Where should we put our cash?

[AledJ]

Put it under your bed. Safest place for it.

Unless your unlucky enough to have your house burn down!

[JPreston]

Property. A tangible long term investment that is not going to be liquidated. Safe as houses ...

Or if you're young, I read a column by Tim Hartford postulating that you should borrow like crazy to invest in diversified stocks, just like we commonly do for houses (borrow 100k's to buy in your 20s, trade up houses throughout your life, and only pay back all the debt just before you retire by which time you own a mansion).

A pension is a good investment because of the tax benefit, and I'm still investing my spare income in corporate bonds and equities because in a few years they will rebound, and there's not much point sitting on savings accounts to earn less interest after tax than inflation in the meantime.

The idea that losses are only short term and can be disregarded by investing long term is a misconception, because if today's investment drops 10% next week it will always be worth 10% less than what it would have been worth if you had bought it a week later, regardless of how long you subsequently hold it for. But I'm happy to take the chance that some investments are under-priced due to general panic and will not drop further

[Barrichello]

But I'm happy to take the chance that some investments are under-priced due to general panic and will not drop further

Well its been a rather positive latter part of the week in general for the markets, fairly quiet yesterday (because of thanks giving) but surprised to see FTSE is seen opening even higher today When you look at all the bad financial news and gloom we keep keep hearing about, and yet we see indices such as FTSE/CAC/DAX tracking up positive, it is rather perplexing. Dead cat bounce maybe?

[badass]

Until recently, i thought this as well. But having shared a cuppa with one of my colleagues from the metals desk on monday, have to say his bullish views on gold seems to be reflected in predictions posted a couple of days later in the general press...


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/c...-unravels.html

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article7517.html

I remember similar predictions about the price of oil when it hit around $130 a barrel

[Barrichello]

I remember similar predictions about the price of oil when it hit around $130 a barrel

Well hope that didn't put you off getting some?

Anyone else buy any gold when this post was started back in nov2008? you will be glad to hear gold has gone from $710 to $995 per ounce - and its currently testing its historical high. Expecting this bull run to break through the $1000 dollar barrier this month and then probably have a sell off again. Nice 25% return in 3 months for the lovely stuff itself and when i picked up some RRS in nov08 nearly 50% gain. Anyone that did buy - you holding for long term? or looking for a quick profit? If latter then all signals seem to point to sell sell sell

http://www.kitco.com/charts/livegold.html

[[GSV]Trig]

Put it all in my accounts, then I can pay off all my debts and then pay it into the next persons account and so on until were all debt free

[piggeh]

It really depends how you see things unfolding. If you reckon we're going to face large inflationary pressures then its best to put it in stocks that are inflation proof. If you put it into other currencies then there's the risk others will find their currencies devaluing. The euro has several countries all facing worse scenarios then us - we still have a AAA credit rating, others have been relegated to worse credit status.

TBH in the current climate I think it's best to protect your wealth and not go looking to make money out of it, just make sure your savings still have the same buying power when things come out the other side.

It all depends how much risk you wish to take but if it's your savings I would think many will be risk averse.

[Saracen]

I'm tempted to buy dollars right now, and keep a careful eye on the BofE and their plans for quantitative easing. If they announce they're doing it, I can see the pound taking a hit.

Or, of course, I could just stick it on the 3:30 at Haydock Park.

[Rave]

I'm quite glad that I don't have any money to worry about.

[G4Z]

Well hope that didn't put you off getting some?

Anyone else buy any gold when this post was started back in nov2008? you will be glad to hear gold has gone from $710 to $995 per ounce - and its currently testing its historical high. Expecting this bull run to break through the $1000 dollar barrier this month and then probably have a sell off again. Nice 25% return in 3 months for the lovely stuff itself and when i picked up some RRS in nov08 nearly 50% gain. Anyone that did buy - you holding for long term? or looking for a quick profit? If latter then all signals seem to point to sell sell sell

http://www.kitco.com/charts/livegold.html

dammit!!!!!!!

[arthurleung]

Well hope that didn't put you off getting some?

Anyone else buy any gold when this post was started back in nov2008? you will be glad to hear gold has gone from $710 to $995 per ounce - and its currently testing its historical high. Expecting this bull run to break through the $1000 dollar barrier this month and then probably have a sell off again. Nice 25% return in 3 months for the lovely stuff itself and when i picked up some RRS in nov08 nearly 50% gain. Anyone that did buy - you holding for long term? or looking for a quick profit? If latter then all signals seem to point to sell sell sell

http://www.kitco.com/charts/livegold.html

I had a 110% gain on RBS back a few weeks, lose it all when Lloyds plunged last week (Still holding)
Would recommend people stay away from stock market unless you know what you are doing. Risk is very high although potential return is massive.

My fixed savings (all 6%+) are coming out in the next 2-12 weeks, not sure where I want to put them.

TBH I really want the inflation to come down as it is linked to my student loan interest, which will likely to be higher than equivalent bank loan next year

[badass]

Well hope that didn't put you off getting some?

It cerainly did!
I prefer to go for long term investments. Tis kind of investing for short term gain is little more than gambling. You win some, you lose some.

[santa claus]

The bubble has burst and we're the ones being screwed. There is no safe place for money. Not in property, gold, diamonds or in banks. There's a lot more to go tits up before this slump is over. A lot more.

[arthurleung]

The bubble has burst and we're the ones being screwed. There is no safe place for money. Not in property, gold, diamonds or in banks. There's a lot more to go tits up before this slump is over. A lot more.

Not even cash is safe, the value of the pounds have dropped so much against USD and the like, means your cash worth less in materialistic term, on top of the inflation.

[Stoo]

I've just got my student loan left having cleared other debts a while ago.

I'm not sure if I want to start paying big lumps of it off, or invest in something relatively stable..

I did think about buying land in Canada before..

[jim]

A guy on some money forums a few months ago said "Stick all of your money in Lloyds TSB. If Lloyds go bust, the last things you'll need to worry about are your savings.

There's probably some truth in that