As regular readers of Pounds and Sense will know, I’m a fan of P2P property investment platform Assetz Exchange and have invested through them myself. AE have recently rebranded as Housemartin, so I thought I should write an update about this.
You can read my original detailed review of Assetz Exchange (as it was then) in this post. Much of this info still applies – so I won’t reproduce it all here – but certain things (as well as the name!) have changed.
Assetz Exchange began as a ‘traditional’ property crowdfunding platform, with investors coming together to buy a property. They then shared in the rental income received – and any profit if the property was subsequently sold – in proportion to the size of their investment. When I first wrote about Assetz Exchange they offered a variety of investment opportunities, including former show homes and development projects.
Nowadays, though, the company focuses on supported housing, working closely with charities and other organizations that assist people with physical and cognitive disabilities. These have generally proven the most reliable and hassle-free investments, so Housemartin have understandably chosen to concentrate on this.
Properties are generally let on long leases, with the charities taking responsibility for day-to-day management and maintenance. As mentioned, investors receive a share of the monthly rental received and any profits if/when the properties are sold (you can also potentially sell your holdings online at any time via the exchange, which serves as a secondary market). That puts these investments at the lower-risk end of the property investment spectrum (though there are, of course, still risks involved, and you should ensure you understand these and are comfortable with them before investing).
Assetz Exchange was originally part of the Assetz group of property investment companies that included Assetz Capital. In December 2023 Assetz announced it was withdrawing from the retail marketplace to work with institutional investors only. Partly as a consequence of this, the team behind Housemartin took the decision to part ways with the Assetz group and are no longer affiliated with them. Although they always operated separately from Assetz Capital, Housemartin is now an entirely independent P2P property investment platform. Regarding the name change, the company says:
“The name Housemartin reflects the company’s commitment to delivering robust, hassle-free, quality residential property investment opportunities that reward investors with monthly inflation-linked income. Just as the house martin bird is known for its sociability and adaptability, Housemartin aims to provide investors with an opportunity to pool funds with fellow investors to create much needed quality homes for people requiring support.”
Future Plans
In its new guise as Housemartin, the company has big plans for 2025 and further into the future. They intend to stick to their strategy of working with partners in the supported housing sector, including (for example) Golden Lane Housing, Lets For Life and Halo Housing. A typical current opportunity from the website is shown below.
Peter Read, the MD of Housemartin, points out that with interest rates currently falling, this makes the returns of around 7% they can typically offer investors increasingly attractive (and of course there is the potential for capital growth as well). He also points out that rentals are raised every year in line with inflation.
Housemartin are currently launching a fundraising round on the investment platform Crowdcube. They are looking to raise additional capital which will be used to help the company expand and improve its offering. Anyone is welcome to invest via Crowdcube, though as this is a share offer it’s almost certainly riskier than investing via the platform itself, with no clearly defined exit route. Personally I do not plan to invest in Housemartin this way, but you can find out more if you wish by registering on the Crowdcube site.
My Own Experience
I put an initial £100 into the platform in mid-February 2021 and another £400 in April. In June 2021 I added another £500, bringing my total investment up to £1,000.
Since I opened my account, my portfolio has generated a respectable £227.35 in revenue from rental income. Capital growth has slowed, though, in line with UK property values generally.
At the time of writing, 12 of ‘my’ properties are showing gains, 3 are breaking even, and the remaining 20 are showing losses. My portfolio of 35 properties is currently showing a net decrease in value of £62.22, meaning that overall (rental income minus capital value decrease) I am up by £165.13. That’s still a decent return on my £1,000 and does illustrate the value of P2P property investments for diversifying your portfolio. And it doesn’t hurt that with Assetz Exchange the projects are socially beneficial as well.
The overall fall in capital value of my AE investments is obviously a bit disappointing. But it’s important to remember that until/unless I choose to sell the investments in question, it is theoretical, based on the latest price at which shares in the property concerned have changed hands. The rental income, on the other hand, is real money (which in my case I’ve reinvested in other HM projects to further diversify my portfolio).
To control risk with all my property crowdfunding investments nowadays, I invest relatively modest amounts in individual projects. This is a particular attraction of HM as far as i am concerned. You can actually invest from as little as £1 per property if you really want to proceed cautiously.
As I noted in this blog post, Housemartin is particularly good if you want to compound your returns by reinvesting rental income. This effectively boosts the interest rate you are getting. Personally, once I have accrued a minimum of £10 in rental payments, I reinvest this money in either a new Housemartin project or one I have already invested in (thus increasing my holding). Over time, even if I don’t invest any more capital, this will ensure my investment with HM grows at an accelerating rate and becomes more diversified as well.
My investment on Housemartin is in the form of an IFISA so there won’t be any tax to pay on profits, dividends or capital gains. I’ve been impressed by my experiences with Housemartin and the returns generated so far, and intend to continue investing with them. If you wish you can also sign up for a no-obligation account on Housemartin directly via this link [affiliate]. Bear in mind that, as from this financial year (2024/25), you can open more than one IFISA per year so long as you don’t exceed your overall £20,000 ISA allowance.
Closing Thoughts
As I said earlier, I am a fan of Housemartin and have been investing with them for several years now. I have also spoken to their MD, Peter Read, on various occasions, and always found him open and honest.
My HM investments have performed well; and as far as I’m aware no investor has ever lost money through the platform. Obviously there are never any guarantees with investing – but if you like the idea of earning higher rates of interest than available from banks while helping vulnerable people secure a much-needed roof over their heads, Housemartin is certainly worth a look.
As always, if you have any queries about this blog post or Housemartin more generally, do leave a comment as usual.
Disclosure: As stated in this post, I am an investor with Housemartin and also an affiliate for them. If you click through my link and sign up, I may receive a commission for introducing you. This will not affect in any way the service you receive or the terms you are offered.
Please be aware also that I am not a professional financial adviser. You should always do your own ‘due diligence’ before investing and seek advice from a qualified adviser if in any doubt how best to proceed. All investing carries a risk of loss.
If you enjoyed this post, please link to it on your own blog or social media:
I have written about Plum a few times on Pounds and Sense. Today I am spotlighting their new Plum52-Week Saving Challenge. This is designed to help you set aside a handy lump sum of up to £1,378 in a year, while making the whole process as quick and easy as possible 🙂
Let’s start with the basics for those who may be new to Plum, though…
What is Plum?
Plum is a smart money app designed to help you automate setting money aside for any purpose – from holidays to major purchases or simply for a ‘rainy day’ fund. It uses AI to analyze your spending and then makes suggestions about saving and investing.
NOTE: Capital is at risk if you invest. The value of investments can go down as well as up.
Plum is one of a range of apps that make use of Open Banking. This allows third-party apps to access your financial information – as long as you provide the necessary authorization, of course – and perform certain transactions on your behalf (if you choose to set up a direct debit). Plum uses Open Banking to access your financial information with your authorization. Ensure you are comfortable with this before proceeding.
Plum offers three levels of account. These are the free Plum Basic and paid-for Pro and Premium.
The Basic account is (as stated) free of charges. Fees apply for Pro and Premium accounts. Plum Pro costs £2.99 a month and Premium costs £9.99 a month. The Pro and Premium accounts offer a wider range of features and higher interest rates in interest-bearing ‘Pockets’. It’s important to note that these are not traditional savings accounts. This is further discussed on the main Plum website.
The current challenge is specifically for people who have a Pro or Premium account
The 52-Week Saving Challenge
The Plum 52-Week Saving Challenge is designed to help you set aside up to £1.378 in one year. Here’s how it works.
You start by setting aside £1 in the first week. Then each week you add £1 more than the previous week. So in the second week, you set aside £2, in the third week £3, and so on.
Week 1: £1
Week 2: £2
Week 3: £3 . . .
Week 51: £51
Week 52: £52
By the end of the challenge year, you will have set aside a total of £1,378. Before you start you can check out a special calendar in the app that shows exactly how much money you’ll be setting aside each week.
How to Get Started
As mentioned above, holders of Plum Pro or Premium accounts have access to a built-in feature that makes the whole challenge as easy and painless as possible. Just follow these few simple steps below…
Open the Plum app and find the Brain.
Tap on the 52-week challenge to activate it.
You can turn it on or off like a light switch. Before you turn it on, you’ll be able to see the calendar mentioned above, which shows exactly how much money you’ll be saving each week.
Plum say that if they aren’t able to create a deposit for a specific week, the amount for that week won’t be skipped. They will deposit that amount the following week instead, so you won’t miss out.
