Make Money From Precious Metal Mining With the Raptor IFISA

Nick Making Money, Investing sponsored post 0 Comments

On Pounds and Sense I often talk about the importance of having a diversified investment strategy. And the investment opportunity I am spotlighting today will certainly help you towards achieving that aim!

Raptor is a platform that provides ordinary individuals with the opportunity to invest in the production of gold and precious metal mining. The product on offer is a three-year mini-bond with a tax-free IFISA wrapping. Raptor are currently offering a return of 8 percent per year on a minimum £2,000 investment.

What Is An IFISA?

For those who may not know, IFISA is short for Innovative Finance ISA. IFISAs allow anyone to invest tax-free in authorized ‘innovative finance’ platforms, including P2P lending and mini-bonds.

You can put any amount into an IFISA up to your annual ISA allowance. In the current 2018/19 tax year this is £20,000, which can be divided however you choose between a cash ISA, a stocks and shares ISA and an IFISA. So, for example, you could invest £10,000 in a cash ISA, £6,000 in a stocks and shares ISA and £4,000 in an IFISA. The ISA allowance for 2019/20 will be £20,000 as well, though after that it could change.

Note that under current rules you are only allowed to invest new money in one of each type of ISA in a tax year. It is though generally possible to transfer money from one type of ISA to another without it affecting your annual entitlement (although there may be platform fees to pay).

How Is Your Money Invested?

The money raised from Raptor IFISA investors is used to provide ‘Stream and Royalty’ finance for mining companies. This is explained in detail in the Raptor IFISA brochure, but briefly Raptor’s investment arm (Raptor Capital International, or RCI for short) makes payments to carefully selected development-stage mining companies to purchase part of their future production at a price below the market level.

The mining company therefore receives much-needed capital through immediately monetizing part of its future production, and investors get the opportunity to make a good return on their investment. Stream and Royalty Finance is still relatively new, and with many high-quality mining projects requiring financing there is an opportunity for investors to capitalize on this.

What Are The Returns?

The Raptor IFISA pays 8% interest per year for the three-year term of each bond, with a minimum investment of £2,000. As it’s an IFISA, all profits are paid without any deductions for tax. There is also no charge for investing in the Raptor IFISA.

Returns are paid as simple interest, as shown in the diagram below, which has been copied from the Raptor IFISA brochure. All capital and interest is returned at the end of the three-year term (or earlier if the bond is repurchased/redeemed by Raptor before this point).

What Are The Risks?

All UK IFISA providers have to be authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and HMRC. This doesn’t in itself protect investors against the failure of a platform, however. While savers with UK banks and building societies are covered by the government’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which guarantees to reimburse up to £85,000 of losses, this does not apply to IFISA platforms (or stocks and shares ISAs, for that matter).

IFISA investors don’t therefore enjoy the same level of protection in the UK as bank savers. This is, of course, a major reason why the returns on offer are significantly higher. It’s therefore important to be aware of the risks and ensure you are comfortable with them before investing this way. It’s also important to invest across a range of asset classes and sectors, and not make the mistake of putting all your eggs in one investment basket.

In addition, the Raptor IFISA is not a liquid investment. Your money will normally be tied up for three years. Raptor say they will assist investors if they want to sell or transfer their bonds to another investor, but there is no guarantee that a buyer will be found. This opportunity is therefore not suitable for funds you might need back quickly and should be regarded as a medium- to long-term investment.

Finally, there is of course a risk that the underlying mining investments will not pay off. However, Raptor and RCI’s Advisory Committee say they will undertake extensive due diligence and engage third-party providers to assist in determining whether or not projects meet and qualify for financing in accordance with set criteria, for example:

There has to be at least a 200,000 ounce gold resource (or gold equivalent ounces).
Uncomplicated metallurgy, allowing simple, conventional, traditional extraction.
Payback of initial capital and interest within three years of production.
Access to mining company financial records.
Allow an RCI agent on site to oversee operations.

With all that said and done, there is no guarantee that you will receive the advertised returns. It is important that you understand and are comfortable with the risks involved.

Summing Up

If you are looking for a home for some of your money that can offer better interest rates than banks and building societies – and won’t incur any tax charges – the Raptor IFISA is worth considering.

As well as higher interest rates, Raptor bonds can add diversity to your saving and investment portfolio, helping you ride out peaks and troughs in the financial markets. The bonds provide an opportunity to profit directly from the returns to be made in precious metal mining, a sector under-represented in many people’s portfolios. The relatively low minimum investment of £2,000 and absence of any charges are further attractions. Just be sure that you are aware of the risks involved, and that you invest only as part of a diversified portfolio.

