Deleted post

PlymouthMaid

Taking out my 4.5 years contributions to the Civil Service pension when I left aged 22. I didn't understand about pensions then but the money was very useful to me as a student.

Apodemus

PlymouthMaid wrote: »

Taking out my 4.5 years contributions to the Civil Service pension when I left aged 22. I didn't understand about pensions then but the money was very useful to me as a student.

In a similar vein, mine was prioritising emergency fund over pension contributions through the 90s (in an unpensioned Government job), before piling it all into a private pension in 1999 when the market was at a peak. A powerful lesson on drip-feeding and "time in the market".

BananaRepublic

Overall I have done well, thanks to reading lots of good books on savings and investments, which meant I understood the basics, and did not make big mistakes. One missed gain concerned a company I worked for. I was given some shares in the company, and on leaving I sold them for £2,000 and transferred the money into a pension. I loathed that company and wanted rid of the shares. A year later they would have been worth roughly £40,000, thanks to the tech bubble. Sigh.

I also invested £6,000 in a JPM Japan fund 20 years ago. A few months ago it broke through £6,000. Now it must be worth £4,500. I knew at the time that Japan was high risk, and I only have a few per cent of my investments in that fund, but I took a punt and lost. But not too badly I guess. Still, in a UK fund it could be worth £20,000+ now.

Drp8713

My first step into investing was a 2012 1/4 gold soverign from the Royal Mint, a 1/4 carrot loose diamond from Blue Nile, and a 100g silver bar and 2.5 gram gold bar from Bullion by Post or whatever its called.

All have a massive retail mark up, all would have a massive margin taken when i come to sell.

They cost me about £500, if you bought them now it would cost you £575, but if I sold now i would be lucky to get £250.

I will probably never sell, will give them to my grand kids in 20 years time so they can buy some penny sweets.

On the plus side it did get me into saving and investing and I have £9k in cash and shares now i wouldnt have otherwise had.

JohnRo

I took a 1K punt on New World Oil striking the black stuff and making a quick multi bagger, safe to say it hasn't turned out for the best. They didn't find anything and the shares owe me about 150 times what they're currently worth.
My worst serious investments have been BRWM and ALAI which, with hindsight, were bought at an unfortunate point in time. That said I knew they'd be risky and am perversely upbeat about them, it must be the prospect of hefty rebalancing gains this next year.
Biggest financial regret (mistake) is not getting interested in savings and investments 25 years earlier.

caleyles

1. Getting married!!!

2. Getting divorced!!!

3. Getting Married again!!

Still waiting for number 4 :rotfl:

Gaffy

Being at Uni in 1992 and finding that most dot com domain names were still available to register, if only I had foresight in those days.

Thrugelmir

Doing what all kids do when growing up. Not listening to the advice of their peers. In my case my late fathers. We all believe that it's different for us in some way. That we know better. My regret is that I never had the chance to say that you were right. Though making mistakes is a salutary way of learning when it comes to investing.

racing_blue

Father forgive me for I have committed sins of omission:

I considered buying a big house in 1998, but didn't
I considered buying Google at IPO, but didn't
I considered buying Apple at $100, but didn't

I repent of these sins and will henceforth reject caution and follow the path of instinct.

Father forgive me for I have also committed sins of commission:

I bought a big house in 2007
I bought shares in ROK and Connaught PLC on tips then they went bust
I sold many shares after a modest gain and so missed out on subsequent spectacular gains (EasyJet, RBS, Persimmon)

I repent of these sins and will henceforth reject instinct and follow the path of caution.

Yet I know my soul is not lost, for I have never commited any of the seven deadly sins:
- Having no pension
- Borrowing to invest
- Spreadbetting
- Horses
- Casino
- Leveraged ETFs
- Hargreaves Lansdown

Neither have I committed tax fraud nor armed robbery

Amen

Gaffy

That really is a great post.