Closing Thoughts
In my view the Plum 52-Week Savings Challenge represents a great opportunity to save a handy lump over a 12-month period. You could use this to pay for a well-deserved holiday or other one-off purchase, or even put it towards Christmas 2025!
Using the app automates the whole process, making it as quick and painless as possible. But of course you can switch it off any time if your circumstances change.
As always, if you have any comments or questions about this blog post, please do leave them below.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. If you click through any of my links and set up an account with Plum, I may receive a modest commission for introducing you. This will not affect in any way the terms you are offered.
Plum is the trading name of Plum Fintech Limited, which is registered with the FCA (FRN 836158) to carry out payment services activities as a Registered Account Information Service Provider, to carry out payment services activities. Plum is a distributor of Modulr FS Ltd and an agent of PayrNet Ltd for the purposes of the Plum Card. Modulr (FRN 900573) and PayrNet (FRN 900594) are regulated and authorised as Electronic Money Institutions by the FCA. Plum Money is the trading name of Saveable Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 739214) to carry out investment and credit broking services. T&Cs apply. Visitwww.withplum.com.
If you enjoyed this post, please link to it on your own blog or social media:
My guest post today concerns a subject none of us wants to think about, but one that can have huge financial (and other) ramifications, especially if not handled well.
Traditionally divorce lawyers see a peak in enquiries in January. Indeed, the first Monday in January is sometimes known as ‘Divorce Day’. This uptick may be partly to do with people putting off taking action till after the festive season is over. Nevertheless, divorce is undoubtedly a matter on the minds of many people at this time of year.
If – sadly – you find yourself in this position, my guest today, Simon Bassett, head of the family team at RWK Goodman, has put together some Dos and Don’ts to help ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible for you.
Over to Simon, then…
Dos and Don’ts for Divorce in 2025
Dos
Focus on your long-term goal – your happiness and the children’s happiness.
Build a support network – divorce can be a daunting process so build a support network of trusted family members and friends and consider using a therapist or divorce coach – we find that our clients who have good support make better decisions and are less likely to procrastinate.
Choose your solicitor carefully – like any working relationship, you need find someone you can work with and build a rapport with. Seek recommendations from friends and colleagues and if the fit doesn’t feel right, find another.
Try and keep the divorce amicable and out of court by using non-court methods such as mediation. Not only will this be better for your children and your own emotional health, it will also save you money in legal fees and speed up the process.
Sort out your paperwork – if you have your finances in order, e.g. details of all your expenditure, income and pensions, this will save you masses in divorce fees.
Be grateful for what you had – the end of a relationship should not be viewed as a failure. Some relationships simply run their course, so be grateful for what you had, e.g. there were many years of good times, and what the marriage produced, the children.
Don’ts
If you are certain your marriage has come to an end, don’t delay taking action. Things may get messy, but they will get better!
Look back and obsess about what went wrong.
Compare your divorce to other people’s – every divorce is different.
Don’t ignore your solicitor – if they recommend something, it will be based on many years’ experience and the advice will be specific to you and designed to achieve the best possible outcome.
Don’t email your solicitor every time you have a heated exchange with your ex!
Don’t be greedy – the courts take a very dim view of people who exaggerate what they may need post-divorce.
No matter how tiresome your ex is, don’t ever be negative about him/her in front of the children. Remember that you are your children’s role model.
Simon Bassett is the head of the family team at RWK Goodman and has over 30 years’ experience advising clients on divorce and other family law issues.
Many thanks to Simon for his valuable advice. Although I’ve not been in this situation myself, I have friends and relatives who have. From what I have seen, the process is far less stressful for all concerned if matters can be conducted in a civilized – and even amicable – way.
You can contact Simon and his colleagues at RWK Goodman via their website. They have offices in London, Bath, Oxford, Swindon, Bristol, Marlborough and Thame.
As always, if you have any comments or queries about this post, please do leave them below.
If you enjoyed this post, please link to it on your own blog or social media:
For many of us 2024 was another difficult year, with a cost-of-living crisis driven especially by rising gas and electricity costs.
With the festive season behind us now and the worst months of the winter still (probably) to come, many of us are understandably desperate for something to look forward to in the year ahead.
Some will be planning to head abroad in search of sunnier climes. But others may be deterred by the cost of going overseas and the additional hassles it may entail.
So today I thought I’d share links to my blog posts about some UK holiday destinations I’ve visited in the last few years, in case you wish to consider them for short breaks – or longer – in the year ahead. Clicking on any of the links below will open my post about the place concerned in a new tab, so you won’t have to keep clicking the Back button to return here.
Llandudno in North Wales is somewhere I have been visiting regularly for over ten years now. It’s a traditional British seaside resort with a long pier, Punch and Judy show, sweeping promenade, and plenty more (you can see the stunning Victorian seafront in the cover image). It’s very popular with both older people and young families. As well as my main review, my October 2020 Coronavirus Crisis Experience Update includes details of a short break I enjoyed there just before the Welsh government imposed another lockdown 😮
Minehead is a North Somerset coastal town. I enjoyed a short break there in 2020 as well, at a time when lockdown rules were relaxed. It was my first visit to Minehead and I particularly enjoyed visiting the National Trust property Dunster Castle, which is just a couple of miles down the road. Sadly the West Somerset Railway which starts (or ends) in Minehead was closed due to the pandemic when I went, but I’d love to go back for a trip on this heritage steam railway sometime in the future.
Aberystwyth is in mid-Wales on the Cardigan Bay coast. I have visited it three times now, the first two staying at the Marine Hotel and the most recent at a self-catering apartment called Sea Brin. Aberystwyth is quieter and less commercialized than Llandudno (mentioned above), and the fact it’s a university town means it has quite a cosmopolitan feeling. It’s a good place to chill out, but there are plenty of interesting things to see and do as well.
I visited Aberdovey for the first time in April 2023. It’s a small town on the mid-Wales coast. It’s about ten miles north of Aberystwyth and five miles south of Tywyn, the home of the Talyllyn Railway (see below). It’s a charming, laid-back place, perfect for a relaxing short break. It has a beautiful beach (with watersports for those who want them) and some great cafes and restaurants. I wouldn’t go there for the night-life, though – even the chip shop closes at 8 pm!
I had a particular reason to visit Hewenden MIll Cottages, as my sister Liz and her family live just a couple of miles down the road in Wilsden. Even if I didn’t have family connections, though, I would definitely recommend them for a short break. The accommodation consists of a converted mill and a number of former workers’ cottages, all in a beautiful woodland setting. The apartments and cottages are spacious and well equipped. From here you can visit Haworth – home of the Bronte sisters – and the Victorian model village of Saltaire. The area is also great for walking and cycling.
I went back to Hewenden Mill in October 2021 for a family reunion. I stayed in a cottage on the main site (picture below). I went for a long weekend but ended up staying almost a week. This was from necessity rather than choice, as the petrol crisis struck and I was unable to buy fuel to get home. The management at Hewenden were wonderful, though, and said I could stay on as long as I needed for no further charge. I therefore recommend them even more highly now!
The Aberdunant Hall Holiday Park and Hotel (to give it its full name) is about four miles from the North Wales coastal town of Porthmadog You can stay in the hotel itself (which is quite compact) or in accommodation around the park. I stayed in what they call a Forest Pod, which is roughly the equivalent of half a caravan. It was okay for a short break but if you went as a couple the cramped conditions could put a strain on your relationship! If I went again I would book a room in the hotel or maybe one of the Woodland Escape Suites in the park. I still enjoyed my stay there, and found the location convenient for visiting a range of places including Portmeirion (where the sixties TV series The Prisoner was filmed) and the Ffestiniog Railway, which runs from Porthmadog to Baenau Ffestiniog. It’s also on the edge of Snowdonia, with lots of opportunities for walking and mountain climbing.
Lake Vyrnwy is a few miles over the border from Shropshire into Wales. I went there in 2019 after watching a TV show about the history of this artificial lake, which was originally created to provide a water supply for the people of Liverpool in the 19th century (it’s now naturalised and if you weren’t aware of its history you wouldn’t know it was man-made). I stayed at the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and Spa, which is near the dam at the western end of the lake. This was originally built to accommodate senior managers and engineers on the construction project, though it has of course been extended and modernised many times since. If you want to visit Lake Vyrnwy, it’s the best (possibly the only) option. I happened to choose a bitterly cold weekend just before Easter for my visit, which spoiled it a bit. Still, I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and some great walks. It’s probably not a place to take children, however, as there might not be enough for them to do.
