Help Me I'm Saving For A House

calypso_rhapsody wrote: »

Your comment about bangs for your buck suggests that you have fallen for the idea that because you get more shares for your £1000 (say) the cheap share is better value. This is not the case.

If you think it is, i suggest some serious reading before you consider investing in shares - there are several threads on here about recommended books on investment.

No, that's not the case. With a company like RBS, although I've learnt my error now, used to trade at 900p a share so buying £1000 at 24p with a return to even 100p would be a great return. Rather than tesco just growing a little.

I was thinking more along the lines of potential growth. But the ft article that was posted here cleared up exactly why those shares are 24p!

I do plan to read a lot more on the subject before I dabble in this area though.

Lokolo wrote: »

So you think RBS are going to get to 100p?

Just because something used to be X, doesn't mean they will get there again.

Well, if you read the bit before you bolded. I clearly said “although I've learnt my error now”. I don’t know if they’ll return to 100p but they are likely to re-establish themselves as a major bank in the future and although they may never reach the heights of the past, due to introduced regulation, I think they could easily become 50p shares in 10 years time.

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Going back to your original post, I would for now advise keeping your savings separate from your girlfriend's. Three years is a long time and nobody can tell what will happen in the future. If all goes well and you are still planning on buying a house in 3 years' time, you can merge them then. But if things do happen, there is no disentangling to do amid all the other chaos.

Yes, I agree. We have both opened ISA’s and Savings Accounts in our own names. We both agree this is the best method for the time being as it clearly distinguishes what belongs to whom if we did split up.

Doshwaster wrote: »

I agree. I wouldn't even be thinking about buying a house at this stage in life. Anything can happen in the first few years after graduation. You have no idea where you will be working, if you'll have a job at all or you may find yourself doing a postgraduate course. The same goes for your other half. In the current job market you need to be as flexible as possible.

You may both get fantastic jobs in the same area - but you might not. There's not much point losing sleep over it now, just enjoy your student days and what will happen will happen.

By all means put any spare money you have into an ISA but I wouldn't touch shares at this stage. The golden rule with the stock market is not to invest money that you cannot afford to lose.

Well when I finish my degree the house doesn’t necessarily have to be an immediate purchase. But having the savings behind me when I reach 24 will allow me to move quickly when I want to, rather than taking out additional loans or wait a couple of more years to generate the money. This is my ultimate desired situation.