I started the year with exactly $1k in capital. I did add and withdraw money a few times, but to make things clear cut and easy to track, the broker does keep track of all profits and losses.

So, a result of $400 is pretty good based on a $1k start,

But

that is only trade gain/loss, it doesn't (I discovered after 3 years of blindly believing all was shown in p/l)

surprise, surprise.. a broker who (unintentionally I'm sure) confuses the end user.. the trader/account holder.. with fancy reporting and/or omissions showing the true, overall profit or loss.

This is what is shown in the upper left of the platform by default..

notice how the account capital is displayed many times.. makes me feel richer than I truly am!

I had to change what info I see by clicking this..

Then scrolling all the way to the bottom of the list to find this one..

again , I'm sure the broker IS NOT hiding this at all, I just never thought about it till now..

and here it is..

So, all of a sudden my $400 profit is now added to that -$861.42 I paid in fees, for a much more depressing result of -$461.42

I won't even bother doing the math for account ROI, but it seems I DEFINITELY should've bought me more HBD with that $1k. Oh well.. that's life..

The year did start off good, but ever since market conditions dipped way down starting in July.. Live and learn.. now I have a VIX value to tell me when to stop trading real or not.

So, I think it's time to NOT give up on trading stock options, but to continue to papertrade and watch for the good conditions to start. I still feel trading, along with investing and other income producing endeavors, are best when spread out. Diversify. Have many things working for u, in case one is doing poorly, then the others can make up fot it. :)