The Talyllyn Railway (also mentioned under Aberdovey) is a heritage steam railway in Wales. It starts in the town of Tywyn in mid-Wales, so in October 2018 I booked a short break there. To be honest there isn’t a great deal else to do in Tywyn, but it makes a good base for a day on the railway. And the railway itself takes you through some stunningly beautiful countryside. If you buy one of their very reasonably priced Day Rover tickets, you can get on and off at any station along the route. I highly recommend an hour or two at Dolgoch, which has some great walks and lovely waterfalls.
Warner Leisure Hotels have 16 country and coastal resort hotels across England and Wales. They have a strict adults-only policy, and appeal mainly to an older clientele (based on my experience, the average age is around seventy). As well as accommodation they offer a variety of leisure activities, including day trips, quizzes, guided walks, archery and bowls, social dancing, swimming, and so on. Most of these activities are included in the price, as is the evening entertainment. I have stayed at Bodelwyddan Castle in North Wales and Alvaston Hall in Cheshire. Some aspects I liked, others I wasn’t so keen on, as you can read in my review. You can also see their latest offers by clicking on the banner ad below [affiliate].
About four years ago I took a short break in the English Lake District. I stayed at the Waterhead Hotel, just south of Ambleside, at the north end of Lake Windermere (England’s largest lake). The hotel is located literally a few yards from the lake (hence the name, of course). If you haven’t visited the Lake District before, the area should definitely be on your ‘To Do’ list. There are many miles of beautiful countryside to explore, along with attractions such as Beatrix Potter’s house and Wray Castle. And, of course, you must buy a day ticket for the Windermere lake steamers. You can travel the length of the lake in style on these vessels, while sipping a hot chocolate (or something stronger) and listening to commentary on the scenery passing alongside. Highly recommended 🙂
I visited the Isle of Man for the first time in April 2024, staying in the island capital Douglas. I went on a heritage-railway-themed break offered by Newmarket Holidays. So naturally I had trips on the Isle of Man Steam Railway and also the Manx Electric Railway. The latter takes you from Douglas to Laxey and onward to Ramsey. Laxey is the home of the iconic Lady Isabella waterwheel, the largest working waterwheel in the world. The IOM is about the same latitude as Liverpool so obviously the weather can be variable, but I was lucky enough to get wall-to-wall sunshine during my stay. I flew to the island from Birmingham Airport which took about 45 minutes, but you can also get a ferry from Heysham or Liverpool. The Isle of Man is charming and verdant, and largely unspoiled. Definitely worth considering if you’re looking for something a little bit different for a short (or longer) holiday.
I visited Lanbedrog for the first time in July 2021. It’s a village on the Llyn (or Lleyn) Peninsula in NW Wales. I stayed at an Airbnb property, the first time I had done this (Llanbedrog doesn’t have any hotels as far as I know). It’s by the coast, roughly half way between Pwllheli (famed for its Butlins camp, now run by Haven Holidays) and trendy Abersoch. It has a beautiful sandy beach which would be perfect for families with young children (or grandchildren). I very much enjoyed my three-night stay and found it a perfect place to relax and chill out after months of lockdown. The National Trust mansion (and garden) Plas yn Rhiw is about seven miles away.
I stayed in Criccieth in North Wales for the first time in June 2022, although I have visited the town in the past. It is a lovely place to relax and chill out. It has excellent road and rail connections, and there are also some high-quality tourist attractions nearby, including Portmeirion and the Ffestiniog Railway. Criccieth itself is best known for its castle which dominates the town. Although it’s a ruin, many of the walls are still standing and you can enjoy some amazing views across the bay, as far as Harlech Castle and beyond.
I visited Lavenham in Suffolk for the first time in August 2022. It is said to be England’s best-preserved medieval town, with over 300 listed, timber-framed houses. There are various historic buildings such as the Guildhall and Little Hall you can look around. Lavenham also boasts a variety of highly rated pubs and restaurants, and some lovely tea rooms and coffee houses as well! 🍮
Barmouth is a traditional Welsh seaside resort about ten miles south of Harlech. I visited in September 2022, staying at an elegant Victorian Gothic hotel called Tyr Graig Castle. Barmouth has a clean, attractive promenade and beautiful sandy beach which goes out a long way. There is plenty to do for families, including a funfair and amusement arcades. There are various restaurants and fast food outlets along the seafront. There is also a railway station with regular trains to Pwllheli in one direction and Aberystwyth and beyond in the other. Nearby attractions include Harlech Castle, Portmeirion and the Fairbourne miniature steam railway 🚂
I visited the historic city of Bath in June 2023. There is lots to see and do, although top of many people’s lists will be the stunning Roman Baths. Bath Abbey is well worth a look too, and you can admire the beautiful Georgian architecture around the city for free! Read my top tips for anyone visiting Bath in this post, including the excellent self-catering accommodation I stayed at.
Other Resources
Here are links to a few other blog posts that may be of interest if you are planning a UK holiday this year…
In recent years Airbnb has become increasingly popular for self-catering holidays. You can book anything from a spare room in someone’s home to a whole house or apartment. My recent short breaks in Lavenham and Llanbedrog (see list above) were in Airbnb properties. You can read all about the booking process in my post.
Finding a cashpoint in an unfamiliar town (or village) can be challenging, so you might find this free app a useful resource to download. It has helped me avoid embarrassment on several occasions.
If your thoughts are turning further afield, you may be considering a cruise holiday as an option. Even if you can’t go abroad, I can testify from personal experience that a cruise of the British Isles (like these, perhaps) can be very enjoyable and enlightening. My blog post sets out a range of tips and advice that will be particularly relevant for first-time and solo cruisers.
Finally, coach holidays are another very popular option among older people especially. I don’t have much experience of this myself, but my friends at Over 60s Discounts have a great article about coach holidays for over-60s in the UK. This includes a list of popular UK destinations and details of several companies offering low-cost coach holidays.
Closing Thoughts
I hope you have enjoyed reading this post and it has given you a some ideas for UK holidays.
Obviously I am a 60-something male and nowadays usually travel on my own. So if your circumstances are different from mine, I understand that some of the destinations mentioned above might not hold as much appeal. In addition, I live in Staffordshire, so the places I go are all reasonably accessible from there.
Finally – as I noticed when reading back my list – I do have a bit of a penchant for places with heritage steam railways nearby, so please bear that in mind as well 😀
Of course, I’d love to hear your views about any of the destinations mentioned, or any other places in the UK you would recommend for a short break or longer holiday. Please leave any comments or questions below as usual.
Note: This is a fully revised update of an annual post.
I’ll begin as usual with my Nutmeg Stocks and Shares ISA. This is the largest investment I hold other than my Bestinvest SIPP (personal pension).
As the screenshot below for the year to date shows, my main Nutmeg portfolio is currently valued at £25,513. Last month it stood at £25,822, so that is a fall of £309.
Apart from my main portfolio, I also have a second, smaller pot using Nutmeg’s Smart Alpha option. This is now worth £4,103 compared with £4,157 a month ago, a fall of £54. Here is a screen capture showing performance over the year to date.
Finally, at the start of December 2023 I invested £500 in one of Nutmeg’s new thematic portfolios (Resource Transformation). In March I also invested a further £200 from referral bonuses. As you can see from the YTD screen capture below, this portfolio is now worth £798 (rounded up) compared with £818 last month, a fall of £20.
As you will note, following a very good month in November, December saw the value of my Nutmeg investments fall back somewhat. Their overall value dropped by £383 or 1.24% since the start of December. Sadly there was no sign of a Santa rally this year…
Overall, 2024 has still been a good year for my Nutmeg investments though. They are up in value by £4,098 or 15.57% since January 1st 2024.
You can read my full Nutmeg review here. If you are looking for a home for your annual ISA allowance, based on my overall experience over the last eight years, they are certainly worth considering. They offer self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs), Lifetime ISAs and Junior ISAs as well.
Moving on, I also have investments with P2P property investment platform Assetz Exchange. This has now renamed itself as Housemartin. There have been a few other changes as well, so I shall be writing a separate blog post about this soon.
My investments with Housemartin continue to generate steady returns. Housemartin focuses on lower-risk properties (e.g. sheltered housing). I put an initial £100 into this in mid-February 2021 and another £400 in April. In June 2021 I added another £500, bringing my total investment up to £1,000.
Since I opened my account, my HM portfolio has generated a respectable £225.17 in revenue from rental income. Capital growth has slowed, though, in line with UK property values generally.
At the time of writing, 14 of ‘my’ properties are showing gains, 2 are breaking even, and the remaining 18 are showing losses. My portfolio of 34 properties is currently showing a net decrease in value of £48.60, meaning that overall (rental income minus capital value decrease) I am up by £176.57. That’s still a decent return on my £1,000 and does illustrate the value of P2P property investments for diversifying your portfolio. And it doesn’t hurt that with Housemartin most projects are socially beneficial as well.
