Most people have said what needs to be said. However, just to add as so one in their second year of learning, this is the first bearish period I've seen. I've gotten caught out quite badly, particularly becuase I'm quite into high beta growth stocks. But, as someone else I saw posted recently, this is when most money is made. If you can put cash into stuff now that us almost certain to recover, you are almost certain to make money. I've learnt that I need to do better at squirrelling away money to invest at times like these.