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Savings & investments

Archives for June 2013

MSE Blog: I’ve given up on savings
Hi all, this is a thread to discuss the MSE blog: I’ve given up on savings "I’ve finally ditched ‘em. I’m so fed up with the paltry rate I can get on a normal savings account, for the first time in my working life I don’t have one at all..." Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply. If…
HL cash interest rates
I just had a message from Hargreaves Landsdown to say they are changing the interest rates on cash held in investment accounts which made me chuckle. I'll start with the last paragraph in their letter: Sounds promising? Well here are the AERs: £50,000+ = 0.1% £1,000 - £49,999.99 = 0.05% £0 - £999.99 = 0% :rotfl: I don't…
Advice needed on selling shares
I was working for BAT from 2008 to 2010 and than made redundant, every year we got an amount of SIP shares in a plan, but when made redundant these shares became mine and I now hold them. We kinda just left them to it and they have steadily grown into a nice amount. I never really dealt with shares and just left them to…
ISA vs savings account
Hi, Does anyone have a way of calculating what interest rate I would need to get on a savings account to equal a tax free ISA? I thought there was one on the website but can't find it anywhere! By the way, I am a basic rate tax payer. Thanks!
Missing premium bonds
Hi my Nan bought me a £2 premium bond in the seventies, for ages I just had a bond with a number on then late nineties I updated my new name and address. They sent me a holders card and number but have moved a few times, lost that and not updated address. The bond itself is packed away somewhere and so I used the tracing…
£185K to lock away for a year. Your thoughts?
I have been looking around and thus far, have concluded that an ISA is the first £5760 step. I do not need access to the money for a year, but what to do with it, I wonder? I note that the government protects a certain sum (£85,000) per account (?). Am I on the right lines? I would greatly appreciate any thoughts you may…
Nice lump sum, now what to do with it
Hi all, for a while I have been saving, well it was with northern rock 2% savings account but now virgin have it and have chopped the interest rates already and now are doing it again, this time by nearly .5% I have £80k saved in there and now want to get it out and get a better return. I wouldn't need instant access…
Shares and equity question
Hi All, I have some money to invest and I want to invest in a number of businesses. 1. If I want to buy shares in a number of private companies and the owners allow me to do this how do they register this with companies house in the UK? 2. If I buy shares in a recently set up company, how does the company dictate how many…
Best savings account for holiday savings (goes up and down)
Hi all, As per the title, I save up several thousand over the year and then withdraw it all in one go to pay off the holiday. I was wondering what is the best account for this kind of fluctuating balance? Thanks
Help - I've wrongly applied for an ISA transfer.
I've made a big mistake. I thought my Santander Major ISA had come to an end in May, so I've been looking out for a new ISA. Went into Nationwide today and enquired and got told that they had an ISA for 2.25% and the rate was ending today. So we applied there and then to transfer our Santander account over. Looking at my…
Where to next for savings?
I have: 2 x Santander 123 accounts 3% 3 x Lloyds Vantage 3% 3 x BoS Vantage 3% 4 x Nationwide 5% slowly filling my First Direct regular saver and starting my N&P Gold regular saver and filled my ISA for this year. Where can i go to next for a sensible savings rate? Anyone i've missed? Any international (but UK FCS covered)…
investment allocation?
Hi all, i would like to pick some of your investment brains if i can please? I have currently invested in my company pension (i add 11%, my employer 4%) with the following allocation for the previous 18 months. Im 32, earn approx £31000 pa and would like to retire approx 63ish. Prudential M&G Global Leaders fund: 30%…
Group Deposit Account for saving for Holidays?
Is there a website that allows you to set up a fund for things like parties or holidays, that each friend can access and deposit money as they wish? A type of online piggy bank or kitty for a holiday fund??
Savings/Investment Question
Hi i have absolutely no idea about investment but would be interested to know what is the option for the least amount of risk. Also i want to save some money for a couple of projects (small money at first), savings account seem to pay 0%, and much the same for ISA. Is there anything out there i haven't heard of?
Trust fund savings account
Hi All, Was hoping to hear some of your recommendations for a trust fund account, currently the best out there seems around 1% :( Thanks
Santander esaver cash bonus
I opened an esaver account last June, that had an offer if money was not drawn out over a 12 month period a 200 pound cash bonus was to be paid. After completing my 12 month period without withdrawing, all I have been paid is the interest, no cash bonus. Santander have advised they have no record of the offer. Can anyone…
best returns on £20,000 not property ?
hi im looking to invest £15.000 to "20,000 pound, maybe more if a good investment, i am looking for a reasonable investment with returns i know am will to work hard for it but really need hep in the best things in current market so if anyone can help with good business opportunity and investments this would help a lot my…
Where is gold on an inflation-adjusted basis?
Is anyone here a big follower of gold prices? I see that you can now get a Britannia 1Oz Coin for £866 - it's the cheapest I've seen them in quite a while. I'm pretty surprised at this considering the huge amount of money trying to find a home and pushing up asset prices in recent times. The chart for GLD shows it back to…
15k in IF isa
Obviously earning next to nothing. we are using it slowly as was gifted to us. Is the 123 account the best I can get for easy access (ie 2.4% after tax)?
young persons account & residency
Halifax have said they will not accept the Australian birth certs of our grandchildren (our son is English married to an Aussie wife) currently living in Australia. Does anyone know the best entity to set up trust accounts for these babes in the UK, obviously an entity that will accept the aussie birth certs? If you this…

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MSE News

Last chance: Stock up on standard first-class stamps before prices rise by 14% next week
You've got just days left to stock up on first-class stamps before prices rise by 14%. From 2 October, the cost of a first-class stamp will be hiked to £1.25 – but if you buy stamps at their current price this week, you'll still be able to use them later.
'Unfair' standing charges need to go: MPs back Martin's and MSE's calls for energy bill overhaul
Energy standing charges unfairly penalise households on lower incomes and those looking to cut their usage, a cross-party group of MPs have said in a new report published today.
NatWest and RBS to close at least 134 branches in 2023/24 – here's the full list, plus alternatives
The NatWest Group will shut at least 143 of its bank branches throughout 2023 and 2024 following its latest announcement.
Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds to close 35 more branches in 2023/24 – here's the full list, plus alternatives
Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds, which are all part of the Lloyds Banking Group, have announced they'll close at least 35 more branches between them over the next 12 months.
Martin Lewis: Are you an E.on customer? Here's an easy way to cut what you pay for energy
E.on Next's 'Pledge' tariff could be an easy way to cut your bills over the next year, according to MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis.
Martin Lewis: Urgent warning for savers as base rate held at 5.25%
You should open a fixed savings rate NOW in case rates are cut, MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has warned.
Second cost of living payment to be paid from 31 October – here's who qualifies and how much you'll get
Over eight million households on certain benefits and tax credits will receive their second cost of living payment from 31 October.
E.on Next's Pledge tariff costs £50 less than the Energy Price Cap – should you switch?
E.on Next has launched an energy deal for existing customers that costs around £50 a year (around 3%) less than the Price Cap for typical users, making it one of the cheapest deals available.
Workers aged 18+ could benefit from a hidden pay rise in future as new pension auto-enrolment rules get the go-ahead
Workers aged 18 and above may benefit from a 'hidden' pay rise in future as the Government now has the power to lower the age limit to be automatically enrolled into workplace pensions from 22 to 18.

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