Guidelines to beginners for buying stocks and bonds online (in euro)?

I would like to find simple guidelines for total beginners to understand better the investment possibilities for privite persons. I prefer to invest small amounts first (not more than 300 euro) to get experience and to see how the system is working. I would like to start
investing though my french account in euro.I wonder whether I can do it on my own or whether I need an official broker to do it and what the good sites are to learn more about the opportunities in this area.

1. Define the risk you are willing to take.
2. Start small with investment funds (not stock market).
3. Buy the funds accordingly to the risk you defined, their defined risk, their current evolution (note: past revenues are not a garantee of future revenues);
4. Get to know better the market...
5. After you manage to invest in confort in investment funds and if you want bigger risk then start to look at the stock market... by then you should already have realized a couple things about the evolution of markets.

Just my 2 cents.

If you are in France, buy the magazine of the weekly Journal des Finances. The magazine is monthly and this month explains all the basics. I got it last Friday in the mail and therefore it should be available in the shops.

IMO opinion 300 euro is to small to build up a diversified portfolio in stocks and bonds. However, in France there are numerous Sicavs and trackers available which you can use to invest.

In France taxwise it is wisest to use the PEA and Assurance Vie. However, this ties up your money for eight years.

As an amateur investor in the UK., I have learnt that it is easier to lose money than to make a profit, if you do it yourself. I have done better by investing with professional organisations, like Fidelity.

if you know are aware of CFD trading (and RISKS associated !!), go to finspreads minicfd.com. you can buy as little as one cfd at very low commision for a limited period after opening of account.
this may give you some training at very low investments.