journaling helps her learn and grow as a trader.