The overall fall in capital value of my Housemartin investments is obviously a little disappointing. But it’s important to remember that until/unless I choose to sell the investments in question, it is largely theoretical, based on the latest price at which shares in the property concerned have changed hands. The rental income, on the other hand, is real money (which in my case I’ve reinvested in other HM projects to further diversify my portfolio).
To control risk with all my property crowdfunding investments nowadays, I invest relatively modest amounts in individual projects. This is a particular attraction of Housemartin as far as i am concerned. You can actually invest from as little as 80p per property if you really want to proceed cautiously.
As I noted in this blog post, Housemartin is particularly good if you want to compound your returns by reinvesting rental income. This effectively boosts the interest rate you are receiving. Personally, once I have accrued a minimum of £10 in rental payments, I reinvest this money in either a new HM project or one I have already invested in (thus increasing my holding). Over time, even if I don’t invest any more capital, this will ensure my investment with Housemartin grows at an accelerating rate and becomes more diversified as well.
My investment on Housemartin is in the form of an IFISA so there won’t be any tax to pay on profits, dividends or capital gains. I’ve been impressed by my experiences with Housemartin and the returns generated so far, and intend to continue investing with them. You can read my full review of Assetz Exchange/Housemartin here. You can also sign up for an account directly via this link [affiliate]. Bear in mind that, as from this financial year (2024/25), you can open more than one IFISA per year.
In 2022 I set up an account with investment and trading platform eToro, using their popular ‘copy trader’ facility. I chose to invest $500 (then about £412) copying an experienced eToro trader called Aukie2008 (real name Mike Moest).
In January 2023 I added to this with another $500 investment in one of their thematic portfolios, Oil Worldwide. I also invested a small amount I had left over in Tesla shares.
As you can see from the screen captures below, my original investment totalling $1,022.26 is today worth $1,289.44, an overall increase of $266.98 or 26.14%.
As you can see, my Oil WorldWide investment is showing a modest profit of 5.32%. That’s a bit underwhelming but the portfolio has just been rebalanced by eToro, so hopefully that will improve its performance going forward. The investment team at eToro periodically rebalance all smart portfolios to ensure that the mix of investments remains aligned with the portfolio’s goals, and to take advantage of any new opportunities that may present themselves.
My copy trading investment with Aukie2008 has been doing better, with an overall 23.92% profit. To be fair, I have held the latter investment a bit longer.
My Tesla shares, which I bought as an afterthought with a bit of spare cash I had in my account, have done particularly well in recent weeks. If only I had put a bit more money into this!
You might also notice that I have small holdings in Prosus NV, a Dutch internet group, and South Bow, a Canadian energy infrastructure company. To be honest I don’t understand how I acquired these, but I assume they are some sort of bonus I have been awarded. In any event, I am happy to have them in my portfolio!
eToro also offer the free eToro Money app. This allows you to deposit money to your eToro account without paying any currency conversion fees, saving you up to £5 for every £1,000 you deposit. You can also use the app to withdraw funds from your eToro account instantly to your bank account. I tried this myself and was impressed with how quickly and seamlessly it worked. You can read my blog post about eToro Money here. Note that it can also serve as a cryptocurrency wallet, allowing you to send and receive crypto from any other wallet address in the world.
I had two more articles published in December on the excellent Mouthy Money website. The first is How to Save Money on Rail Fares With Split Ticketing. In this article I discussed a money-saving hack called ‘split ticketing’ that savvy travellers can use to reduce their fare costs, often by a substantial amount. Split ticketing involves breaking a journey into two or more smaller segments, purchasing separate tickets for each segment rather than one through-ticket. In my article I discussed how to apply this method and revealed my favourite split-ticketing app.
Also in December Mouthy Money published my article How to Check and Improve Your Credit Score. In this article I shone a spotlight on a vital aspect of our financial health. Your credit score affects everything from loan approvals to mortgage rates. It’s a measure of how reliably you handle credit and debt, and lenders use it to assess risk. My article reveals everything you need to understand, check and improve your credit score.
As I’ve said before, Mouthy Money is a great resource for anyone interested in money-making and money-saving. If you haven’t checked it out yet, why not get the new year off to a good start by visiting their website. Besides a wide range of interesting articles by me and other writers, currently you can enter a free competition to win one of five copies of How to Retire by Christine Benz.
I also published several posts on Pounds and Sense in December. Some are no longer relevant, but I have listed the others below.
With flu and other seasonal viruses (although not Covid) currently surging, in Stay Healthy This Winter: The Best Supplements for Cold and Flu Season I set out eight of the best supplements to support your immune system during the colder months. This post was researched and written with the assistance of AI (ChatGPT).
And in My Top Twenty Posts of 2024 I listed the top twenty posts on Pounds and Sense in 2024, based on comments, page-views and social media shares (excluding any posts that are no longer relevant). I hope you will enjoy revisiting these posts, or seeing them for the first time if you are new to PAS.
Lastly, a reminder that you can also follow Pounds and Sense on Facebook or Twitter (or X as we have to call it now). Twitter/X is my number one social media platform and I post regularly there. I share the latest news and information on financial matters, and other things that interest, amuse or concern me. So if you aren’t following my PAS account on Twitter/X, you are definitely missing out.
I have also just joined the new BlueSky social media network. My username there is poundsandsense.bsky.social. For the time being at least, Twitter/X will remain my main social media platform, but I will also post details of my latest blog posts, third-party articles and other financial news and resources on BlueSky for those who prefer to follow me there.
That’s all for today. Once again, I should like to wish you a very happy and prosperous new year. As always, if you have any comments or questions, feel free to leave them below. I am always delighted to hear from PAS readers
Disclaimer: I am not a qualified financial adviser and nothing in this blog post should be construed as personal financial advice. Everyone should do their own ‘due diligence’ before investing and seek professional advice if in any doubt how best to proceed. All investing carries a risk of loss.
Note also that posts on PAS may include affiliate links. If you click through and perform a qualifying transaction, I may receive a commission for introducing you. This will not affect the product or service you receive or the terms you are offered, but it does help support me in publishing PAS and paying my bills. Thank you!
If you enjoyed this post, please link to it on your own blog or social media:
Right now – as you can see on the official UKHSA website – flu and other respiratory viruses (though not Covid) are soaring.
Of course, winter often brings a surge in colds, flu and other seasonal illnesses. But while not unexpected, these infections can be a nuisance at least. And – in the case of older people especially – they can sometimes be life-threatening.
While a balanced diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep remain the cornerstones of good health, certain supplements can provide an extra layer of protection. Here’s a guide to the best supplements to support your immune system during the colder months.
1. Vitamin D
Why it’s essential: With limited sunlight during UK winters, many people experience a drop in their vitamin D levels. This nutrient plays a crucial role in immune function and helps reduce the risk of respiratory infections.
How to take it: Public Health England recommends everyone consider a daily supplement of 10 micrograms (400 IU) of vitamin D during the autumn and winter months. Higher doses may be necessary for those with deficiencies, but consult a healthcare professional first.
2. Vitamin C
Why it’s essential: Vitamin C is known for its immune-boosting properties and its ability to reduce the duration and severity of colds. It’s also a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage.
How to take it: A daily dose of 500–1,000 mg is generally safe for most people. You can also pair supplementation with dietary sources like oranges, kiwi fruit and bell peppers.
3. Zinc
Why it’s essential: Zinc is vital for immune cell function and has been shown to shorten the duration of cold symptoms when taken early. It also helps your body fight off viruses more effectively.
How to take it: Lozenges containing 10–15 mg of zinc can be taken at the onset of a cold. Long-term supplementation should not exceed 25 mg daily unless advised by a healthcare professional.
4. Probiotics
Why it’s essential: A healthy gut microbiome supports immune function, and probiotics help maintain this balance. Some strains, like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, are particularly effective in reducing the risk of upper respiratory tract infections.
How to take it: Look for a high-quality probiotic supplement with at least 1 billion CFUs (colony-forming units). Yogurt and fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut can also be excellent natural sources.
5. Elderberry Extract
Why it’s essential: Elderberries have been traditionally used to fight colds and flu. They are rich in antioxidants and may reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.
How to take it: Elderberry syrup or capsules are common forms. Follow the recommended dosage on the product label, and avoid taking it if you have an autoimmune condition without consulting a doctor.
6. Echinacea
Why it’s essential: Echinacea is a popular herbal remedy that may help prevent and reduce the severity of colds by boosting immune activity.
