Help for a total newbie?

Davidnewtoinvesting

Hi all.

My wife and I are both teachers, in our mid 30's, have kids and an interest in doing something more than just saving with our money.

We are both total newbies when it comes to investing. Can anyone suggest materials to look at or read that can help us understand processes used to invest and types of investments available?

In a nutshell we aren't looking to make a quick buck, instead look at something more long term that we can dip in and out of when we need to. We have around £2000 to invest and would like to add small amounts to that on a regular basis.

I appreciate this question may have been asked lots before but trawling the forum has thrown up more questions then it has answered....

Thanks.

grumiofoundation

Davidnewtoinvesting said:

Hi all.

My wife and I are both teachers, in our mid 30's, have kids and an interest in doing something more than just saving with our money.

We are both total newbies when it comes to investing. Can anyone suggest materials to look at or read that can help us understand processes used to invest and types of investments available?

In a nutshell we aren't looking to make a quick buck, instead look at something more long term that we can dip in and out of when we need to. We have around £2000 to invest and would like to add small amounts to that on a regular basis.

I appreciate this question may have been asked lots before but trawling the forum has thrown up more questions then it has answered....

Thanks.

These two statements are in many ways opposite


If you need to did into it from time to time you may need to dip into it when the market had dropped 10/20/30/40/50%. Thus crystallising a loss and potentially massively denting returns.

What are you viewing at long term? 

Couple of links that have some info (I am sure others will be along with more). 

https://monevator.com/investing-for-beginners-why-do-we-invest/
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/investment-beginners/

Daliah

Take your time, never go for anything that sounds to good to be true. Do a lot of research, start here, may be:https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/savings/types-of-savings/emergency-savings-how-much-is-enough

When you have sorted your emergency fund, have a read of this: https://monevator.com/category/investing/passive-investing-investing/. 

Beddie

You could always try Nutmeg, a robo-adviser that asks some risk questions and invests accordingly. Or just use Vanguard lifestrategy 60 or 80 depending on the risk appetite you have.

https://www.nutmeg.com/
https://www.vanguardinvestor.co.uk/

There are many other paths, but start simple is my suggestion.

Albermarle

I appreciate this question may have been asked lots before but trawling the forum has thrown up more questions then it has answered...

It has been asked numerous times before, and I suggest you persevere in trawling the forum/read it on an ongoing basis.

It would be good if you were more clear in your objective for investing. eg

To supplement your Teachers pensions? (which are very generous so maybe will not need additional retirement income) 

To enable you to retire early?

To build up a lump sum to help any offspring?

To buy a motorhome etc 

etc etc ?

The reason for this is that the time scale of the investing is important. Otherwise.

How to invest in a stocks and shares Isa: The quick and easy guide | This is Money

barnstar2077

You may want to look into buying a globally diversified fund within a stocks and shares ISA.  I buy the Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap index fund on Vanguards own platform/website personally.  I looked at robo advisers like Nutmeg myself, but you are paying a middleman when you can just buy a fund for yourself once you have done a small amount of research.