For more information, please visit the Raptor IFISA website. You can find out more about the investment opportunity there, and also download an informative 14-page brochure.

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post on behalf of the Raptor IFISA. All investments carry a risk of loss. Be sure to do your own ‘due diligence’ before investing, and speak to a qualified professional financial adviser if in any doubt before proceeding.

If you have any comments or questions about this post, as always, feel free to post them below.

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Bahlsen Choco Moments Blue Monday Competition

January 21, 2019

Blue Monday Competition: Win Delicious Bahlsen Choco Moments Biscuits!

Nick Everything Else events, sponsored post, competitions

NOTE: This competition is now closed. The winner has been announced in this blog post!

The third Monday in January has been dubbed Blue Monday. It’s meant to be the most depressing day of the year, with cold days, dark nights, and a payday that still feels a million miles away.

So today, to cheer everyone up, I am running a giveaway for some delicious Bahlsen Choco Moments biscuits. This is – of course – a sponsored post.

Choco Moments are the ultimate indulgent snack. With a thick coating of rich chocolate over a crunchy biscuit base, they are the perfect melt-in-your-mouth treat to pick you up on a bad day.

They are available in two delicious flavours: Choco Moments Crunchy Hazelnut (my favourite) combines smooth, creamy milk chocolate with warm hazelnut crunch and is mouth-wateringly more-ish; while Choco Moments Crunchy Mint perfectly balances deep notes of dark chocolate with lively and refreshing crunchy mint.

To be in with a chance of winning A WHOLE SIX PACKETS of Choco Moments biscuits (both flavours included) just leave a comment below by 9 am on Friday 31st January 2019 saying why Bahlsen biscuits cheer you up. I will pick a winner at random and arrange to send them the prize.

Just one comment per person, please, and allow a few hours for me to approve your comment if you haven’t commented on my blog before. This competition is open to UK residents only.

Please check back here (or on the PAS Facebook page) after 1st February 2019 to see if you are the winner and claim your prize (you could also subscribe via the box in the right-hand column to be notified about all new posts). Due to online privacy rules I won’t be able to contact you otherwise. Note also that once the competition has closed it will not be possible to leave any further comments on this post.

If the winner doesn’t claim their prize within seven days, I reserve the right to pick another winner at random instead.

Finally, even if you don’t win this time, don’t be blue. Bahlsen Choco Moments biscuits are available at an RRP of just £1.99 in Sainsbury’s and Waitrose supermarkets!

Good luck, enjoy your coffee/tea and Bahlsen Choco Moments, and remember that from today onward the year can only improve 🙂

Disclosure: as stated above, this is a sponsored post. I am receiving some delicious Bahlsen Choco Moments biscuits as a thank-you for posting it

Comments on this post are now closed.

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November 28, 2018

Giveaway: Win a Pack of New Bahlsen Choco Moments Biscuits!

Nick Everything Else events, food, sponsored post

This draw is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered. The winners are revealed in this post.

As a bit of fun today, I am running a giveaway for some delicious Bahlsen biscuits. This is (of course) a sponsored post.

Everybody knows the festive season is the season of indulgence when every home and office is well-stocked with tasty treats and guilt-free pleasures. It’s a chance to treat those you love to something they’ll really enjoy and can nibble on all season long.

The brand new Bahlsen Choco Moments are the ultimate treats for Christmas, the perfect way to spread joy to friends and family during the festive season.

Choco Moments from Bahlsen – the experts in chocolate biscuits – are the perfect accompaniment to festive gatherings and cosy nights in. With a thick, luxurious coating of rich chocolate with crisp, satisfying crunch, drenched over buttery biscuit, they are the perfect melt-in-your-mouth treat, and come in two delicious flavours that will fight for space in your biscuit tin.

Choco Moments Crunchy Hazelnut combines smooth, creamy milk chocolate with warm hazelnut tones that are mouth-wateringly moreish, while Choco Moments Crunchy Mint perfectly balances the deep notes of dark chocolate with lively and refreshing mint.

So prepare to spread the Christmas joy and treat your loved ones to a seriously Choco Moment – the perfect moment to unwrap this festive season.

