“The stock market” could mean many things.
For example, it’s one thing to invest in a Total Stock Market Index fund at regular intervals (every month), and do so as long as possible. Compound interest will take care of the rest and if you start early enough, you can make a million (or more) with just average market returns.
DO NOT buy individual stocks. That’s borderline gambling IMO. We know over time THE MARKET goes up. Can’t say that about individual stocks. Eastern Airlines, WorldCom, Enron – all HUGE companies that have 1 thing in commom. They went bankrupt, and wiped out ALL shareholder value. Therefore, buy the STOCK MARKET – not any individual stock.
Fooling around day trading is DEFINITELY gambling. So is buying on margin, puts, calls and the rest of the crap that Wall Street uses to suck $ out of investors.
Find some $ every month to invest, and plunk it into a Total Stock Market Index mutual fund, with very low expense ratio. You’ll wake up in 30 to 40 years and be a LOT more likely to have your million(s)..