How to take it: Look for standardised extracts and follow the manufacturer’s dosage guidelines. Echinacea is best taken at the first sign of illness.
7. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Why it’s essential: Omega-3s, particularly EPA and DHA found in fish oil, have anti-inflammatory properties that support immune function and overall health.
How to take it: Aim for 250–500 mg of combined EPA and DHA daily. Vegetarian or vegan options include algae-based supplements.
8. Garlic Supplements
Why it’s essential: Garlic contains allicin, a compound with antimicrobial and immune-boosting properties. Regular garlic intake has been associated with fewer colds and flu.
How to take it: Opt for aged garlic extract supplements or incorporate fresh garlic into your diet for the best benefits.
Final Tips
Consult a GP or pharmacist: Always check with a healthcare professional before starting new supplements, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing or on medication.
Choose quality brands: Look for products that are third-party tested for purity and potency. A wide range of supplements and vitamins is available from Amazon.
Maintain healthy habits: Supplements work best when combined with a balanced diet, regular exercise, good hygiene and adequate sleep.
By supporting your immune system with the right supplements, you can give yourself a better chance of staying healthy this cold and flu season.
This blog post was created with the aid of AI.
If you enjoyed this post, please link to it on your own blog or social media:
As is customary for bloggers at this time of year, here are the top twenty posts on Pounds and Sense in 2024, based on comments, page-views and social media shares. They are in no particular order. I have excluded any posts that are no longer relevant.
I hope you will enjoy revisiting these posts, or seeing them for the first time if you are new to PAS.
All posts in the list below should open in a new tab/window when you click on the link concerned.
Thank you for being a valued Pounds and Sense reader. Just a reminder that you can get notifications every time the blog is updated via the Subscribe box on the right (or scroll down on mobile devices). You can also follow PAS on X/Twitter and Facebook and now on BlueSky as well 🙂
If you have any comments or questions about this post, of course, feel free to leave them below as usual.
If you enjoyed this post, please link to it on your own blog or social media:
Christmas is coming, so here’s a chance to make it extra special for one lucky winner!
I’ve joined forces with some of my fellow UK bloggers in this festive mega-giveaway with prizes valued at over£500 in total.
Entering the giveaway is free of charge and full instructions can be found below. There are multiple ways to enter, and the more you do, the better your chances of winning. You may also like to use the prize list as a source of ideas for Christmas gifts.
Note that where an entry requires following a social media account, you will need to continue following this account until the winner has been drawn after the closing date of 22 December 2024. Before the winner is announced the organisers will check that they are still following the account in question. If not, they will be disqualified and another winner drawn.
This giveaway has been organised by my fellow blogger Rowena Becker, who blogs at My Balancing Act. Please check out her blog and those of the other talented bloggers taking part (listed below). And read on for full details from Rowena of all the prizes on offer and how you could win this mammoth bundle!
The Bloggers Mega Christmas Giveaway!
Win Big This Christmas! Some of the UK’s top bloggers have come together to offer one lucky winner a collection of incredible prizes that are sure to bring smiles to every face in your household.
From thoughtful treats to exciting surprises, this bundle has everything you need to make this Christmas extra special. Entering couldn’t be easier—simply head over to our Rafflecopter link at the bottom of this post for multiple chances to win.
Don’t miss out—this could be the perfect way to surprise and delight the whole family!
This giveaway is open to over 18 only and age verification will be required. The winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Terms and conditions apply.
The Bloggers
In order to be able to bring you this incredible giveaway, some of the UK’s top bloggers got together. A massive thank you to our bloggers! The bloggers taking part are:
The Perfect Gift for Foodies: FinaMill Rechargeable Gift Set
Upgrade your loved ones’ cooking game with the festive FinaMill Rechargeable Gift Set. This set not only adds a pop of colour to any kitchen in its Sangria shade, but it also takes cooking to the next level with its innovative design and features. Whether you’re shopping for experienced chefs or kitchen newbies, this gift set is sure to impress.
The rechargeable grinder allows for fast charging and has a long-lasting battery, making it the perfect addition to any busy kitchen. And with its eco-friendly design, you can feel good about reducing your carbon footprint while cooking up delicious meals.
Not only does the gift set come with the FinaMill grinder, it also includes 3 different types of FinaPods: 2 FinaPod Pro Plus for everyday spices and 1 FinaPod MAX for larger spices and dried herbs. With a sleek and modern tray exclusive to this gift set, your loved ones will have all the tools they need to elevate their dishes in one convenient package.
As well as being a practical and unique present, this will also show your loved ones how much you care about their passion for food. Don’t wait—enter our giveaway now!
Ocoopa HotPal PD Quick Charge Rechargeable Hand Warmer
The Ocoopa HotPal PD Rechargeable Hand Warmer is the perfect addition to our prize bundle, making it an ideal gift for anyone who loves spending time outdoors during the colder months. This hand warmer not only keeps your hands warm and toasty during chilly morning hikes or outdoor activities, but it also has adjustable heat options so you can customise the warmth level to suit your needs.
But that’s not all! The Ocoopa HotPal PD Hand Warmer also serves as a backup portable charger using the PD protocol, making it a convenient and versatile gadget to have on hand. It can charge various devices such as lights, earbuds, and smartphones – with lightning-fast speed. In fact, it can charge an iPhone to 50% in just 30 minutes, perfect for those who are always on-the-go. This means you’ll never have to worry about your devices running out of juice during your outdoor adventures.
So whether you’re gifting this hand warmer to a friend or family member who loves camping, hiking, or simply enjoys being outdoors, or even treating yourself to one, the Ocoopa HotPal PD Rechargeable Hand Warmer is a must-have accessory for any winter adventure. Don’t miss your chance to win this amazing prize and make someone’s Christmas extra warm and special with our ultimate giveaway bundle!
Opinel Cheese Knife & Fork Set
Looking for a unique and practical gift for the foodie in your life? Look no further than the Opinel Cheese Knife & Fork Set. This set is not only stylish and beautifully designed, but also functional for any cheese lover.
Opinel, known for their iconic French design and quality craftsmanship, brings their expertise to this must-have set for any cheese plate or charcuterie platter. Made from sustainably harvested European wood, the beechwood handles add a touch of elegance to the knife and fork.
But don’t let the sleek design fool you, these tools are made to last. The stainless steel blade of the knife is sharp, durable, and easy to maintain, ensuring that it will be a staple in any cheese lover’s kitchen for years to come. Plus, the fork serves a dual purpose as a holder for the knife and for easily serving slices from the platter.
This set is not only perfect for holiday gatherings and dinner parties, but also makes a great gift for any occasion. Give the gift of style and functionality with Opinel’s Cheese Knife & Fork Set this Christmas!
Opinel Art Deco 4pc Kitchen Knife Set
The Opinel Art Deco 4pc Kitchen Knife Set is the perfect addition to our prize bundle this Christmas. With its simple, versatile and efficient design, these knives make everyday cooking much easier. The set includes four high-quality knives with unique and stylish designs that are sure to impress any recipient.
Each knife in the set has a Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel blade with a high carbon content, ensuring excellent cutting quality and resistance to corrosion. The handles are made from tinted hornbeam and covered in a protective varnish, making them resistant to water for long-lasting use.
The set contains four essential kitchen knives: No.112 Paring knife in purple, No.113 Serrated knife in soft grey, No.114 Vegetable Knife in emerald green and No.115 Peeler in white. These knives are perfect for various tasks such as peeling, slicing, and dicing fruits and vegetables, cutting bread or meat, and even preparing sushi.
The Opinel Art Deco 4pc Kitchen Knife Set is not only practical but also adds a touch of elegance to any kitchen with its Art Deco design. It’s an ideal gift for anyone who loves to cook or wants to upgrade their kitchen essentials.
Note: Age verification will be required for all prize winners. Open to UK residents over 18 only.
The Perfect Gift for Coffee Lovers: RISE 26oz Tumbler by Klean Kanteen
As part of our amazing Christmas prize bundle, we are excited to offer the RISE 26 oz tumbler with flip lid in Sea Spray. This sleek and stylish tumbler is not only a great addition to any coffee lover’s collection, but also an eco-friendly choice.
Made from certified 90% post-consumer recycled stainless steel, this durable tumbler is perfect for enjoying hot or cold drinks on the go. Its Climate Lock™ insulation keeps drinks at the desired temperature for hours, making it ideal for busy mornings or long commutes.
Christmas Negroni Cocktail Prize Pack
Are you looking for a sophisticated and festive cocktail to add to your Christmas celebrations? Look no further than the Award-Winning Christmas Negroni, crafted by Bottle Bar and Shop.
