What is best way to keep a Journal of Trades?

[Haris357]

Hi all: Its a very smart idea to keep a journal of ones trades but I am torn
how to keep track of one scenario where a rollout is involved with naked puts

1. You sell a put for a premium of $200 expiring Jan22

It starts moving against you and you rollout to feb 26 . you buy back the Jan22 for $250 and sell the Feb 26th for 350 giving you a net credit of $100

It expires worthless on Feb 26 giving you total profit of $300


Did you lose $50 on the Jan 22 and make 350 on Feb 26th from the rollout?

Or do you just figure that you made $300 when the Feb26th expired?

Both is same net of $300...just what time frames?

 

[lightninboy]

If you're afraid of Jan22 put moving against you, don't sell it in the first place.

 

[caroy]

Hi all: Its a very smart idea to keep a journal of ones trades but I am torn
how to keep track of one scenario where a rollout is involved with naked puts

1. You sell a put for a premium of $200 expiring Jan22

It starts moving against you and you rollout to feb 26 . you buy back the Jan22 for $250 and sell the Feb 26th for 350 giving you a net credit of $100

It expires worthless on Feb 26 giving you total profit of $300


Did you lose $50 on the Jan 22 and make 350 on Feb 26th from the rollout?

Or do you just figure that you made $300 when the Feb26th expired?

Both is same net of $300...just what time frames?

I roll positions as well. But lets be honest about it. When you close and roll the first one it is a losing trade so record it as such as a loss. If the roll works you'll be closing that trade as a winner and just record it then as a winner. Or take the loss and roll again. IMHO

 

[OptionsOptionsOptions]

• Does your broker allow you to download a CSV file of your transaction history?
• If so put it into a spreadsheet.

 

[shawnaboyd]

Better to keep it offline somewhere, in my opinion. They are really good for reference and looking back at old trades.