Tax efficient investing – 2009/2010 Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) year end fast approaching

This post is a reminder that the 2009/2010 individual savings account (ISA) 05 April 2010 year end is fast approaching. If you haven’t already taken full advantage of your annual ISA allowance then you may want to investigate now before it’s too late. Once the year ends the opportunity is lost forever. As a mid 30’s investor I have taken full use of my allowance of £7,200 already this year by investing within a stocks and shares ISA.

My Current Low Charge Portfolio – March 2010

Buying (New money): Since my last post I have saved 83% of my net earnings. In addition some more good news was that significant earnings that I had been waiting on for the past year were paid to me this month meaning my total savings amount was also very large at 6.1% of my Low Charge Portfolio assets. These were allocated as follows: 84.7% to cash, 2.3% to UK equities, 3.2% to international equities, 0.6% to index linked gilts and 9.2% to UK commercial property. This money was invested both outside of any tax wrappers and also within a pension. Unfortunately no investment was made into my stocks and shares ISA as I have already made my £7,200 worth of contributions. I am eagerly waiting for the new ISA year starting on the 06 April 2010.

Australian Property Market (Alternate Data) – February 2010 Update

The Brisbane and Australian Eight Cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Darwin & Canberra) House Price Index published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) catalogue 6416.0 suits my requirement to track Australian house prices as part of my retirement investing strategy.  It however seems to have two flaws. Firstly the housing data is only published quarterly and secondly this housing data is then published over a month after the quarter ends.

Frugal living – pay yourself first and the lowest price grocery bill

I am trying to achieve retirement within 7 years. I’m defining retirement as work becoming optional. To do this I am generally saving 60% of my gross earnings every month. How have I managed to get to this high level? Well I think it’s a high level, if you’re doing better or similar I’d love to hear your methods. In fact I’d like to hear anyone’s suggestions for methods to save money. Please feel free to comment.

Average UK interest rates for savers

Previously I described how I was struggling to find a home for cash that could generate a real return after inflation and tax. The best rate I could find for a basic no frills easy access account was 2.5% but my chart today shows how bad it really is out there.