*** To be in with a chance of winning a pack of Choco Moments Crunchy Hazelnut or Crunchy Mint – your choice! – just leave a comment below by midnight on Tuesday 4 December 2018 saying why you love Bahlsen biscuits. I will pick a winner at random on Wednesday 5 December and arrange to send them the biscuits. Even if you don’t win, you can of course pick up Bahlsen Choco Moments biscuits from all good supermarkets and grocery shops and online stores including Amazon. The winner will be revealed here and via the Pounds & Sense Twitter and Facebook pages by Thursday 6 December 2018. UK residents only, I’m afraid. ***

Good luck, and let the season of indulgence begin!

Disclosure: as stated above, this is a sponsored post. I am receiving some delicious Bahlsen Choco Moments biscuits as a thank-you for posting it 😀

UPDATE: The winners are revealed in this post!

Comments are now closed on this post.

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October 5, 2018

Why You MUST Shop Around When Buying Self-Storage Insurance

Nick Saving Money insurance, sponsored post 2 Comments

Today I’m focusing on self-storage. This is hugely popular in the UK, which has nearly half the self-storage sites in Europe (according to their trade body, the Self Storage Association UK).

People use self-storage for all sorts of reasons. They include moving home, when you may have to store your furniture and possessions for a short period. It also includes moving in with a partner, when you need to store some items temporarily until you decide what to do with them (do you really need two washing machines, for example).

Another common reason is people moving abroad – perhaps on a one- or two-year work contract – and needing somewhere safe to store their belongings until they return.

Self-storage can be particularly attractive to older people, such as many readers of this blog. Perhaps you’re downsizing and don’t have room for all your belongings in your new home. Or you may simply have accumulated a large number of possessions over your lifetime and need somewhere away from your home to store them, so you don’t run out of space! You might also have things that for one reason or another – e.g. their size or value – you don’t want to carry on storing at home.

As mentioned above, UK residents are fortunate to have lots of options when it comes to self-storage, and it is of course important to shop around for the best price for the service you require.

A recent study by mystery shopping company ProInsight highlighted the particular importance of shopping around for insurance, however. In particular, it highlighted the importance of not automatically choosing the insurance offered by the self-storage company itself. More about this shortly.

Self-Storage Insurance

If you are going to use self-storage, contents insurance is normally compulsory. This will cover loss or damage to your stored contents caused by anything from water/oil leaks to attempted theft. Some household contents policies cover this, but the majority don’t, especially if the items will be in storage over a lengthy period.

All self-storage providers offer insurance, typically by arrangement with a particular insurance company or broker. What many people don’t realise, however, is that you can also insure your belongings separately, perhaps using an online insurance provider. As we shall see, potentially large savings can be made this way.

Mystery Shopping Research

The ProInsight study mentioned above used mystery shoppers to get quotes from 165 self-storage branches across the UK, covering 70 firms in total. They were chosen to provide a representative sample of self-storage providers, including large and small, general and specialist, business- and consumer-oriented. They included branches of all the top five self-storage companies in the UK: Safestore, Big Yellow Self Storage, Access Self Storage, Shurgard Self-Storage and Lok’nStore.

The results were eye-opening, to say the least. In all but one case, savings could be made by using a third-party online insurer. In many cases these savings were substantial. For example, a Big Yellow branch in Bromley quoted a figure of £340.20 for a policy covering £5,000 worth of goods for three months. The same risk could be insured for between £21.30 and £44.85 elsewhere.

Richard Hannan of Surewise.com, the insurance company who commissioned the ProInsight study, said: “We were amazed to find that storage companies were charging an average of three times more for the same or very similar policies. Some of the prices that were being charged were highly alarming and in fact, we struggled to find a single self-storage company that was selling insurance for less than their online competitors.

“This means 99% of people who are insuring with their storage units will make savings by spending a few minutes online, and possibly considerable savings at that.”

It follows that if you are using self-storage over a long period, you could end up paying hundreds or even thousands of pounds more in insurance costs if you stick with the cover offered by your self-storage provider.

Obviously it’s important to compare like with like, and the self-storage companies have argued in their defence that online policies don’t always offer the same level of protection as their own. However, Richard Hannan said, “We have always covered a lot of these areas, such as water and oil damage, and ‘new for old’ but our new policies which are underwritten by SAGIC, have added all these additional cover areas such as moth, subsidence or sprinkler damage to combat these messages back from the storage units. SAGIC are The Salvation Army General Insurance Corporation.”

