So, with savings so low...

Graham_Devon

....and interest rates going no where....

I've put some money into shares.

Dabbled in the past, but this time, I've actually committed some money.

I've got £500 to risk.

So, Stevie, Thrugel....anyone else....got any tips?

I've got £200 with XTR at the moment, but as I'm relatively new, made a silly mistake with the software, so my average cost is 3.04p. But have learnt since and waiting for opportunities to top up.

I've also bought some BP and Tesco, for a more long term focus.

So, any general tips? I don't mind losing the £500. However, obviously I'd rather keep it. I may chuck some more into XTR just based on the opportunties of profits of several times what I have put in.

I'm thinking more along the economy lines? Maybe alternative energy?

JonnyBravo

Graham_Devon wrote: »

....and interest rates going no where....

I've put some money into shares.

Dabbled in the past, but this time, I've actually committed some money.

I've got £500 to risk.

So, Stevie, Thrugel....anyone else....got any tips?

I've got £200 with XTR at the moment, but as I'm relatively new, made a silly mistake with the software, so my average cost is 3.04p. But have learnt since and waiting for opportunities to top up.

I've also bought some BP and Tesco, for a more long term focus.

So, any general tips? I don't mind losing the £500. However, obviously I'd rather keep it. I may chuck some more into XTR just based on the opportunties of profits of several times what I have put in.

I'm thinking more along the economy lines? Maybe alternative energy?

The problem with buying such small amounts of each is that your charges are going to become a large cost relative to the value of your shares.
Have you done your sums to check this?

JonnyBravo

OTC are expecting a resource update before year end

With the usual proviso of.... Do your own research.

Really2

Long term, builders have got to go up (wells some of them).

I don't dabble (yet) but there as got to be some value in some of the builders long term.

But graham you should have purchased gold and silver, with £500 you would be a millionaire next week.

System

Do you have a share scheme at work? Ours is impossible to lose on, yet one person took £9k out 2 years back from a £700 investment.

System

Anyway keep this updated, would be interesting to see how you get on.

Graham_Devon

JonnyBravo wrote: »

The problem with buying such small amounts of each is that your charges are going to become a large cost relative to the value of your shares.
Have you done your sums to check this?

Yep, thats how I made my initial mistake.

Halifax were offering £2 a deal yesterday, but nothing offered today. So bought in with the £2 deal, and will await something like that again with these smaller amounts.

Just learning at the moment, which is why I've set small amounts I'm happy to lose.

All got to start somewhere, but I do like the idea of the penny type shares which have potential.

Happy to admit my mistakes, as it generally means you can get better advice next time.

I'm using Halifax Sharebuilder, and with the longtermers, can simply add to them once a month or something for £1.50, but can deal realtime any time I like. BP has come through for me already, and I'm break even now with all fee's included.

I've commited 1k at the moment, but once I'm a little more comfortable, will commit a lot more. The 1k I'm treating as an educational fund. Just got £500 left to play with and seem to be drawn to the high risk extreme type shares!

JonnyBravo

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Yep, thats how I made my initial mistake.

Halifax were offering £2 a deal yesterday, but nothing offered today. So bought in with the £2 deal, and will await something like that again with these smaller amounts.

Just learning at the moment, which is why I've set small amounts I'm happy to lose.

Yep, even a £10 charge is massive if you're only buying a small amount. You add in the stamp duty and the spread and you can be looking at a rise of over 10% just to get your money back.

Graham_Devon wrote: »

All got to start somewhere, but I do like the idea of the penny type shares which have potential.

Sure. But the spread is usually larger. The market more illiquid and there are many more who languish at the same level slowly issuing new share after new share rather than double your money.
With small amounts you arguably have less to lose but that doesn't mean you want to be setting up bad habits all the same.

lemonjelly

With your amount being towards the lower end of the scale, have you considered a S&S ISA instead?

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Not being funny but I would look at the current ([STRIKE]past[/STRIKE]future) financial interests of the people that run Tory Party & the front bench.

Then fathom out which companies can bid on Government contracts.

Really2

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Just learning at the moment, which is why I've set small amounts I'm happy to lose.

If you are going to that GD best go for high risk, TBH when I start it will be the same.

My Idea is to go high risk, and set my self a sell level, cash in (if I still can).
Then that money is split to two funds, repeat first step.

If I lose, I was prepared to lose it anyway.