Investment question.

[tigers_gonads]

Short and sweet for a change 

We have a lump sum of 20 grand to invest.
Looking for a minimum timescale of 3 to 5 years then we will review what to do with it 

Whats out there OOFers ?

Serious answers please 

[zirk]

Since last Thursday Brexit thing the Pound is low again, whilst Im no expert if I had money to invest think I might hang on a bit untill we know whether were going to get a Deal or Not, Our Financial Markets might not be worth 2 Bob this time early next year. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Short and sweet for a change 

We have a lump sum of 20 grand to invest.
Looking for a minimum timescale of 3 to 5 years then we will review what to do with it 

Whats out there OOFers ?

Serious answers please 

Well....that's me f*ucked.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Since last Thursday Brexit thing the Pound is low again, whilst Im no expert if I had money to invest think I might hang on a bit untill we know whether were going to get a Deal or Not, Our Financial Markets might not be worth 2 Bob this time early next year. 

Zirk has a point.

Currency rates and interest rates could prove to be very unpredictable  in the next year or so.

Don't be tempted by the Wellesley..........I lost a significant sum.

[STEMO]

Short and sweet for a change 

We have a lump sum of 20 grand to invest.
Looking for a minimum timescale of 3 to 5 years then we will review what to do with it 

Whats out there OOFers ?

Serious answers please 

If you want a serious answer, ask an IFA.

[Viral_Jim]

And he'll tell you how to spend the £1500 you have left at the end of it .

If it were me, I'd be tempted by some regular savings accounts that give 5%. You and your partner can have one each, then a joint one so they add up pretty quickly. Probably you'd achieve 2.5% pa on your money. Not much, but (basically) zero risk.

All depends on your risk appetite really.

[dave the builder]

Look at your home energy efficiency and invest if needed
eg , old boiler that's inefficient ,loft insulation, old appliances ,
something as simple as investing in Led lighting over old lamps can save you and get your investment back in a few months ,then ongoing you are also saving.
an older tv can use up more power than new tech (plus bonus new tv)

ypu'd have to put the money saved on electric under the mattress  ready for the term end 

you could consider solar power ,but it may be tight to claw back investment in 3 to 5 years (solar is expensive but going down all the time)

a good bed is important ,you spend 1/3 of your life in it ,if you don't sleep well due to a crap bed,you will be less productive ,days off work etc

[Jimbob]

Premium Bonds?  have a bit of a safe gamble.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Premium Bonds?  have a bit of a safe gamble.

Similar to lottery ticket but you get to keep your quid.

Unlikely to win much  (if anything) though.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

And he'll tell you how to spend the £1500 you have left at the end of it .

If it were me, I'd be tempted by some regular savings accounts that give 5%. You and your partner can have one each, then a joint one so they add up pretty quickly. Probably you'd achieve 2.5% pa on your money. Not much, but (basically) zero risk.

All depends on your risk appetite really.

5% PA on £20,000....where?

I have 5% on £300 max a month for 12 months. Interest in month one was £1.25. Looks good but isn't.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Short and sweet for a change 

We have a lump sum of 20 grand to invest.
Looking for a minimum timescale of 3 to 5 years then we will review what to do with it 

Whats out there OOFers ?

Serious answers please 

If you want a serious answer, ask an IFA.

Yes.....any interest you would have made he will take for his fee.

Oh......and if you loose your capital because he is a 21 year old whizz-kid who has decided to gamble with your money then bad luck.

I'm quite capable of losing my own money without paying some smarmy upstart to do it for me.

[STEMO]

Ok..forget the IFA, ask a bunch of old farts on a car forum instead. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Ok..forget the IFA, ask a bunch of old farts on a car forum instead. 

I've made a few howlers but by and large my judgement has been good(ish).....

[redelitev6]

Premium Bonds?  have a bit of a safe gamble.

Similar to lottery ticket but you get to keep your quid.

Unlikely to win much  (if anything) though.

I've had a couple of decent tickles on the premium bonds , very old school I know , but worth thinking about 

[LC0112G]

3-5 Years is too short a time frame for sensible investing. Buying anything stock market related would be taking a gamble on when the next crash will be. On average they happen every 8 ish years and drop by 40%, but it has been 10 years since the last one now. If you invest it now, and there is a crash in the next year or so (say Brexit related, or China/USA trade war or...) then there won't be enough time for it to recover before your 3-5 years timescale is up.

AIUI it's possible to get 5% on up to £1K5 with TSB. Several banks offer regular savers paying 2.5%-5%. Santander pay 1.5% on up to £30K in their bank accounts. The first £1K of interest is tax free every year, and you'll struggle to get that on £20K (it would be 5% on the full amount)

So, depends how realistic your 3-5 year timeframe is. If you can stretch that to 8-12 years then investment becomes and option. 12-20 years then investment or even pensions becomes the best choice.