Surewise.com

The ProInsight study mentioned above found that in many (though not all) cases, the lowest cost online insurance cover provider was Surewise.com. Their Household and Business Self-Storage Insurance covers you against loss or damage to stored contents in the event of:

Natural disasters, including lightning, earthquake, storm, flood and weight of snow
Fire and explosion
Leaking water/liquid from fixed water tanks and pipes
Theft and attempted theft, with proof of violent breaking and entering (e.g. broken lock)
Falling trees, telegraph poles and lamp posts
Collision by any vehicle or animal
Impact by aircraft and other flying devices or items dropped from flying aircraft
Rioters, violent disorders, strikes, labour disturbances, civil commotion and malicious acts

Surewise.com say they will replace or repair any stored items damaged (with repair or replacement at their discretion). They provide an instant insurance certificate when you order online. If you are thinking of using self-storage, it is well worth checking their website to see how much you could save.

Summing Up

If self-storage is something you plan to use, be sure to shop around. There are lots of options in the UK, so take some time to research the market and find out which is best for your needs.

In addition – and very importantly – DON’T just accept the insurance offered you by the self-storage company. Assuming your ordinary home contents insurance doesn’t cover you, get quotes from online insurers such as Surewise.com. The great majority of self-storage companies allow customers to use third-party insurers, and in many cases you can save large sums by doing so, especially if you plan to use self-storage long term.

If you have any comments or questions about this article, as always, please do post them below.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Surewise.com, from whom I am receiving a fee.

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July 24, 2018

How to Invest Tax-free in Peer-to-Peer Lending with IFISAs

Nick Saving Money, Investing crowdfunding, sponsored post 4 Comments

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending involves lending money to people and businesses via a P2P platform (generally web-based) and being paid back with interest by the borrower.

P2P lending has become increasingly popular among savers looking for better interest rates than those offered by banks and building societies. Until quite recently, however, you couldn’t invest in them tax-free.

All that changed in April 2016, though, with the launch of the Innovative Finance ISA, or IFISA for short. IFISAs allow anyone to invest tax-free in P2P lending via authorized platforms.

Note that under current rules you are only allowed to invest new money in one of each type of ISA in a tax year. It is though generally possible to transfer money from one type of ISA to another without it affecting your annual entitlement (although there may be platform fees to pay).

After a slow start when only a very few were available, in 2018 the number and range of IFISAs has grown significantly. As of July 2018 over 40 UK IFISA providers are operating, ranging from well-established P2P lenders such as Zopa to new, upcoming platforms such as The Just ISA (see below). Interest rates paid vary considerably, from around 4% to 15%. Obviously, the higher rates reflect the higher levels of risk involved.

Although all IFISAs involve P2P lending, a number of different types are available. Those currently on offer include lending for all the following purposes:

property development
business loans
personal loans
green energy projects
bonds and debentures
entertainment industry loans
infrastructure projects

An unusual IFISA which certainly lives up to the “Innovative” description is The Just ISA. This is described as a litigation ISA. Lenders’ money is used to help individuals fund the cost of taking businesses, institutions and individuals to court, typically for reasons of professional negligence.

The Just ISA offers five-year bonds paying a gross interest rate of 8% per year (in practice this headline rate will be reduced somewhat due to fees and charges). All cases are underwritten and fully insured, and they say they have a success rate of 90%. There is a minimum investment of £2,000.

What Are The Risks?

All UK IFISA providers have to be authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and HMRC. This doesn’t in itself protect lenders (or savers if you prefer) against the failure of a platform, however. While savers with UK banks and building societies are covered by the government’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which guarantees to reimburse up to £85,000 of losses, this does not apply to IFISA platforms.

All IFISA providers do offer various safeguards to lenders, though. These vary, but include provision funds to cover potential losses, insurance policies, and so forth. In many cases, also, loans are made against the security of property or other assets, which in the worst case could be sold to pay off any debts.

Even so, IFISA lenders don’t enjoy the same level of protection in the UK as bank savers. This is, of course, a major reason why the returns on offer are significantly higher. It’s therefore important to be aware of the risks and ensure you are comfortable with them before investing this way. It’s also important to lend across a range of platforms and loans, and not make the mistake of putting all your savings eggs in one P2P lending basket.

Summing Up

If you are looking for a home for some of your savings that can offer better interest rates than banks and building societies and won’t incur any tax charges, IFISAs are definitely worth considering.

As well as the higher interest rates, they can add diversity to your investments, helping you ride out financial peaks and troughs. Just be aware of the risks involved in P2P lending, and ensure you invest in IFISAs only as part of a balanced portfolio.

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post on behalf of The Just ISA. All investments carry a degree of risk. Be sure to do your own “due diligence” before investing, and speak to a qualified professional financial adviser if in any doubt before proceeding.

