How long is a long time to be on the bench?

[Ketchup]

I'm always interested in new ideas which is why I asked.

Me too, any advice?

My plan is eventually have enough income from investments to be able to move to cyprus and live comfortably, still think i am 10 years awy though unfortunately

[Scrag Meister]

I know its all relative to how big your war chest is and how well you will manage but putting that to the side, how long personally do you see as being a long time being out of work 'on the bench'.

I've been off for nearly a month now and I don't see that as being too long yet given how I work as a contractor but friends (who are not contractors) keep on at how i've been out of work for ages now I know to them as permanent that would be a shock for them maybe but for me anything beyond 3 months I see as a long while to be on the bench, I was just wandering at what point do other people start to think its been a while.

Hopefully I won't have answer to this qustion, got an interview on Tuesday, just in time for contract end on 10th Sept.

[jmo21]

Me too, any advice?

My plan is eventually have enough income from investments to be able to move to cyprus and live comfortably, still think i am 10 years awy though unfortunately

Well, I read up on Premium bonds and according to MoneySavingExpert they are really not worth it. But what is your experience?

I have been dabbling with Funding Circle and Zopa recently. I have just cashed out of both, but plan to go back in with more cautious selections at some point as I got my fingers burnt.

[Ketchup]

Well, I read up on Premium bonds and according to MoneySavingExpert they are really not worth it. But what is your experience?

I have been dabbling with Funding Circle and Zopa recently. I have just cashed out of both, but plan to go back in with more cautious selections at some point as I got my fingers burnt.

I know that the return isnt good, and not worth looking at as an investment vessel. But i use it solely for a warchest and see any win out of it as a bonus

[lukemg]

Interesting investments gents. Got most of mine in SIPP's and ISA's across individual shares and funds across the globe.
If I was starting from now, large proportion would be in trackers, some HYP big blue shares and some in managed funds (only for se asia, emerging markets, lat america due to higher costs but prob worth it for these specialist markets)
oh and would use PCA by regular investing.
5- 10 years MINIMUM term though and hold nerve during any drops.

[jmo21]

I know that the return isnt good, and not worth looking at as an investment vessel. But i use it solely for a warchest and see any win out of it as a bonus

Fair enough, at the moment I max my cash ISA every year, save monthly into a S&S ISA, and keep the rest in a number of fixed rate/length savings accounts.

[ChimpMaster]

Interesting investments gents. Got most of mine in SIPP's and ISA's across individual shares and funds across the globe.
If I was starting from now, large proportion would be in trackers, some HYP big blue shares and some in managed funds (only for se asia, emerging markets, lat america due to higher costs but prob worth it for these specialist markets)
oh and would use PCA by regular investing.
5- 10 years MINIMUM term though and hold nerve during any drops.

Or buy on big dips.

I'm expecting the stock market to take quite a tumble next year, though the fall will initiate very soon IMO. I'm hoping to get in late 2014, and then hold for the long term.

Though tell me Luke: does (or will) your portfolio generate an income you can (or will be able to) live off?

[kaiser78]

ISAs and then offset mortgage(s)

[jmo21]

ISAs and then offset mortgage(s)

I was offsetting for ages before I realised my mortgage rate had dropped so low, I'd be better off keeping the overpayments in my savings account - DOH!!

[louie]

If you learn to trade for yourself, you can return from 3-8% a month on your money. If you compound that for a few years then you will be laughing. The difficulty is learning to trade, takes years and there are many dead ends.