Back to thinking about investment again. Looking to shift cash out of my account over the next four months prior to the end of the tax year. Got about 15k at the moment and the new NISA arrangement suits that but wannt to explore other options. Not sure I'm set on another mortgage on a property until I understand what will come from my tax-return for 2014/15.

Good point. I should just buy a Rolex.

Thanks JC. Any particular share trading accounts that you recommend? I'm a UK expat by the way.

I'm not sure which one tbh mate as I use one that is linked to the share save scheme we have at work. Ultimately, they make their money from you paying a fee for each trade you make and the fees vary depending on how much you trade (i.e. big hitters pay less per transaction % wise). Have a look at your online banking, most banks have a facility to set one up then check on google that it's not rape prices per transaction.

TD Waterhouse or III pretty much cheapest brokers for trading. Fee should be less than £10 per trade and then stamp duty has to be paid wherever you are. If you are looking to sit on them for a few years (3+) then you should make a decent return but of course nothing is guaranteed. I have been trading few grand each share for a few years now and easily beaten return I would get on any bank account, averaging 20% return a year. My suggestion would be a solid fund or tracker for 50%-75% of the fund invested (some kind of infra fund or tracker for the big indexes) and then some shares to play with a bit seeking higher capital growth. My advice would be to always have rules such as selling if your investment is down 30% or only investing in dividend paying shares. Be prepared to be down some of the time and up some of the time and never put all your eggs in one basket, despite how good some paper/forum/investment adviser may say a share is.

Any one bought silver bars? Is there anyway to get round the Vat? Seems daft buying it as an investment, paying 20% vat on top of the actual value

Buy a few k worth of bitcoins. We'll all use virtual money in the near future. Upside is huge. Some silver couldn't hurt either.

By the looks of it you don't have to pay vat on any profit you make from them, but you still have to pay vat on your initial purchase

bit off topic but i was messing about on ebay the other day and saw what appears to be a great selling opportunity. Smart TV boxes, not everyone can afford to buy a fully integrated smart tv so these things are the next best alternative. readily available to buy from china on the cheap, and retail for 50-60/box on ebay. bought 10 for 22/unit, will report back when they arrive

Allow it, he buys his suits in Primark so 20ish profit per box ain't too bad