If you have any comments or questions about this post, as always, feel free to post them below.

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May 11, 2018

Guest Post: Property Versus Pensions – Which Is Best?

Nick Investing crowdfunding, sponsored post, pensions 4 Comments

Ever worry that your pension isn’t large enough to sustain the kind of retirement you’re looking forward to?

On average, British pensioners receive just 29% of their in-work earnings.

This small sum would leave many of us struggling to pay the bills, let alone being able to afford those long-awaited family holidays or treats. Latest figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development show that 18.5% of those aged 76+ in Britain are living in poverty.

Those dependent on state funds are the worst affected and, with pensions failing to provide a sufficient income, many retirees rely on property as an alternative source of income.

Buy-to-let property is a big commitment, both in terms of the capital you need to get started and the long-term nature of the investment. Many of us look forward to relaxing during retirement, and there really is no guarantee of ‘a quiet life’ when you invest in rental properties. If you were planning to invest all your savings in property, it’s essential to consider how your finances would hold up should the property become vacant or need substantial repairs.

If house prices fall or stagnate, you could be left responsible for a property portfolio that contributes only a minimal amount towards your retirement income. Even if the housing market continues to boom, your personal circumstances may change and, as property is an illiquid asset, it can be tricky to turn your investments into cash at short notice.

So, if you’re in search of a way to supplement your pension and bring your retirement dreams a little closer to reality, you’ll be pleased to know that buy-to-let isn’t the only way to invest in bricks and mortar…

Kuflink’s innovative peer-to-peer platform offers investors many of the same advantages as buy-to-let, including monthly interest payments and property-backed opportunities, without the hassle of maintenance or deposit costs!

Register today to view Kuflink’s portfolio of exclusive short-term property loans offering up to 7.2% interest pa gross*, and invest from just £100.

*Capital is at risk. Rate correct as of April 2018. You should seek independent financial advice.

Thank you to my friends at Kuflink for an interesting post. I would just like to add that I am an investor with Kuflink myself and so far have been pleased and impressed with the service received.

As an existing Kuflink investor, I can also offer a special cashback incentive for anyone signing up and investing on the platform via my link. If you click through this special invitation link and invest a minimum of £1000, you will receive cashback as follows:

Investment amount	Cashback due
£1,000 – £5,000	2.50%
£5,000.01 – £25,000	3.00%
£25,000.01 – £50,000	3.50%
£50,000.01 – £99,999.99	3.75%
£100,000	4.00%*

*Cashback capped at £4,000

And yes, you really can earn up to £4,000 in cashback. If you invest £100,000 or more, then in addition to the £4,000 cashback, you would receive interest of around 6% to 7%. That means over a year your total returns on your £100,000 investment would be at least £10,000 (and more if you reinvest the monthly interest repayments on Select-Invest loans). Food for thought if you have that sort of money, though admittedly not many of us are lucky enough to do so!

Note that once you make your first investment of at least £100, you will have 14 days to maximise your cashback by making further investments. The 14-calendar day window starts from the moment you make your first investment. There is no limit to how much money you can invest in this window, and the cumulative total of your investments made within this 14-day period will be the total amount eligible for cashback.

The cashback amount will be transferred six months after your first live investment is made (assuming you haven’t sold up via the secondary market in that time). If Kuflink withdraw this offer after you have invested and before your cashback has been paid, you will still receive the cashback reward. The cashback will be paid into your Kuflink wallet, and from there you can either withdraw it to your bank account or invest it in another Kuflink loan or product.

As your referrer via this link or the link above, I will receive a referrer’s fee (variable) if you invest £1000 or more. Note also that once you have invested you will be able to offer the same cashback deal to your friends and colleagues, and get a referrer’s fee yourself as well. There is no limit to the number of people you can introduce through this scheme.

Obviously, this is a generous promotional offer by Kuflink and I assume it won’t be available forever. If you want to take advantage, therefore, don’t wait too long. I will remove this information if/when I hear the offer is no longer valid.

As always, if you have any comments or questions about this post, please do leave them below.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Kuflink, for which I am receiving a fee. As stated above, I am also an investor with Kuflink myself.

Update:: I have now added an independent review of Kuflink based on my experiences of investing with them. Click here to read it.

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April 3, 2018

Hands-off Ways to Invest in Property

Nick Investing property, sponsored post 0 Comments

As I said in this recent blog post, I am a fan of property investment, as part of a balanced portfolio.

