general advice required please

ecosse48

I have no isa's of any kind and have 45k to save/invest (safely!)

my missus is 60 and doesnt pay tax to my knowledge, not sure if that is an advantage re investment/savings..

I don't mind tying say 30k up for 4years with the balance in a high interest with reasonable access..

all advice would be welcomed

ps this is my first post here, so apologies if i am in the wrong area

jem16

Anything less than 5 years and you should stick purely to savings.

The Saga 5 year fixed bond is still available as far as I know. If your wife is a non-taxpayer it makes sense to have the savings in her name to avoid tax.

Baldur

Principality have a 4 year bond @ 5.10% but there's a punitive 360 days loss of gross interet for early closure.

See also http://www.moneyfacts.co.uk/money/savings/3/long-term-fixed-rate-bonds.aspx

ecosse48

Cheers for the replys

are bonds better than isa's ..? I thought they were tax free ?

thnx

Baldur

ecosse48 wrote: »

Cheers for the replys

are bonds better than isa's ..? I thought they were tax free ?

You are limited to an annual allowance for Cash ISAs, currently £5,100 per person (of 50 or over by 5th April 2010) per tax year - so, assuming that you are also over 50, you and your wife could deposit that amount each into separate Cash ISAs (£10,200 total) and from 6th April next year, you could do the same.

jem16

ecosse48 wrote: »

Cheers for the replys

are bonds better than isa's ..? I thought they were tax free ?

thnx

ISAs would normally be considered best as they are tax-free. However you have to consider the rates offered and how long you would remain a taxpayer too.

ecosse48

Found this on another site, could you give me your opinion please, it offers "potential" excellent returns, or am i missing somethin in the small print ?



Barclays Defined Returns Plan (Capital Protected Options) October 2009 Edition

Lokolo

ecosse48 wrote: »

Found this on another site, could you give me your opinion please, it offers "potential" excellent returns, or am i missing somethin in the small print ?



Barclays Defined Returns Plan (Capital Protected Options) October 2009 Edition

It has the potential to return something or nothing. There are not really recommended on this site.

If you want some sort of return, then this is not for you.

Baldur

ecosse48 wrote: »

..or am i missing somethin in the small print ?

http://www.business.barclays.co.uk/BRC1/jsp/brccontrol?site=pfs&task=homefreegroup&value=16216

I may be interested in this investment because:
I want the opportunity for a greater return from my capital on maturity than is currently offered with savings products, but I appreciate that it could be lower, or even nil.

ecosse48

Thank you so much for your thoughts.

Would it be safe to say then, as my wife is a retired non tax payer I should look for a good savings account ? if so, any pointers ?.. Or would a mix of cash and share isas be better... along with a saving account

thnx again

Baldur

Check out the various comparison sites:

http://www.moneyfacts.co.uk/money/savings/2/medium-term-fixed-rate-bonds.aspx

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/savings/

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/tables/bespoke/SavingsAccount