text: marketocracy.com is a fun and cool site where you can make mock trades. Your friends can join in on a "club" and everyone goes head to head as a mutual fund manager. I think you are given $100k to invest, one stock cannot be more than 25% of the portfolio,while the rest have to be less than 5% or so. It's fun because it allows you to compete just with your friends and the site will tell you if you are beating the S&P500 or not.\n\nCHeck out investors.com if you want good info on how to buy the right stocks at the right time. Open an online discount brokerage account like scottrade.com . Trades are only $7. That way you won't have to pay the $50+ the big brokers charge.\n\nWith good research and a bit of luck you can triple your $1000. I did that with Apple. I bought it at $17. \n\nBest of luck.