The Investments Thread

[Storrsy]

If things really go wrong in the world. I think a worthwhile investment is in yourself as much as anything. Veg patches or allotments will help whether the storm if things get bad. And personal skills are important. Most people on here are probably pretty safe in this respect.
But I always think being good with your hands will keep you in employment far longer than being a content creator or data analyst.

Agreed. The thing is with this apocalyptic talk is that if things go south we have seen (early COVID days) how things descend into absolute chaos in days. All it takes is people to miss a meal or two due to supply issues in the supermarkets and before you know it you have riots, looting and stock piling, every man for himself. If the markets crash and everything we may have invested for the last 20 years is worthless I honestky think by that stage there will be bigger things to be worrying about. For me I like to try and be as self suffcient from anyone who has a hold over me (debt in any form). I've made it my goal over the last 10 years to be totally debt free. And whilst it's not always been the best financial decision and required sacrifice I certainly feel in a much better position going forward especially if things get tough economically. Now if I can't afford something it doesn't happen end of.

 

[Smiffy]

Agreed. The thing is with this apocalyptic talk is that if things go south we have seen (early COVID days) how things descend into absolute chaos in days. All it takes is people to miss a meal or two due to supply issues in the supermarkets and before you know it you have riots, looting and stock piling, every man for himself. If the markets crash and everything we may have invested for the last 20 years is worthless I honestky think by that stage there will be bigger things to be worrying about. For me I like to try and be as self suffcient from anyone who has a hold over me (debt in any form). I've made it my goal over the last 10 years to be totally debt free. And whilst it's not always been the best financial decision and required sacrifice I certainly feel in a much better position going forward especially if things get tough economically. Now if I can't afford something it doesn't happen end of.

Totally agree. We have a mortgage and bank loan for the car. I would rather have a couple of older cars but my better half completely went off this idea when we had kids due to completely misguided safety concerns.
I cannot understand people putting sofas on finance or kitchens or clothes.
We try to get second hand wherever we can. One of the few upsides of living in Surrey is some of the pristine cheap second hand stuff available. Mostly furniture from people's spare living rooms that has never been used.

 

[Storrsy]

Totally agree. We have a mortgage and bank loan for the car. I would rather have a couple of older cars but my better half completely went off this idea when we had kids due to completely misguided safety concerns.
I cannot understand people putting sofas on finance or kitchens or clothes.
We try to get second hand wherever we can. One of the few upsides of living in Surrey is some of the pristine cheap second hand stuff available. Mostly furniture from people's spare living rooms that has never been used.

Yeah. My brother in law has a flat in Clapham. Often goes around looking at skip and some of the stuff people chuck out- madness. Honestly this keeping up with the Jones's is just such nonsense and root cause of many people's financial woes. It's great not to give a s**t!

 

[Gecko]

But I always think being good with your hands will keep you in employment far longer than being a content creator or data analyst.

Compared to practical people, influencers, analysts etc will have their uses - they will be tender and make a much better meal

 

[Vinpetrol]

Totally agree. We have a mortgage and bank loan for the car. I would rather have a couple of older cars but my better half completely went off this idea when we had kids due to completely misguided safety concerns.
I cannot understand people putting sofas on finance or kitchens or clothes.
We try to get second hand wherever we can. One of the few upsides of living in Surrey is some of the pristine cheap second hand stuff available. Mostly furniture from people's spare living rooms that has never been used.

Mrs P is queen of second hand . When we got together I came home to hers one night and herself and kids sitting on floor because she sold the sofa . Few days later I was picking up a 2nd hand like new 3 piece . She still does it to this day . 90% of our stuff is 2nd hand . Fraction of the cost and still looks stunning

 

[doobin]

Totally agree. We have a mortgage and bank loan for the car. I would rather have a couple of older cars but my better half completely went off this idea when we had kids due to completely misguided safety concerns.
I cannot understand people putting sofas on finance or kitchens or clothes.
We try to get second hand wherever we can. One of the few upsides of living in Surrey is some of the pristine cheap second hand stuff available. Mostly furniture from people's spare living rooms that has never been used.

