Hey Sandy -
I started playing with the pennies the day I bought SIRI...last November, lol.
Now these current sub-pennies and pennies. You have to do a lot of due diligence (research). You have to find a company with a REAL product that will sell. Take MGLG for instance. They have products - Gas and Oil. BCLE has products and they are a Disabled Veteran Certified Corporation that has products and has a bidding advantage that is huge on Government contracts. Plus they are partnered with a company that puts new pipelines in existing pipelines in cities and so forth.
About losing the house. Never invest more than you can afford to lose in any stock. Never take away from money that you must have. I know that you know that. Personally, I just took money from my business profit (a portion of it and use that), however, I don't put money in anymore. I just use what I have in there now to do trading with. I make a profit and re-invest it. In short order you will not have to put any more in.
Penny and sub-penny stocks are volatile and risky. That is why you really have to check a company out.
I find that the best thing to do is find some people, like here, that have been around and take a lot safer and profitable chances. Don't listen to people in chat rooms. They are pumpers and dumpers.
Learn with the people that are making money and you will fall into the groove. Ask lots of questions here. We will answer them.
In general, a great book for learning is Stan Weinstein's Secrets for Profiting in Bull and Bear Markets. It is a real education.
I hope that helps and ask lots of questions
