playin' the stocks game
drawkbox: It will be a great education for you into how markets work.  I know it opened my eyes widely when I started playing around the same age.  It will completely change you.Couple of quick things.  Don't listen to a word Cramer has to say.  It is all in volume, earnings per share, FUTURE earnings per share, and ratio.  Also, markets can be irrational.  And no matter how smart you are there is enough FUD to cloud your decision.Expect to lose a good portion of that to start but it will be one of the best classes you ever paid for.With such low money and bad margins the odds are stacked against you but it is worth it for the awareness that you will gain with market insights.See this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jwEwlZnSFYIn the end if you want a good chunk to be completely low fee and almost guaranteed just invest in index funds, now is a perfect time.  Wait 5 years and they will be up quite a bit with usually a less than 1% fee.