I actually offered to get a bigger car for her now we have a kid on the way, but she likes her little 4x4 Panda I got her a few years back.
Charity shops in the Chichester area are a goldmine but Surrey is another level I suspect.Our matress is £20k list, £18k on sale. Soft one side for me and medium for her. Like sleeping on a cloud.

It cost £2k from a guy who specialises in refurbs for the Virginia Water set, came out of the guest room from a McMansion and probably used three times,.

 

[Smiffy]

I actually offered to get a bigger car for her now we have a kid on the way, but she likes her little 4x4 Panda I got her a few years back.
Charity shops in the Chichester area are a goldmine but Surrey is another level I suspect.Our matress is £20k list, £18k on sale. Soft one side for me and medium for her. Like sleeping on a cloud.

It cost £2k from a guy who specialises in refurbs for the Virginia Water set, came out of the guest room from a McMansion and probably used three times,.

Wait until the baby is here. Something switches in their brain. My wife was happy with a 17 year old rav 4 until the kids came.
And you have no idea how much stuff a baby "needs".
Fortunately most this stuff came from vinted and was sold for what we bought it for.
But go in to John lewis and see the pregnant couples getting conned into buying the 2 grand buggy and the 500 quid car seat and it leaves me in amazement.

 

[Jimoz]

If things really go wrong in the world. I think a worthwhile investment is in yourself as much as anything. Veg patches or allotments will help whether the storm if things get bad. And personal skills are important. Most people on here are probably pretty safe in this respect.
But I always think being good with your hands will keep you in employment far longer than being a content creator or data analyst.

So get a shotgun license and a bit of practice in? I think the allotment would have to be in your garden in mad max scenario. Being watched over by said shotgun . I wouldn't mind getting into a bit of clay shooting tbf did it once before but its a bit of a parlarva to start from scratch on your jack.

 

[Smiffy]

So get a shotgun license and a bit of practice in? I think the allotment would have to be in your garden in mad max scenario. Being watched over by said shotgun . I wouldn't mind getting into a bit of clay shooting tbf did it once before but its a bit of a parlarva to start from scratch on your jack.

I'm not sure about mad max scenario but the government are making us very reliant on food imports and it is worrying the potential spike in food prices.

 

[Jimoz]

Wait until the baby is here. Something switches in their brain. My wife was happy with a 17 year old rav 4 until the kids came.
And you have no idea how much stuff a baby "needs".
Fortunately most this stuff came from vinted and was sold for what we bought it for.
But go in to John lewis and see the pregnant couples getting conned into buying the 2 grand buggy and the 500 quid car seat and it leaves me in amazement.

Mine put up with the 97 e36 with our first. Once second came i treated her to a 15 Yr old e class merc . It is a nice example tbf had it off original owner some minted guy had a detached with pool in garden backing onto Richmond Park. Be worth a few mil that place.

 

[doobin]

Wait until the baby is here. Something switches in their brain. My wife was happy with a 17 year old rav 4 until the kids came.
And you have no idea how much stuff a baby "needs".
Fortunately most this stuff came from vinted and was sold for what we bought it for.
But go in to John lewis and see the pregnant couples getting conned into buying the 2 grand buggy and the 500 quid car seat and it leaves me in amazement.

My missus went to the JL consultation thing and then proceeded to get everything they suggested free or secondhand.

Meanwhile her friend who earns £75k as a diversity hire in a government role bought everything they suggested new and more. Couple that with chopping in their two old reliable cars for a brand new Tiguan on PCP and it's no wonder they are permanently skint despite the high income.

Helps having posh customers also. I scored a bundle of never used baby clothes that some yummy mummy influencer had been given, around £5k retail All cashmere etc. Although if it's not a girl we'll have to make sure the second one is to get our moneys worth

 

[doobin]

I'm not sure about mad max scenario but the government are making us very reliant on food imports and it is worrying the potential spike in food prices.

