Why not just go ahead and begin with futures. Give the low start up you could at least start with a couple of YM contracts anyway. Probably get a little more bang for your buck.
i dont understand how u can give out advice like this when u full aware all newbs that have a go at futs usually blow in no time; maybe statistics and odds have no significance for u, gawd knows, but the guy, havin' such a tiny acct shud be only swing tradin' stocks and not trade outrageously competitive and leveraged stuff where any loss can get outta control very easly.
We don't know his style or trade expectations. So saying he is overtrading is nonsense. Overtrading happens when emotion, instead of a plan, dictates the trade.
I trade YM (and ER2) daily. If I enter YM with expectation and plan to capture say 30pt and expectation is met, is it overtrading if I take another same side opp 10m later, even at a slightly worse price than original position close? I say no. I am trading according to plan. Purists would say my system is flawed and I am overtrading.