This twist on the classic Negroni is perfectly balanced with warm seasonal spices and premium ingredients, providing an effortless way to indulge in the holiday spirit. Whether you’re hosting a festive gathering or enjoying a cosy night in, this Christmas Negroni will elevate your experience with its rich flavours and festive flair.
Enter now for a chance to win this as part of our prize bundle. Please note that this prize is only available for those who are 18 years or older. Cheers to the holiday season with our Christmas Negroni Cocktail Prize Pack! Disclaimer: Must be 18 years or over to enter.
Disney Stitch Drink Flask from Thermos
Looking for a practical and fun gift for the little ones in your life? Look no further than the Direct Drink Flask 470ml Disney Stitch Signature from Thermos. This flask not only features cute images of everyone’s favourite mischievous alien, Stitch, but also keeps drinks hot for up to 10 hours and cold for up to 24 hours.
Whether they’re off on an adventure or just need a cool drink at school, this direct drink flask is perfect for kids (or adults!) who love Disney and staying hydrated. And with its durable design and reliable insulation, it’s sure to be a gift that will last beyond the holiday season.
Brainstorm Toys Outdoor Adventure Metal Detector
As part of our Christmas prize bundle, we are excited to offer the Brainstorm Toys Outdoor Adventure Metal Detector. This fun and innovative STEM toy is perfect for young detectorists who love to explore and discover hidden treasures. With its easy-to-use design and light and sound alerts, kids will be entertained for hours as they search for buried gems and coins. Not only does this gift encourage curiosity, but it also provides an exciting outdoor activity that will keep kids active and engaged during the holiday season. Lightweight and versatile, the Brainstorm Toys can be used in handheld mode or attached to a pole for an even more thrilling treasure hunt experience. Don’t miss your chance to win this amazing gift for the little ones in your life!
Doll Smash Glass Lip Oil: The Ultimate Hydration and Shine for Her Lips
This Christmas, give the gift of hydrated and shiny lips with Doll Smash Glass Lip Oil. Its lightweight, vegan formula is perfect for anyone looking for a quick and easy way to add some moisture to their lips. Say goodbye to sticky residue and hello to soft and supple lips with just one glide. With its instant boost of hydration and shine, this lip oil is the perfect addition to any winter skincare routine. So why not treat your loved ones (or yourself!) to beautifully moisturised lips this holiday season?
Age-Defyers Discovery Set from Evolve Organic Beauty
Looking for the perfect gift for her this holiday season? Look no further than the Age-Defyers Discovery Set from Evolve Organic Beauty. This giftable collection of 3 travel-sized skincare products is suitable for all skin types and is specifically designed to help smooth, plump, and give a younger-looking appearance.
Included in this set are 3 samples from Evolve’s award-winning range of organic skincare products, so you can try out some of their best-selling items before committing to full-sized versions. The Gentle Cleansing Melt (30ml) will leave her skin feeling clean and refreshed while the Peptide 360 Serum (10ml) and Multi Peptide 360 Anti-Ageing Cream (30ml) work together to tackle signs of aging. Plus, with the addition of 2 sachet samples, she can continue her journey to youthful skin even after the holidays are over.
Don’t miss out on this amazing gift that will give her the gift of beautiful, radiant skin this Christmas!
New Sprouts® Prep ‘n’ Store Kitchen Island from Learning Resources
As part of our amazing Christmas prize bundle, we are excited to offer the New Sprouts® Prep ‘n’ Store Kitchen Island from Learning Resources! This fantastic play kitchen island is perfect for your little chef to prepare and serve pretend play food and will provide hours of imaginative play. With two rolling wheels on one side and a convenient handle on the other, it’s also easy to move around and store when not in use. Plus, with two storage shelves included, there’s plenty of space to store all kinds of play food—including the six pieces that come with the set! Let your child’s creativity and culinary skills shine this Christmas with the New Sprouts® Prep ‘n’ Store Kitchen Island from Learning Resources.
Numberblocks® Rainbow Counting Bus
The New Sprouts® Prep ‘n’ Store Kitchen Island is not the only exciting educational toy that we have included in our Christmas prize bundle. As part of our commitment to providing quality learning resources, we are also offering a Numberblocks® Rainbow Counting Bus from learning resources! This fun and educational toy is perfect for any young Numberblocks fan who loves imaginative play.
Get ready to embark on exciting adventures in Numberland with the included Seven figure as your driver. With 12 songs and sounds from the series, your child will have a blast counting along and exploring all the numbery features of the bus.
Take a peek at the hidden rainbow by opening the drop-down back, and count all the different colours together. Let this magical toy from Learning Resources be a part of your child’s Christmas celebrations and help them learn and grow while having tons of fun!
Pretend to Bee Postal Worker – 3-5 Years
This fun and interactive costume from Pretend to Bee is the perfect gift for children who love to play pretend and explore different occupations. With a sleeveless jacket, trousers, and post bag, kids can dress up and act out the role of a postal worker, gaining a better understanding of this important job in their community. Not only will they have hours of fun with imaginative play, but they’ll also learn valuable skills such as responsibility and teamwork. Plus, it’s machine washable for easy clean-up after all their adventures! A great addition to any child’s dress-up collection and a fantastic way to encourage creativity and social development. Get ready to deliver some letters this Christmas with the Pretend to Bee Postal Worker costume!
Little Brian Scribble Paint Sticks and Bath Paint Sticks
Add a splash of colour and creativity to your child’s Christmas with the Scribble Paint Sticks by Little Brian, included in our prize bundle! These innovative paint sticks allow kids to unleash their imagination and create intricate designs thanks to their finer tip. With 12 vibrant colours, these paint sticks bring any artwork to life in just under 60 seconds. And the best part? No more messy clean-up afterwards! Watch as your child explores their creativity on paper, card, wood, or glass without worrying about stains or spills.
But wait, there’s more! Also included in our prize bundle are the Bath Paint Sticks from Little Brian. These washable paint sticks make bath time even more fun and colourful as kids can create their own masterpieces on the bath tub or shower walls. With six vibrant colours that easily wash off with water, these paint sticks provide a mess-free and imaginative activity for children of all ages. Make bath time a creative experience this Christmas with the Little Brian Bath Paint Sticks! Don’t miss out on this perfect gift for budding artists this holiday season!
LittleLife Toddler Backpacks
LittleLife’s award-winning range of toddler backpacks come in a plethora of different colourful designs, giving your little ones the perfect amount of storage space this Christmas, whether that’s for their new toys or sweet treats!
What’s more, LittleLife’s toddler backpacks have a built-in safety rein to keep youngsters safe and within reach, whilst still giving them the freedom and independence to explore the outdoors and develop motor skills that are so important for children’s development.
Make festive family walks a cherished tradition, knowing your little ones are secure with LittleLife toddler backpacks!
Browse the LittleLife toddler backpack collection here
Start-Rite Party Shoes
Add some sparkle and fun to little feet this Christmas with Start-Rite’s versatile collection of children’s party shoes! You’ll find classic T-bar styles such as Lottie in Pink Leather and Puzzle in Navy Patent, and festive colours, such as Wiggle in Gold Glitter and Wonderland in Cherry Red Patent. The extensive collection of party shoes and boots from Start-Rite has something for everyone – perfect for family festivities this Christmas.
The FoldLite LX is the perfect solution for making family visits easier this Christmas! With a lightweight, one-of-a-kind fold, the FoldLite LX can be popped up and taken down with ease both home and away. Collapsing to only 26cm wide, you can swiftly tuck the cot into any nook around the house. When travelling, the FoldLite LX can go one step further, folding down even tinier for exceptional portability. Doubling as a playpen and featuring a removable infant bassinet, the FoldLite LX conveniently travels with the family throughout the festive period and beyond.
You can enter the Giveaway by completing as many Rafflecopter widget entry options below as you like. All entries will be collected, and one winner will be randomly chosen via Rafflecopter. Good luck!
The giveaway will run from 8 am 15th December 2024 to 11.45 pm 22nd December 2024.
Prize open to over 18s only. Age verification will be required.
The winners will be notified by email from rowena@mybalancingact.co.uk.
The winner will have 7 days to respond after which time we reserve the right to select an alternative winner.
This prize draw is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, BlogLovin or Pinterest or any other social media platform.
The prizes may not arrive in time for Christmas.
Some or all of the prizes may take a few weeks to arrive.If any prizes are out of stock then we will do our best to find a suitable replacement but cannot guarantee it.
Anyone who unfollows before the giveaway ends or doesn’t complete the required entry action will be disqualified.
The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for monetary value.
We may be using a parcel service or Royal Mail for some of the prizes and their standard compensation will apply in the event of loss or damage.
