How I Aim for $150 a Day With Day Trading (What Actually Works—and What Most People Get Wrong)

How I Aim for $150 a Day With Day Trading (What Actually Works—and What Most People Get Wrong)
By Jonathan Miles
Financial Journalist

I want to be very clear from the start: day trading is not easy money, and it is not guaranteed income. I don’t wake up every day expecting profits, and I don’t trade to “get rich fast.” What I do is follow a structured process designed to target about $150 per trading day, knowing that some days I win, some days I break even, and some days I lose.

This article focuses on one specific, highly searched problem:
👉 How people try to make a consistent daily amount with day trading—and what that really looks like in practice.


Why $150 a Day Is a Popular Target

I didn’t choose $150 randomly. Many traders pick a daily goal that feels:

  • Achievable

  • Meaningful

  • Psychologically manageable

For many, $150 represents:

  • Supplementary income

  • A controlled risk objective

  • A measurable daily benchmark

The problem is that most beginners focus on the number, not the process.


The First Mistake I Had to Stop Making

At the beginning, I chased profits.

I traded:

  • Too often

  • Too emotionally

  • Without consistent rules

Trying to “force” $150 a day led to overtrading and unnecessary losses. The turning point came when I stopped asking how much I want to make and started asking how much I’m willing to risk.


Risk Control Comes Before Profit

This is the part most people ignore.

Before every trade, I define:

  • Maximum loss for the trade

  • Maximum loss for the day

  • Exact exit conditions

My daily risk is always smaller than my daily target. That way, one bad trade doesn’t ruin the session.

Day trading without strict loss limits is the fastest way to blow up an account.


Why Position Size Matters More Than Strategy

Many people obsess over indicators. I learned that position size matters more than the setup.

Two traders can take the same trade:

  • One survives a loss

  • One wipes out a week of gains

The difference is how much capital they put at risk.

I never risk money I can’t emotionally or financially afford to lose.


I Don’t Trade All Day (And That Changed Everything)

One of my biggest improvements came when I stopped trading constantly.

Now I focus on:

  • Specific market hours

  • High-volume periods

  • Fewer, higher-quality setups

Trading less often reduced mistakes and stress—and ironically improved results.


Why Consistency Beats Big Wins

I don’t aim for home runs.

My approach focuses on:

  • Small, repeatable gains

  • Controlled losses

  • Avoiding revenge trades

A single big win means nothing if followed by uncontrolled losses. What matters is surviving long enough for consistency to matter.


The Psychological Side Nobody Warned Me About

Day trading is mentally exhausting.

Even when trades are simulated or small:

  • Losses feel personal

  • Wins create overconfidence

  • Stress affects judgment

Learning to stop trading after hitting limits—win or lose—was harder than learning any technical skill.


How Long It Took Before Results Felt Stable

This is not overnight.

For me:

  • The learning phase took months

  • Mistakes were frequent early on

  • Discipline developed slowly

Anyone promising fast daily income from day trading is skipping this reality.


Why Many People Fail at Daily Profit Goals

Most failures come from:

  • Oversized positions

  • No daily loss limit

  • Emotional trading

  • Unrealistic expectations

The market doesn’t care about your bills or goals. It only responds to risk and behavior.


What I Do When I Don’t Reach $150

This matters.

If I don’t reach my target:

  • I don’t chase losses

  • I don’t increase risk

  • I review the session instead

Forcing trades to “hit a number” usually turns a small loss into a big one.


Important Reality About Day Trading Income

Day trading income is:

  • Variable

  • Inconsistent

  • Dependent on market conditions

Some days the market offers opportunities. Some days it doesn’t. Accepting this reality reduces bad decisions.


Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone really make $150 a day day trading?
Some traders do—but not consistently, and not without losses. Results vary widely.

Is day trading risky?
Yes. It involves financial risk and emotional pressure.

Do you need a lot of capital?
Not necessarily, but undercapitalization increases risk significantly.

Is it possible to lose money day trading?
Yes. Many traders lose money, especially without risk control.

Is day trading suitable for everyone?
No. It requires discipline, emotional control, and acceptance of uncertainty.


Final Thoughts

When I talk about making $150 a day with day trading, I’m not describing a promise. I’m describing a structured goal inside a risk-managed process.

Day trading isn’t about predicting the market. It’s about managing yourself—your risk, your behavior, and your expectations.

Anyone focused only on daily profits is already at risk. The traders who last are the ones who survive the bad days long enough to benefit from the good ones.