Investments - Strategies, Ideas, Options & advice

[Deleted member 35927]

The majority of UK households don't have enough saved to max out a single year's ISA allowance.
Those with enough to afford making investments that might go down in value in the short term without causing anxiety are in the minority.

Average Household Savings & Wealth UK 2026

Wondering how much people save each year on average? Here are UK savings stats across income levels, household sizes, education, gender and other factors.

www.nimblefins.co.uk

You don't need to max out an ISA. Have some cash for a rainy day and then invest what you can when you can.
It's this constant noise about investments going down that puts people off, yes of course they can in the short term , see tarrif day this year for that ! Investing is long term, ideally over a decade but at least 5 years.

 

[Fade and Die]

od course there are, but investment no matter how you get your money is key. Your posts are contradictory in the extreme.

It’s not contradictory, I’m just more open minded than you.

 

[Deleted member 35927]

It’s not contradictory, I’m just more open minded than you.

Open minded about what ? Youve called the stock market a gamble but also said most of your savings are invested.
It's like your just making it all up

 

[Fade and Die]

Open minded about what ? Youve called the stock market a gamble but also said most of your savings are invested.
It's like your just making it all up

Both are true. TBH Everyone who invests in the stock market should really know this. They literally are required by law to state that the value of your investments may go down as well as up, and you might not get back what you invested…I suppose it goes back to my point in post 246 re a lack of financial understanding.

 

[Deleted member 35927]

Both are true. TBH Everyone who invests in the stock market should really know this. They literally are required by law to state that the value of your investments may go down as well as up, and you might not get back what you invested…I suppose it goes back to my point in post 246 re a lack of financial understanding.

Yes understanding is needed, if anyone thinks they can just go out and buy a few shares and get rich then that's just bonkers - may get lucky though
Even with reasonable savings rates on offer these days , I'd still not give cash a 2nd look for a long term investment.

 

[Neilds]

Just had our annual review with the financial advisor. Happy with how things are going and should be able to pay off the mortgage in a few years if things carry on at the same rate. Obviously a big dip when Trump was playing silly buggers with the tariffs but the portfolio has bounced back nicely.

 

[RichA]

You don't need to max out an ISA. Have some cash for a rainy day and then invest what you can when you can.
It's this constant noise about investments going down that puts people off, yes of course they can in the short term , see tarrif day this year for that ! Investing is long term, ideally over a decade but at least 5 years.

I don't think any normal person with less than £20k saved is looking for a long term investment.
Up to £20k is going to be most normal, working families' emergency fund to which they need instant access.

 

[Deleted member 35927]

I don't think any normal person with less than £20k saved is looking for a long term investment.
Up to £20k is going to be most normal, working families' emergency fund to which they need instant access.

It's not family specific is it. And 20k is too much cash for an emergency fund.

 

[RichA]

It's not family specific is it. And 20k is too much cash for an emergency fund.

So mum or dad's car dies and they need a new one.
They haven't got that £15k earning 4.2% in instant access savings anymore because they were persuaded by a friend it was better off in a long term investment where it might make 7% over 5 years. Unfortunately, so far it's performing badly but that's ok, it's a long-term investment.
So they take out finance over 3 years paying £19k for a £15k car.
What was the point?
Investments only make sense for normal people if you aren't borrowing money elsewhere.

 

[Deleted member 35927]

So mum or dad's car dies and they need a new one.
They haven't got that £15k earning 4.2% in instant access savings anymore because they were persuaded by a friend it was better off in a long term investment where it might make 7% over 5 years. Unfortunately, so far it's performing badly but that's ok, it's a long-term investment.
So they take out finance over 3 years paying £19k for a £15k car.
What was the point?
Investments only make sense for normal people if you aren't borrowing money elsewhere.

You don't have an emergency fund to buy a new car for 15k, thats bonkers.

 

[RichA]

You don't have an emergency fund to buy a new car for 15k, thats bonkers.

Used, not new, unless it's 1995. But why?

 

[PhilTheFragger]

You don't have an emergency fund to buy a new car for 15k, thats bonkers.

It’s reality for a good chunk of the population, just sayin

 

[Fade and Die]

So mum or dad's car dies and they need a new one.
They haven't got that £15k earning 4.2% in instant access savings anymore because they were persuaded by a friend it was better off in a long term investment where it might make 7% over 5 years. Unfortunately, so far it's performing badly but that's ok, it's a long-term investment.
So they take out finance over 3 years paying £19k for a £15k car.
What was the point?
Investments only make sense for normal people if you aren't borrowing money elsewhere.

Pete doesn’t understand the concept of rainy day money.

 

[Deleted member 35927]

It’s reality for a good chunk of the population, just sayin

What is ?

 

[Deleted member 35927]

Pete doesn’t understand the concept of rainy day money.

Of course I do , but no ones using there entire 15k emergency fund to buy a car . Sorry it's a daft bit of what iffery

 

[RichA]

Of course I do , but no ones using there entire 15k emergency fund to buy a car . Sorry it's a daft bit of what iffery

Think you'll find many of us have had no choice but to do it on more than one occasion. For many of us that's exactly what the savings account existed for.
It's only in the last 15 of my 54 years that I've even had a savings account.
I'm caught between wondering what your background is and wondering why I bother engaging with you.

 

[Deleted member 35927]

Think you'll find many of us have had no choice but to do it on more than one occasion. For many of us that's exactly what the savings account existed for.
It's only in the last 15 of my 54 years that I've even had a savings account.
I'm caught between wondering what your background is and wondering why I bother engaging with you.

Well it's a thread about investing ......... So I've no idea why so many rambling threads about cash savings. Perhaps start a thread about what savings account is best ?

 

[Fade and Die]

Think you'll find many of us have had no choice but to do it on more than one occasion. For many of us that's exactly what the savings account existed for.
It's only in the last 15 of my 54 years that I've even had a savings account.
I'm caught between wondering what your background is and wondering why I bother engaging with you.

True, some forget that “Savings” were normally for a reason, wedding, holidays, Christmas. And sometimes you have to spend it unexpectedly on something like a car or a boiler (or a whole new heating system in my case )
But your small stash must be liquid, you need to get it at zero notice.

Re Pete’s background, I think from memory he is a young guy, so that’s why I always cut his comments some slack.

 

[Mudball]

Disagree. I think you can get pretty wealthy through working. I’m not talking the 9-5 Salary man (or literally anyone who works in the public service) but I know plenty of tradesmen that have worked their way up to a decent pile.

I should have clarified... when i meant 9-5, I meant a job rather than anything else. Anywhere where you trade your time for money, very difficult to make it. My plumber works for my builder, highly unlikley he will make it.
My sparky, runs his own gig + for the builder.. He will make it. He drives a beaten up van that has been broken in a few times, but he also took an apprentice recently. So in his case, if we continues, he will do well - much better than me

 

[Fade and Die]

I should have clarified... when i meant 9-5, I meant a job rather than anything else. Anywhere where you trade your time for money, very difficult to make it. My plumber works for my builder, highly unlikley he will make it.
My sparky, runs his own gig + for the builder.. He will make it. He drives a beaten up van that has been broken in a few times, but he also took an apprentice recently. So in his case, if we continues, he will do well - much better than me

Understood, not everyone wants to run their own business, some just want to do their jobs without loads of hassle. But in most cases every SME owner started or is still “on the tools” or the shop floor.
A quick google shows there are 5.5 Million SMEs in the U.K., they represent 99% of the business population.
The point I am trying to make is that “investing” is not the only way to make money.