Nope never buy options only sell them, premium decay is always the best way to make an income at this job! Very boring at times but it works. Up to you how much risk you take. For example, 3450 calls sold originally for $5.75, now $1.00, likely take them off soon, 2750 puts, average in $22, now $16 with stops to protect that profit, may even just take them off today. Heavier on selling calls right now with where the market is though as calls are way tooooo bullish right now which to me is real sentiment, people are really putting their money where there mouth is however you have those pesky 5 Fanmg stocks and POMO holding everything up lol!!! Just let the stupid thing correct and be natural so we can keep a normal bull market go lol!!
So you are selling only the front month or more time?
I'm old fashioned and all my data deals with the old school way before all these options, 3rd week of every month and I only trade cycle to cycle. Sometimes I'll go early expiration rolling into the next month if premiums are rich such as the 3450's were this month. I posted it this month but don't regularly.