For the hard of hearing I'll repeat. One oz of gold will buy you food for a year at a tenner a day. It'll do the same when food is £50 per day.

I'll jsut leave these graphs here...

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[Jimoz]

For the hard of hearing I'll repeat. One oz of gold will buy you food for a year at a tenner a day. It'll do the same when food is £50 per day.

I'll jsut leave these graphs here...

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You dont want to be chopping in a sovereign every time you want to buy a pint of milk though. Good job your buying the silver

 

[Jimoz]

With regards land there's a couple guys round my way who cut turf. They can also graze sheep on the ground before they cut it for turf. Point being youve not just got to rent it our for grazing or paddock. There is stuff can be done with it.

 

[doobin]

You dont want to be chopping in a sovereign every time you want to buy a pint of milk though. Good job your buying the silver

Yes, divisible coins are good for a SHTF scenario, that’s originally why I bought the silver.

The point stands though. Devaluation of currency and appreciation of gold and silver in that currency are directly correlated.

 

[Grahams]

Wait until the baby is here. Something switches in their brain. My wife was happy with a 17 year old rav 4 until the kids came.
And you have no idea how much stuff a baby "needs".
Fortunately most this stuff came from vinted and was sold for what we bought it for.
But go in to John lewis and see the pregnant couples getting conned into buying the 2 grand buggy and the 500 quid car seat and it leaves me in amazement.

I would suggest a decent car seat from a proper manufacturer (not some Chinese knock off that looks similar) is a good investment. That is one of the few things I would definately buy new. You just don't know how they have been treated if buy second hand however good they look.

 

[Jimoz]

I would suggest a decent car seat from a proper manufacturer (not some Chinese knock off that looks similar) is a good investment. That is one of the few things I would definately buy new. You just don't know how they have been treated if buy second hand however good they look.

Ditto. We gladly went with second hand pram but car seats we've had new. Tbf we actually got the first one from JL. It used to be that their prices were actually pretty competitive on the baby gear especially for bricks and mortar retailer, they were prob still price matching then? Halfords is where we got our second as they give you a demo/ let you try fitting it into the car. Was handy when your cruising round in on older car

 

[Smiffy]

I would suggest a decent car seat from a proper manufacturer (not some Chinese knock off that looks similar) is a good investment. That is one of the few things I would definately buy new. You just don't know how they have been treated if buy second hand however good they look.

Yeah we bought decent car seats with isofix but they where old models on sale. And even then they weren't top of the range.
We got our push chair as a present from my in-laws but even then my wife chose the out n about one as it go on muddy dog walks. Is made in the UK and is a fraction of the price of some of them.

And John Lewis do still offer real value from alot of their stuff. I was referring to the people that go in and speak to the sales lady and get up sold everything. At least in our local one the best value stuff is hidden away. That's in all departments.

 

[Monkeybusiness]

My missus went to the JL consultation thing and then proceeded to get everything they suggested free or secondhand.

Meanwhile her friend who earns £75k as a diversity hire in a government role bought everything they suggested new and more. Couple that with chopping in their two old reliable cars for a brand new Tiguan on PCP and it's no wonder they are permanently skint despite the high income.

Helps having posh customers also. I scored a bundle of never used baby clothes that some yummy mummy influencer had been given, around £5k retail All cashmere etc. Although if it's not a girl we'll have to make sure the second one is to get our moneys worth

Any pics of the yummy mummy?…
(Asking for a friend…)

 

[Vinpetrol]

I don’t get the new car seat thing . Look at them , what can go wrong ? They are hard plastic . You can inspect all the parts where the belts go and check the mechanism on the seats belts . Has anyone ever heard of a child car seat failing from it breaking ? How can they be fine at a year old with first child in them but no use a day later for a different child