Property investors typically get a double benefit: rental income from tenants for as long as they own the property, and – in most cases – a profit when the time comes to sell.

A further attraction of property investment is that it can be beneficial tax-wise. Any profit you make when selling property is likely to be subject to capital gains tax (CGT) but there are generous annual allowances you can take advantage of (£11,700 in the tax year 2018/19).

In addition, if you invest via a platform (see below), income from rent is typically paid as dividends, allowing you to take advantage of the separate dividends tax allowance (£2,000 in 2018/19). Even if your dividend income exceeds the annual allowance, most people will only pay 7.5% tax on dividend earnings up to £34,500 (2018/19 figure).

Property investment can also be a great way of diversifying a mainly equities-based portfolio.

One drawback with property investment is that managing a property and its tenants can involve a lot of work. So today I want to focus on a property investment platform that takes care of all this on investors’ behalf (for a fee, of course). This makes it truly a hands-off way to invest in property.

The platform in question is FJP Investments. They partner with experienced developers to offer a range of property investments suitable for high net worth individuals and “sophisticated investors”. I’ve listed some of the main investment options they offer below.

Buy-to-let

This is, of course, the traditional way to invest in property. FJP offer investment opportunities in the UK buy-to-let market as well as overseas.

Student Property

This is becoming a very popular investment opportunity. The market is growing rapidly thanks to a government policy change ensuring an additional 200,000 students will be seeking accommodation in the UK by the year 2020.

Hotel Rooms

This type of investment started in the USA and has since taken off across Europe. Investing in a hotel room is simple. You buy the hotel room and then sub-lease it to the hotel operator. They in turn manage the day to day running, along with generating bookings. All you have to do is sit back and collect your share of the profits.

Car Parking

This is another popular income-generating investment. Investors purchase one or more spots in a car park and then receive a share of the income generated via the operator, who manages it on investors’ behalf.

Car parks are typically at or near airports. This market is expanding rapidly, with passenger numbers set to increase by over 220% in most major airports in the next 20 years. A further attraction in some cases can be free parking at the car park in question.

Care Homes

This involves investing in care homes for the elderly and/or people with disabilities. It is an ethical option but nonetheless one that offers good potential returns. Britain has an ageing population and yet the number of care beds is on the decline. There has been a lack of investment in the care sector which has created a growing demand for nursing homes, and an acute shortfall in the number of available beds is expected by early 2020. There is therefore a huge need right now for care home investment. Investors can profit from this while contributing to the creation of more high-quality care home facilities.

Risk v Reward

The potential returns from property investment are a lot better than you would get from a bank savings account at present, with 10% and upward widely advertised. Clearly, though, there is a greater element of risk with these investments. For example, you are not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which will refund up to £85,000 if a bank with which you have an account goes bust. On the other hand, your money is in bricks and mortar, so it’s unlikely you would ever lose it all.

In the case of FJP Investments, as mentioned earlier, they work in association with highly experienced property developers. They set great store by protecting their clients’ money, not least because their reputation – and indeed their business – depends on this. They take the time to get to know their clients personally and help them choose investment opportunities from the range on offer that will meet their specific needs and goals. These are all, needless to say, hands-off investments.

It is, of course, vital to be aware of the risks associated with investing in property and only to do so as part of a balanced portfolio with assets in a range of classes, including readily available cash. Property can be somewhat illiquid and should therefore normally be regarded as a medium- to long-term investment.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for which I am receiving a fee. Please note also that I am not a financial adviser and nothing in this post should be construed as personal financial advice. Before making any investment it is important to do your own due diligence, and seek advice from a qualified financial adviser if you are in any doubt how best to proceed.

If you have any comments or questions about FJP Investments, or property investment in general, as always, please do post them below.

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March 12, 2018

Saving and Making Money with Your Kitchen

Nick Making Money, Saving Money sponsored post 2 Comments

Your kitchen is perhaps the most important room in your home. It’s where you spend time with your family, catching up on the day and cooking meals. However, it’s also important in terms of finance – you can end up spending a lot on your kitchen, and you don’t always need to. Here’s how you can save and make money on your kitchen.

Save Money

Renovate

If you’d like to have a new kitchen but you just don’t have the finances, you can save a lot of money by renovating it yourself. You can do it in stages too which will help you to spread the cost. Even if you can’t afford to change the whole kitchen, you can upgrade certain aspects on a budget, simply by being thrifty. Start with your units – paint costs less than £20 and can make an enormous difference – and once you have painted you can swap the handles for something different by heading to eBay or your local DIY store. Next, take a look at your worktops – granite is on trend and is currently quite affordable. There’s a lot that you can do to your kitchen without fully renovating it, and you may be surprised at the difference that it can make.