Some items may be sent directly by the supplier and we do not have responsibility if these go missing and we cannot replace them.
In the unlikely event that one of the companies withdraws a prize, we cannot offer an alternative.
The winner’s name will be stated on some or all of our blogger’s websites and announced on Twitter and other social media channels. It will also be displayed on the Rafflecopter entry form. By entering this prize draw, you give your permission for this.
Please note the winner may have the same name as you, so if you see your name displayed, be aware that you are not the winner unless you have been notified by us.
There may be some delays in receiving prizes.
Good luck, and I hope a Pounds and Sense reader wins this fabulous prize bundle!
NOTE: Posts on Pounds and Sense may include affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission for introducing you. This will not affect in any way the product or service you receive or the price you pay.
If you enjoyed this post, please link to it on your own blog or social media:
I’ll begin as usual with my Nutmeg Stocks and Shares ISA. This is the largest investment I hold other than my Bestinvest SIPP (personal pension).
As the screenshot below for the year to date shows, my main Nutmeg portfolio is currently valued at £25,822 (rounded up). Last month it stood at £24,799, so that is an impressive increase of £1,023.
Apart from my main portfolio, I also have a second, smaller pot using Nutmeg’s Smart Alpha option. This is now worth £4,157 compared with £3,988 a month ago, a rise of £169. Here is a screen capture showing performance over the year to date.
Finally, at the start of December 2023 I invested £500 in one of Nutmeg’s new thematic portfolios (Resource Transformation). In March I also invested a further £200 from referral bonuses. As you can see from the YTD screen capture below, this portfolio is now worth £818 (rounded up) compared with £789 last month, a rise of £29.
As you can see, November was a good month for my Nutmeg investments. The overall value has risen by £1,221 or 4.13% since the start of November. They are also up by £4,482 or 17.03% since the start of the year.
You can read my full Nutmeg review here. If you are looking for a home for your annual ISA allowance, based on my overall experience over the last eight years, they are certainly worth considering. They offer self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs), Lifetime ISAs and Junior ISAs as well.
Note that I am no longer an affiliate for Nutmeg. That means you won’t find any affiliate links in my review (or anywhere else on PAS). And you will no longer see the no-fees-for-six-months offer I used to promote as an affiliate. However, the better news is that you can still get six months free of any management fees by registering with Nutmeg via my Refer a Friend link. I will receive a gift voucher if you do this, which is duly appreciated
Don’t forget, also, that the current tax year began on 6 April 2024. Despite some predictions to the contrary, you still have a full £20,000 tax-free ISA allowance for 2024/25. As from this year, you can open any number of ISAs with different providers in the same tax year, as long as you don’t exceed your overall £20,000 allowance. So opening a stocks and shares ISA with Nutmeg won’t prevent you from also opening one with another S&S ISA provider (should you wish to) later in the financial year.
Moving on, I also have investments with P2P property investment platform Assetz Exchange. These continue to generate steady returns. Assetz Exchange focuses on lower-risk properties (e.g. sheltered housing). I put an initial £100 into this in mid-February 2021 and another £400 in April. In June 2021 I added another £500, bringing my total investment up to £1,000.
Since I opened my account, my AE portfolio has generated a respectable £220.04 in revenue from rental income. Capital growth has slowed, though, in line with UK property values generally.
At the time of writing, 12 of ‘my’ properties are showing gains, 4 are breaking even, and the remaining 18 are showing losses. My portfolio of 34 properties is currently showing a net decrease in value of £44.11, meaning that overall (rental income minus capital value decrease) I am up by £175.93. That’s still a decent return on my £1,000 and does illustrate the value of P2P property investments for diversifying your portfolio. And it doesn’t hurt that with Assetz Exchange most projects are socially beneficial as well.
The overall fall in capital value of my AE investments is obviously a little disappointing. But it’s important to remember that until/unless I choose to sell the investments in question, it is largely theoretical, based on the latest price at which shares in the property concerned have changed hands. The rental income, on the other hand, is real money (which in my case I’ve reinvested in other AE projects to further diversify my portfolio).
To control risk with all my property crowdfunding investments nowadays, I invest relatively modest amounts in individual projects. This is a particular attraction of AE as far as i am concerned. You can actually invest from as little as 80p per property if you really want to proceed cautiously.
As I noted in this blog post, Assetz Exchange is particularly good if you want to compound your returns by reinvesting rental income. This effectively boosts the interest rate you are receiving. Personally, once I have accrued a minimum of £10 in rental payments, I reinvest this money in either a new AE project or one I have already invested in (thus increasing my holding). Over time, even if I don’t invest any more capital, this will ensure my investment with AE grows at an accelerating rate and becomes more diversified as well.
My investment on Assetz Exchange is in the form of an IFISA so there won’t be any tax to pay on profits, dividends or capital gains. I’ve been impressed by my experiences with Assetz Exchange and the returns generated so far, and intend to continue investing with them. You can read my full review of Assetz Exchange here. You can also sign up for an account on Assetz Exchange directly via this link [affiliate]. Bear in mind that, as from this financial year (2024/25), you can open more than one IFISA per year.
In 2022 I set up an account with investment and trading platform eToro, using their popular ‘copy trader’ facility. I chose to invest $500 (then about £412) copying an experienced eToro trader called Aukie2008 (real name Mike Moest).
In January 2023 I added to this with another $500 investment in one of their thematic portfolios, Oil Worldwide. I also invested a small amount I had left over in Tesla shares.
As you can see from the screen captures below, my original investment totalling $1,022.26 is today worth $1,315.34, an overall increase of $293.08 or 28.67%.
As you can see, my Oil WorldWide investment is showing a respectable if not outstanding profit of 10.32%. My copy trading investment with Aukie2008 has been doing better, with an overall 25.95% profit. To be fair, I have held the latter investment a bit longer.
You might also notice that I have small holdings in Prosus NV, a Dutch internet group, and South Bow, a Canadian energy infrastructure company. To be honest I don’t understand how I acquired these, but I assume they are some sort of bonus I have been awarded. In any event, I am happy to have them in my portfolio!
eToro also offer the free eToro Money app. This allows you to deposit money to your eToro account without paying any currency conversion fees, saving you up to £5 for every £1,000 you deposit. You can also use the app to withdraw funds from your eToro account instantly to your bank account. I tried this myself and was impressed with how quickly and seamlessly it worked. You can read my blog post about eToro Money here. Note that it can also serve as a cryptocurrency wallet, allowing you to send and receive crypto from any other wallet address in the world.
I had two more articles published in November on the excellent Mouthy Money website. The first is Ten Ways to Boost Your Bank Balance in the Run-up to Christmas. As Christmas approaches, many of us are feeling the pinch, with the cost of gifts, food and festivities adding up. And that’s before you even factor in the cost of living crisis, tax increases, benefit cuts, and so on. So in this article I set out a variety of ways you may be able to boost your income in the weeks leading up to the big day.
Also in November Mouthy Money published my article Get Fit, Make Money – How to Profit from Fitness Apps. In this article I revealed a variety of methods by which you may be able to get fit and boost your bank balance at the same time.
As I’ve said before, Mouthy Money is a great resource for anyone interested in money-making and money-saving. From the range of articles published in November, I particularly enjoyed this guide to saving money by selling stuff on eBay and other websites by regular MM contributor Shoestring Jane. Jane writes mainly about money saving and frugal living. You can see all of her articles for Mouthy Money via this web page.
I also published (or republished) several posts on Pounds and Sense in November. Some are no longer relevant, but I have listed the others below.
In Update on my eToro Virtual Portfolio, I brought readers up to date with how my eToro VP has been doing and discussed what lessons could be learned from it. As I say in the article, anyone joining the eToro trading and investing platform automatically gets a $100,000 virtual portfolio in which they can experiment with different investing styles and strategies. I found it very interesting to revisit my VP a year on. I was pleased to discover that since my previous VP update, and despite the fact I hadn’t really paid it much attention, performance had turned around and the port was showing a good profit (unfortunately virtual as well!). As ever there were winners and losers, and these will inform my real-money trading as well.
With Christmas fast approaching, last month I published What Are the Best Video Calling Tools for Older People? For older people (in particular) video calling can provide a great way of connecting with far-flung family and friends if – for whatever reason – they can’t meet in person. In this article I set out the main options available and shared a few hints and tips for making the most of them.
