investing your money ;)

I just sold 100 shares of DPL (power&light co in Ohio) for about a $450 gain over the 5 or so years I've held it, plus about 4.5% per year dividend. It's being bought by a conglomerate that doesn't pay a div, or I'd have kept it.

I replaced it with SXL, the spinoff company of Sunoco Logistics (fuel tankers, etc).
I bought last month- 40 shares (all I could afford) @$90, and it was $100 today (or up about $400). It also pays 5.5% (calculated at the $90 price). Oh, and they just announced a 3 for 1 split :)

I'm pretty happy with both those trades in this economy.
This recession has been VERY good to me in the market :), even though it has sucked for my job, not getting a raise in over 5 years:(
Instead of pulling out in 07/08, I bought more of the holdings I thought were solid and took some chances on others I thought would rebound well. I also started buying more stocks that payed dividends, and then months later started hearing about that staregy in the news.

Right now I have about 66% winners and 33% losers.
I may sell a dog that I don't think will recover to offset my gains (and clean up my balance sheet).

According to NAIC, which was a buy and hold philosiphy club, you typically get one "out of the park" pick every 5 to 10 years.

I've had 3 double their worth (Sandisk, HP, Shell, and Slumbergier)(one paying 4%div, and one paying 6.5%), 2 tripple their worth (one was Ford from 2008 to 2011) and a couple up 50% (Ford preffered 6.5% div and Citi pref 7%div)
All in since 1998

I started with $25 per month, and now put in $250 per month.

I agree- don't put any money in the market unless you are prepared to lose 100% of it.
I don't do funds, shorts, options, indexes, or anything but buy and sell long individual stocks.
I also usually hold for periods measured in years, not months or days.

To me, it's like a combo of poker, and chess, with a bit of D&D thrown in.

I'd love to be able to do 5 or 6 figure trades, but I guess I should be happy with my extra $1000-$1300 a year with about 2-3 hours a week of "work" to get it.