Buy Used/Ex-Display

Sometimes, only a new kitchen will do. It may be that yours is beyond saving, or that you have simply grown out of it. If that is the case, you don’t have to go all out on a brand spanking new kitchen from a showroom. Instead, you should look at used kitchens. Buying a used kitchen means that you can get a great (often designer) kitchen for a fraction of the price. However, avoid your local selling pages and go straight to a trusted re-seller such as Used Kitchen Exchange. Before you buy a kitchen, you’ll need to know information such as the measurements and what is included in the sale – you can get all of this information from the Used Kitchen Exchange website. The company has a wide range of kitchens in stock for every taste and size – from wooden kitchens to sleek, contemporary European kitchens.

Make Money

Sell Your Kitchen

If your kitchen is still in good condition and you’re just ready for a change, you can put some money towards the cost of your new kitchen by selling your current one. You can approach a recommended re-seller such as Used Kitchen Exchange, who will manage every step of the sales process for you – from photographing and listing your kitchen to finding a buyer. You can relax and wait for the money to come through.

Sell Your Appliances

Perhaps you have a coffee maker that you never use, or a spiraliser from the health kick you promised you’d go on but you never did. Whilst these appliances are collecting dust in your cupboard, they could be making you money! Sell them on eBay or Gumtree and put the cash towards your new kitchen.

Thank you to the team behind Used Kitchen Exchange for an interesting guest post (for which I am receiving a fee). The cover image and the article itself both show kitchens from Used Kitchen Exchange, by the way.

I had never come across the concept of buying and selling used kitchens before. I’ve had basically the same kitchen furniture and appliances since moving into this house 20 years ago, however, so it’s definitely something I shall consider now!

If you have any comments or questions about this post, as always, please do leave them below.

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March 1, 2018

10 Ways to Raise Money Quickly to Pay Bills

Nick Making Money sponsored post 4 Comments

We’ve all been there. An unexpected bill comes in and you don’t have the money in your account to pay it.

There are various possible solutions to this dilemma, so in this article I’ll set out some options that are open to you.

1. Short-term borrowing

If you know you will have the money within a few weeks, short-term borrowing can be a sensible solution.

If you have a credit card – and can pay the bill this way – you can take advantage of the interest-free period. So long as you pay off the balance by the due date on your monthly statement, it won’t cost you anything extra. I don’t recommend drawing cash using your card, however, as interest starts to accrue immediately if you do this and rates are generally high.

Short term loans are another possible solution if you need help paying bills. This method has the advantage that you get the cash straight into your bank account, and if you apply online you can often access the money within a day. Clearly if you use this method there will be interest to pay, so look for a company that will let you pay off the entire loan at once and aim to do this as soon as you possibly can.

2. Selling on eBay

Another good solution if you have a bit of time is to have a clear-out of things you no longer need and put them up for sale on the online auction site eBay. All sorts of things sell here, and if you have never tried selling via the site you will be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is.

Basically, you just log in and go to my eBay, then click on the Start Selling button. Enter a short description and eBay will display some similar items, each with a message under it saying “Sell One Like This”. Click on that and you can use the item in question as a sort of template (although clearly you shouldn’t copy it word for word!). This can be a great way to raise a useful sum of money quickly, and as long as you are selling your own possessions (not buying to resell) it’s tax-free too.

3. Visit a Car Boot Sale

This is the low-tech option for selling unwanted goods, but it can work very well as a way of generating cash quickly. Check the local paper for sales in your area – they are generally held at the weekend. You can also do an online search for “Car boot sales in Mytown” or whatever.

When going to a car boot sale, aim to arrive early to get a good spot, and take plenty of change with you. Assume everyone will want to pay with notes! Know the price you want for the products you are selling, but be prepared for people to haggle. It’s generally best to ask for a bit more than you expect to get, so you have some room to negotiate.

4. Sell on Shpock or Local Facebook Pages

This is another good option for selling unwanted items. Shpock describes itself as “the boot sale app”. It’s available for both Android and iOS. You can advertise products to people in your area via the app and buyers will come to collect the goods in person. This and Facebook local pages can be good ways to sell anything which is difficult for whatever reason (e.g. size or weight) to send in the mail.