And in Twelve Great Christmas Gift Ideas for Older People (That Aren’t Socks) I set out 12 suggestions for presents for older friends and relatives that – based on my experience as an older person myself – should put a smile on their faces! If you’re struggling for ideas for gifts for older friends and relatives, check this out
Lastly, a reminder that you can also follow Pounds and Sense on Facebook or Twitter (or X as we have to call it now). Twitter/X is my number one social media platform and I post regularly there. I share the latest news and information on financial (and other) matters, and other things that interest, amuse or concern me. So if you aren’t following my PAS account on Twitter/X, you are definitely missing out.
I have also just joined the new BlueSky social media network. My username there is poundsandsense.bsky.social. For the time being at least, Twitter/X will remain my main social media platform, but I will also post details of my latest blog posts, third-party articles and other financial news and resources on BlueSky for those who prefer to follow me there.
That’s all for today. I hope you are keeping safe and warm in the current Arctic weather. As always, if you have any comments or questions, feel free to leave them below. I am always delighted to hear from PAS readers
Disclaimer: I am not a qualified financial adviser and nothing in this blog post should be construed as personal financial advice. Everyone should do their own ‘due diligence’ before investing and seek professional advice if in any doubt how best to proceed. All investing carries a risk of loss.
Note also that posts on PAS may include affiliate links. If you click through and perform a qualifying transaction, I may receive a commission for introducing you. This will not affect the product or service you receive or the terms you are offered, but it does help support me in publishing PAS and paying my bills. Thank you!
If you enjoyed this post, please link to it on your own blog or social media:
In this post a few weeks ago I discussed EDF Energy’s ‘Sunday Saver’ challenge. I explained why I had some reservations about the scheme and wasn’t therefore taking it up.
The post attracted a lot of interest. It actually generated more comments than any other post I have made on Pounds and Sense. Various people (especially Harry and KenM – thanks, guys!) posted in some detail about their experiences with the scheme. As a result I changed my opinion somewhat and decided to sign up when the opportunity arose the following month.
In this update I thought I would talk about why I changed my mind and the results I have achieved myself over the last few weeks. But first, a word of explanation…
What is EDF’s Sunday Saver Challenge?
This scheme is intended to reward EDF customers for switching some of their energy usage away from peak times.
The way it works is that you’re given targets to shift your electricity consumption on weekdays away from peak hours (4pm-7pm). When you hit your weekly target (which is set individually for each user by EDF), you earn free electricity the following Sunday.
EDF say, ‘The more you shift, the more you earn – reduce your weekly peak usage by 40% and you could earn up to 16 hours of free electricity per week.’ The challenge takes place monthly, starting on the first Monday of each month.
Why Did I Have Reservations?
As I said above, I had various reservations about the scheme prior to signing up. I have copied below the relevant paragraphs from my original post.
To benefit from this scheme you have to cut your daily energy usage every weekday between 4pm and 7pm. That’s quite a long period (three hours), and coincides with when I would normally be cooking my evening meal. To have any realistic chance of cutting my energy use during this time, I would have to eat either ridiculously early or significantly later than normal. For various reasons, including my health, I prefer to eat between 6 and 7 pm and no later. So that in itself is a big ask and would impact drastically on my normal routine.
Free electricity on Sunday sounds great, but the devil is in the detail. EDF say that you will get ‘up to 16 hours’ of free electricity if you meet their targets, but are very vague about what this means in practice. Specifically, they don’t explain how your energy-saving targets are calculated, how any reduction in usage translates to free hours, or when on Sunday you will be able to use the free electricity awarded.
In addition, they say there are ‘fair usage’ limits to how much free electricity you can have. Again, they are vague about what this means in practice. The obvious way to use your free electricity would be to charge your EV, and I strongly suspect limits would be placed on this. As for me, I don’t have an EV and don’t want one, so my options for benefiting from the free electricity would be limited. I could shift use of appliances like my washing machine to Sunday but doubt if I could save more than a few kw/h this way (obviously the exact number would depend on how many free hours I was allocated, which is anyone’s guess). That means my free electricity would likely benefit me by no more than a pound or two.
Lastly, as a solar panel owner I already get some free electricity anyway. My panels obviously generate less in the winter, but during daylight hours they still produce something. That means any benefit from free electricity on Sundays will be reduced, especially if (as is likely) the free hours are in the day rather than at night.
So What Changed?
The comments and info posted by readers who had signed up for the challenge and (in general) had benefited from it changed my views somewhat. They also addressed some of the doubts I had expressed in my original post.
As regards the free hours on Sunday, depending on how much you reduce your usage you can get anything from 4 hours to a maximum of 16. The free hours always start at 8 am and go on until as late as 12 midnight if you achieve the full target saving.
There are indeed ‘fair usage’ limits for the free hours you are awarded. They are as follows: 11.25 kWh with 4 free hours; 22.5 kWh with 8 free hours; 33.75 kWh with 12 free hours; and 45 kWh with 16 hours. EDF say these amounts are subject to change.
I still don’t know how exactly the saving targets are set, but here is a screen capture showing the ones I was set last week and the results I obtained.
As you can see, that was a successful week! I’ll talk more about my personal experiences with the Sunday Saver challenge below.
I also realised that, while I don’t have an EV, I could use a fair-sized portion of my free electricity charging my home storage battery from the grid. This wasn’t something I had done before (I got my battery mainly to store power generated by my solar panels) but obviously I knew it was possible. As things turned out (see below) it wasn’t without its challenges. But without doing this I’m not convinced I could have used enough free electricity to make the scheme worthwhile.
I do, incidentally, still think that EDF should make the terms and conditions of the challenge clearer prior to signing up. But anyway, based on info received from my readers, I felt it was worth giving it a try. So here’s a bit about my experiences with the November challenge.
So What Happened?
When I decided to do the EDF Sunday Saver challenge, I was clear I wasn’t going to cause myseff a ton of hassle cutting my electricity usage to the bone (I live on my own these days, incidentally). I decided I could probably defer starting my (electric) cooking till 7 pm. That was a minor inconvenience, but so far anyway I’ve been getting around it by eating meals that are quick to cook (yesterday I had gnocchi with pesto and spinach, for example). I’ll admit I’ve had a few microwave meals as well. I did also do some healthier batch cooking on one of the Sundays to produce meals I could quickly heat up during the week.
Shifting my main cooking time has undoubtedly done more than anything to reduce my peak-time energy use. Apart from that I have done little. I wouldn’t normally be hoovering or using the washing machine at peak times anyway. I have made a point of turning off my desktop computer by 4 pm (something I should probably have been doing anyway). I’ve also been a bit more careful about switching off lights when I don’t need them. And obviously I don’t use any electric heating during peak hours (thankfully I have gas central heating and a separate gas fire in the lounge). And that’s it really. For the first three weeks of the November challenge I achieved my targets fairly easily, earning the maximum 16 hours for two of them and 12 hours for the other.
I saved all my hoovering and clothes washing for Sundays to make use of the free electricity. In addition, as mentioned above, I set my home battery to charge from the grid that day. Unfortunately because I hadn’t done this before – and the software isn’t as intuitive as it should be – the first time it didn’t work at all. The following Sunday I got it working but somehow must have set it to charge every day in the evening. So on the Monday the battery started charging at the maximum rate (6 kw/h) at 5 pm. Unfortunately I didn’t notice this until around 6 pm, so that drove a coach and horses through my weekly energy-saving target. At the time of writing, my weekly dashboard shows that I am currently using 97.5% of my electricity during peak hours and – unsurprisingly – am ‘not on target’ to achieve the 14.9% set for me. Obviously, then, I will have to write off this week. I just hope that my poor performance will encourage EDF to set me generous targets in December!
Closing Thoughts
Overall, my experiences have been positive enough to want to continue the Sunday Saver challenge. I will have saved some money by doing it, which will be credited to my account in December.
It will be interesting to see what usage targets EDF set me next month, especially after I messed up the final week of the challenge. But in any event, EDF have also let me know that anyone signing up for the December challenge will get an automatic eight hours of free electricity on Christmas Day regardless of any energy savings they make. So that is another incentive to sign up for December (which I have already done),.
So those were my experiences with the EDF Sunday Saver challenge in November. I’d be interested to hear how you got on if you did it too, and whether you will be continuing the challenge. Also, if you are on a similar scheme with another energy company, I’d love to hear how that’s going for you. Please post any comments below as usual, not forgetting to allow me a few hours to approve them.
As I have said before on PAS, I can offer anyone switching to EDF £50 off their bills if they use my refer-a-friend link at https://edfenergy.com/quote/refer-a-friend/sunny-koala-9462 when applying. I will also get £50 off my bill if you do this (£75 till 12 December 2024), which is duly appreciated
If you enjoyed this post, please link to it on your own blog or social media:
I also published several posts on 
As part of our Christmas prize bundle, we are excited to offer the
