Money makes the world go round. Anyone who doubts such a statement should look into the currency exchange market (Forex). It’s one of the few markets that functions 24/7, without much institutionalization, and entirely virtually. Currency always finds a way to move.

Many are intrigued by the prospect of profiting from currency fluctuations. Becoming well-off from Forex trading is a difficult task, but the first steps are open to anyone willing to try. This article is all about making these steps safely and without a big budget.

What is the Forex market?

When we think of currency exchange, we might imagine a small kiosk somewhere near a border or in an airport. Such services physically change bills for travelers with a hefty commission. The first thing to understand about Forex trading is that it’s nothing like it.

Forex is an abbreviation for foreign exchange trading (Or simply FX), which is a process of speculating on currency price movements with the aim of making a profit. Simply put, you purchase a currency when it’s down and then sell it when its value increases. You don’t get to see any physical bills – everything is done virtually on digital platforms.

The value of each currency is measured when comparing them in pairs. The US Dollar is most commonly used for such measures. So you have markets like US/EUR, US/CNY, and US/JPY. Traders use many other pairs to speculate on the fluctuations in currency value.

It might seem that such speculations are full of math and forecasting, but currencies represent the state of the real-world economy and the geopolitical situation. So, exchanging currencies is more often about understanding these factors that contribute to changing the currency value and trying to forecast it.

Benefits of FX trading

• Liquidity. Trading currency has a great advantage over other forms of investing because it’s easy to enter and exit your positions. If you buy stocks or real estate, it might be a hassle to sell your assets, but currency is much easier to turn back into your account balance.

• Ease of entering. It used to be that FX markets were open only to banks and large corporations. That is no longer the case. Many small investors are now participating, and this is encouraged by many FX trading platforms.
• Transparent fees. Paying taxes and other fees is comparably straightforward without much complicated processes. Most of the time, the payments are simply deduced from your earnings (or losses).
• Flexibility. FX traders can easily choose whether they want to invest in the long or short term. Other forms of investing often require you to keep your assets for a determined time. Currencies can be exchanged more flexibly.

How to get started with Forex trading?

Educate yourself

As with all forms of investing, the first step is to invest in your knowledge. It might sound like dull advice, but the fact is that most new FX trading accounts are closed after a few months of activity.

One must understand at least the most basic concepts before starting. Otherwise, the whole practice will seem overwhelming. Here are the key things you need to start researching right now.

Currency pairs are a price quote of the exchange rate between two currencies. In other words, it’s the price you’ll need to pay when buying one currency with another. While the basic definition is simple, understanding which combinations are valuable to invest in and being able to locate good opportunities takes years to master.

Market analysis, when it comes to FX trading, is much wider than currency numbers. One must understand the ever-shifting geopolitical, economic, and environmental landscape of the countries. That’s why professional FX traders usually specialize in some currency pairs. Only when you know a lot about certain currencies and their countries can you expect to perform well.

Forex trading strategy isn’t simply buying low and selling high, although it might seem like it. You must start in terms of positions – their exit and entry points, trade timing, and size. There’s a lot of good material online, but I suggest starting with some introductory books or even economics textbooks.

The psychology of trading is a difficult topic to master. Yet, it’s essential to keep your head clear when times are rough and not rush when you are successful. Controlling your own emotions is a big part of success in any trading, but it’s especially important in FX markets because of constant fluctuations.

Forex affiliate programs and demo accounts

The best way to start FX trading is to participate in affiliate programs and create demo accounts at brokerage platforms. It will ensure that you aren’t losing any (or only a little) of your own money. 

Be sure to read more about Forex trading without investing your own money before you begin. Below is a short version of what you need to start.

Forex affiliate programs allow participants to promote a certain broker for profit. Each time someone registers with your affiliate link or code, you get a reward. You can then use this reward to start trading currencies. It’s a minimal loss for you even if you don’t trade for much profit.

Another even more effective way to practice FX trading with minimal risks is demo accounts. Most brokers offer them free of charge as a space for newbies to practice their skills.

Some provide an unlimited account to play with, and others give you a set plan to experiment with. The sandbox environment of the demo account mirrors real-world conditions. So, you can test your strategies and look for new ideas on how to make a profit trading on FX before spending any of your real money.

Wrapping up

The one major tip you should take away from this article is to take things slow and don’t rush to invest real money. Only when you know enough to profit from demo accounts and small sums can you start investing more money.