5. Sell Unwanted Gift Vouchers on Zeek

If you have unwanted gift vouchers, did you know you can sell them for cash on the Zeek website? Both physical and electronic vouchers can be sold (and bought) this way. Obviously you won’t get the full face value and there is a modest charge to pay. But if you’re in a fix and need money fast this is definitely worth considering, especially if you don’t have any other use for the voucher/s concerned.

6. Try Matched Betting

This is a money-making method I have described on various occasions on this blog. It’s a way of making risk-free (and tax-free) cash by taking advantage of bookmaker special offers and promotions.

Matched betting is perfectly legal and (done properly) it’s not gambling. You can join an advisory service such as Profit Accumulator or Odds Monkey and they will take you through two or three money-making opportunities for free. After that, if you wish to continue, there is a small monthly charge. Note that matched betting may not be an option if you live in a state or country that bans online betting.

7. Get Temporary Work

Jobs may be harder to find these days, but there is still plenty of short-term/temporary work available if you look for it. Some of this is seasonal, e.g. many companies take on extra staff to help them cope with the Christmas rush (Amazon being one well-known example). Another option is helping at elections, e.g. as a poll clerk or vote counter. It is generally a long day but decently paid. Inquire with your local council if there are any opportunities in your area.

8. Become an Extra

If the prospect of appearing in TV shows or movies doesn’t put you off, being an extra has much to recommend it. The work is interesting and varied, although it can also involve a lot of standing around, and doing the same thing over and over until the director is satisfied with the shot. You won’t get rich working as an extra, but the pay isn’t bad either, and you get free meals as well! Apply via an extras agency in the first instance.

9. Do Online Surveys

This is another popular option for people wanting to raise money. Payments aren’t generous but the work isn’t too taxing, and over a few weeks (or longer) you can generate a decent sum. Prolific Academic and Panelbase are two of my favourite survey sites, but there are plenty more around if you look for them.

10. Offer Your Services as a Freelance

There are lots of possibilities here, from copywriting to photography, social media management to website design. Set up accounts on sites such as Upwork and People Per Hour and you will be able to bid for any job advertised that suits your skills and talents. Admittedly it can take a little time to get established on these sites, but once you have your first few jobs under your belt (and good feedback from clients) more work is very likely to follow.

I hope the list above will give you some ideas of ways to deal with cashflow problems caused by bills. If you have any other comments or suggestions, as always, please feel free to post them below.

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post for which I am receiving a fee.

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January 26, 2018

How to Jump Start a Car with a Flat Battery

Nick Everything Else sponsored post 2 Comments

At this time of year flat batteries are a common problem for motorists. Batteries have to work harder in the winter, to power the lights, wipers, heating fans, and so on, and it’s easy for them to get run down.

This is even more likely to happen if – like many older people – you don’t use your car regularly or use it only for short journeys. It’s always best not to leave it too long between trips and try to fit in the occasional longer run that will power up the battery again.

But what if, despite all this, you find yourself with a flat battery? Don’t despair – as long as you have a set of jump leads (jumper cables as they are also called) and another car that is working normally, you can be up and running again in a few minutes. If you don’t have jump leads already, you can pick up a set cheaply at any local motoring store or Amazon.

Jump leads or jumper cables

Here’s what you need to do.

1. Park the cars nose to nose, so that there is easy access from one engine compartment to the other. Switch off both cars’ engines. Ensure that the brakes are on and the cars are in neutral (or Park in the case of automatics).

2. Open the hoods of both cars. Attach the red jump lead to the positive (+) terminal of the car with the flat battery. Attach the other end of this cable to the working car’s positive (+) terminal.

3. Attach the black cable to the working battery’s negative (–) terminal and the other end to an exposed metal section on your car, e.g. a bracket, bolt or strut. This must be at least a foot away from the battery.

4. Now start the working car and let it run for a few minutes, revving the engine slightly.

5. Then attempt to start your car. Nine times out of ten this will work. If it does, remove the cables in the reverse order you connected them, i.e. starting with the black cable attached to exposed metal on your car. Close the hood, but don’t switch off your engine yet! Drive around for at least 15 minutes to charge up your battery.

If your car still won’t start, leave it connected to the other car for another five minutes and try again. If you still have no success, it may be that your battery is too drained and needs replacing. Or there may be another fault in your car’s electrical system. Either way, it’s probably time to call in the professionals. The same applies if the problem occurs again the next time you try to start your car.

Good luck, and I really hope you don’t need to use the advice in this post too often!

For much more advice about buying, selling and maintaining cars, check out Cars.com.

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