Screwing around with options

With the markets shooting up like nuts, whose portfolio doesn't make them feel golden? So I putzed around with expiry options on GE and TEVA and lost $150. Why did I do this? I should have maintained my fixed money allocation even for small dollar speculation. In the midst of this, I love seeing my picks as top percentage gainers - it says my nose knows how to smell a good deal. Even though I like to read and pay for info, the bottom line is with me.