Only freedom will do

Busymumofthreeplusdog

Re cheap protein based meals for lunch

Tin of tuna, thinly sliced onion, small spoonful of natural yog, lemon juice and pepper. You can add in some of your seeds and whatnot for extra texture.
3 bean salad in balsamic dressing, you choose the beans.

You could make Turkey burgers with your turkey mince and eat them cold. Use egg white to bind together.
It's a bit tricky if dairy doesn't agree with you.

turtlemoose

Quark - very low fat, high protein. I use it for everything.

Alchemilla

Ed please will you talk to me about Vanguard tracker funds?

Whats the minimum monthly worthwhile amount?

Whats the easiest way of doing it?

What do those confusing pairs of numbers mean? 80/20 whatever?

Thanks in advance xxx

edinburgher

My tuppence worth, as always, I recommend a copy of Tim Hale's 'Smarter Investing'

• Minimum amount is £50/mth
• Minimum worthwhile amount is very subjective. As a guide, £67.95/m will produce £10,000 over 10 years (assuming you use an ISA and obtain a 4% return)
• Easiest way of doing it (assuming little and often payments) would be to open an ISA with a good value for money provider like Ch@rles Stanley Direct and set up a monthly direct debit. Once you have made a single payment to a fund, you can then top it up at any time with a payment of £100+ Alternatively, if you don't want to set up a monthly payment, you can invest in most funds with a lump sum of £500+
• You will pay a platform fee (to the ISA provider, 0.25% is as much as you should expect) and a fee for the expenses of running the fund (again, 0.25% or so for 0.5% total cost)
• The pairs of numbers are ratios of equities (stocks and shares, slices of companies) to bonds (loans to companies, governments etc.) Historically (and generally) speaking, equities generate higher returns, but are riskier, bonds generate lower returns, but are less prone to dramatic falls. Higher equities (left side) means greater potential reward, but higher prospect of volatility on the journey
• What's right for you? Only invest with money that you could potentially afford to lose, be honest about your attitude to risk, plan for a specific time scale and be realistic about what you need and expect
• Vanguard Life Strategy 60% ACC could be considered a solid core holding for someone hoping to make decent money over time, but who isn't planning on shooting the lights out. I hold 60% and 80% in equal measures so that I'm roughly 70% invested in equities.

Greying_Pilgrim

Ed - I wonder if I may impose? I so have wanted to ask your *signposting* advice on this for ages.... and now that Alchemilla has started the ball rolling..... (Thanks Al! )

The question I was going to ask you.... was as UK citizens, to access Vanguard we have to go through a *platform company* (I think they are called :huh:). And I thought that around the time that the companies had to re-structure their pricing (just for smaller investors????) that somewhere, someone (Monevator????) had done a comparison of the platform co's in terms of charges. I can't find that info now - is it a worthwhile starting point?

I see a specific co has been mentioned........ Um, I'm trying to phrase my question......without asking for advice IYSWIM..... Um, is there somewhere where I could find analysis of companies that would be preferable - both in terms of costs and ease of access for the smaller investor, perhaps one who is starting out in self-administered investing (ie as opposed to just having a pension fund.)...... Who may, or may not have a striking resemblance to a pilgrim who is going grey??? :rotfl:

If my questions in anyway appear to ask specific advice, then I'll gladly remove my post - I just know that you are knowledgeable Ed and would know who has written about this stuff and could signpost me to the *concise version*

Thanks in anticipation Ed. I'm sorry I have nothing to add to the low fat/high protein debate. I'm a veggie who eats most everything in moderation, so I'm no good on specifics

Edit: Sorry, I had also meant to add, a huge THANKS for post#1345 - it contains a lot to *ponder* on for those of us anxious about dipping our toes in the water..... Thank you.

Greying

edinburgher

Hello Greying

I believe that you are referring to the Retail Distribution Review (more commonly known as RDR, not nearly as funny as it sounds). This looked at how funds were promoted/made available etc. and led to funds changing how they operated (for example, doing away with kickbacks to brokers etc., the introduction of platform charges) This is my non-expert, idiot's view of RDR, I am not a financial professional!

Yes, there is a good table/article on the Monevator website about how to find the best broker (you will pay a platform fee, but it's easiest just to refer to them as brokers).

I believe a MSE poster called Snowman? also produces a spreadsheet that may be available over on the savings and investments board (re. best priced brokers)

For a small investor (below £32k, only looking to use funds), I believe that Ch@rles Stanley Direct cannot be beaten on costs. I know I sound like their biggest shill ever, but I find them to be good value for money, with an ok website and helpful staff. They aren't as slick as someone like H@rgreaves Lansdown, but they bombarded me with junk mail and charged me an extra 0.2% for the privilege. Costs are one of the few things that an investor directly controls, they are vitally important.

There you go, a specific suggestion and some signposts that aren't advice, I'm not allowed to advise anyone

Alchemilla

Ed a thousand thank yous.

If I could ask just one more q...when might the ISA be more appropriate to the beginner and when might Vanguard?

Or do you get to Vanguard via Charles Stanley?

Oh dear Im a thickie.

edinburgher

An ISA is always more appropriate as you won't have to consider capital gains/do that paperwork.

An ISA is just a tax free wrapper that holds investments, the broker/platform is the service that lets you purchase and manage investments within the ISA and Vanguard are a company that sells you investments.

You can purchase directly from Vanguard, but a) it wouldn't be in an ISA and b) minimum spend is £100k

edinburgher

Baby mattress instruction sheet quote:

"The mattress may not soak up vomit"

I can't wait to be a Dad

CathT

edinburgher wrote: »

Hello Greying

I believe that you are referring to the Retail Distribution Review (more commonly known as RDR, not nearly as funny as it sounds). This looked at how funds were promoted/made available etc. and led to funds changing how they operated (for example, doing away with kickbacks to brokers etc., the introduction of platform charges) This is my non-expert, idiot's view of RDR, I am not a financial professional!

Yes, there is a good table/article on the Monevator website about how to find the best broker (you will pay a platform fee, but it's easiest just to refer to them as brokers).

I believe a MSE poster called Snowman? also produces a spreadsheet that may be available over on the savings and investments board (re. best priced brokers)

For a small investor (below £32k, only looking to use funds), I believe that Ch@rles Stanley Direct cannot be beaten on costs. I know I sound like their biggest shill ever, but I find them to be good value for money, with an ok website and helpful staff. They aren't as slick as someone like H@rgreaves Lansdown, but they bombarded me with junk mail and charged me an extra 0.2% for the privilege. Costs are one of the few things that an investor directly controls, they are vitally important.

There you go, a specific suggestion and some signposts that aren't advice, I'm not allowed to advise anyone

Your #1345 post was very helpful for someone who has never considered investment beyond a company pension.

Alchemilla wrote: »

Ed a thousand thank yous.

If I could ask just one more q...when might the ISA be more appropriate to the beginner and when might Vanguard?

Or do you get to Vanguard via Charles Stanley?

Oh dear Im a thickie.

I was a bit lost by this point.

edinburgher wrote: »

Baby mattress instruction sheet quote:

"The mattress may not soak up vomit"

I can't wait to be a Dad

THIS I understood far better!