Question: Trying to invest in stocks?

I'm Trying to start investing in stocks. Etrade,Ameritrade, I'm trying to find something online.
I'm planning on invest my spending money. Instead of buying lottery tickets and scratch offs I want to get into the stock game.
I make about 1k a week and plan on putting 100 - 200 every paycheck to invest. (I dont mind losing it as long as theres a chance) Any advice on getting into stocks? I've heard of penny stocks but looks like a scam to a point.
100 - 200 is no REAL lost.
Help me out experience people.

Answer:

You're following the path of a typical new investor. No education in investing or trading & looking to strangers for some hot tips. People who can never be identified for either motives or knowledge are not a great choice for "investing ideas".

You can be a great investor if you take 6-12 months to learn the basics. Learn the basics before you open an account with Ameritrade (ETrade would be your first mistake). Read some basic books, including (but not limited to);
Mutual Funds For Dummies
Stock Investing For Dummies

set aside that 100-200/paycheck into an account until you reach about $10,000 ($25,000 if you decide to daytrade)

learn as much as you can about how to chose quality stocks....paper trade (pretend invest) to see if you have learned anything....when it feels right open a brokerage account (discount type) buy your first set of company stocks...with $10,000 I would suggest 3-4 stocks...try not to be a daytrader....go for something like 1-3 months....stifle the desire to get-rich-quick....build a solid portfolio and be well onto your way to financial security.

It is the way I started a long time ago...though in 20 years I saved more than $10,000 before I started while I read and paper traded to get things right.

You are making 1k a week. That is good.
You have enough money to get into stock market and start the game.
Ok, let me open your eyes about growth stocks and dividend stocks.
Growth stocks don't pay you any money, you make your money only by stock appreciation.
For example, shares of APPLE company rose from $405 begining of 2012 to $493 ysterday, you can make the math. Why the stock has gone up so fast? Because the company is making great profits from its famous products such as IPhone, IPad...etc. Does the company pay you as a shareholder any part of the profits? the answer is NO. As a matter of fact the company hoard the cash into bank account. Still, the company has too much cash into account, that's why investors are buying the shares of APPLE and drive the stock price to $493 the highest close ever in the company history.
This is called Growth Stock, because the company is making big profits but at the same time it doesn't pay it to shareholders.

Dividend stocks are the stocks of companies that pay part of the profits to shareholder (i.e. Dividend).
Example is Chevron. Chevron company is paying $3.24 a share every year. The price of the stock as of yesterday is around $106.
By buying this stock, you can at least ensure some money. Plus, the shares may go really up, who knows you may get both appreciation and dividend.
Remember this is stock market, all stocks are moving every day.
Most people ,however, who want a dividend prefer to buy Mcdonalds and Coca cola shares because the share prices are not moving that much.