[Finance] Premium Bonds - prize pool increased again - you ever have any luck?

[birthofanorange]

In the last nine months I have won precisely £200 in total. There was one month when I had just had half the holding as I cashed out half and bought new ones. Unfortunately it hasn’t improved my return.
Seriously thinking about taking it all out

I'm really not convinced that cashing them out and buying new ones makes any difference, tbh. I'm sure that someone may be able to confirm or deny that.
Besides, you also miss out on a draw, as they are entered into the following month.
I'll stick with it, as it gives us a 'reasonable' return, with the added spice of a potential large win.....or nothing....as was the case this month.

 

[Clive Walker]

I'm really not convinced that cashing them out and buying new ones makes any difference, tbh. I'm sure that someone may be able to confirm or deny that.
Besides, you also miss out on a draw, as they are entered into the following month.
I'll stick with it, as it gives us a 'reasonable' return, with the added spice of a potential large win.....or nothing....as was the case this month.

 

[Boroseagull]

£250 this month on max holding.

 

[birthofanorange]

View attachment 188360

We're slightly over that (each) but now have to take into account the zero return, this month, but we're content with around a 4% figure over the year.
Fingers crossed for a big haul in October.

 

[Peteinblack]

View attachment 188360

Sounds about right - me and Mrs Peteinblack both have the maximum holding, and have each won about £1,200 so far this year, with 3 more prize draws to go.

 

[Clive Walker]

Sounds about right - me and Mrs Peteinblack both have the maximum holding, and have each won about £1,200 so far this year, with 3 more prize draws to go.

I like Somerset, do you want to adopt me?

 

[seagullwedgee]

We’ve enjoyed slightly better than average luck, over the last 12 months’ draws. In total we’ve won £4,525 on our joint maximum holding of £100k. So that’s an annual return rate of 4.525%. Tax free of course.

 

[pocketseagull]

Just checked and on £2050.00 for the year, that was on max holding until recently. Ironically my biggest single win (£500.00) came after withdrawing half of holdings.

 

[birthofanorange]

Just checked and on £2050.00 for the year, that was on max holding until recently. Ironically my biggest single win (£500.00) came after withdrawing half of holdings.

Uncle Ern is teasing you...

 

[dejavuatbtn]

It’s the calm before the storm - wait for news of a reduced prize pot.

 

[dazzer6666]

View attachment 188360

At the current 4.4% rate you should expect roughly £2,200 over a 12 month period with a £50k holding………?

 

[jabba]

never too late. a winner 64 years on with a single bond holding! PS not me just copied from winners list
I wonder what the story was? A god-parent buying a child one maybe? Hope ERNIE knows who it was. A lovely surprise for somebody.

Prize value	Winning Bond	Holding	Area	Bond Value	Purchased
£25,000	2AZ543082	£1	Staffordshire	£1	Apr-60

 

[HHGull]

never too late. a winner 64 years on with a single bond holding! PS not me just copied from winners list
I wonder what the story was? A god-parent buying a child one maybe? Hope ERNIE knows who it was. A lovely surprise for somebody.

Prize value	Winning Bond	Holding	Area	Bond Value	Purchased
£25,000	2AZ543082	£1	Staffordshire	£1	Apr-60

There’s hope for us all!

 

[Petunia]

I'm really not convinced that cashing them out and buying new ones makes any difference, tbh. I'm sure that someone may be able to confirm or deny that.
Besides, you also miss out on a draw, as they are entered into the following month.
I'll stick with it, as it gives us a 'reasonable' return, with the added spice of a potential large win.....or nothing....as was the case this month.

I agree but after 4 consecutive months of zero return I was happy to chance it!

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Some lucky person won £25,000 with a £1 holding bought in 1960.

Just £25 for me this month.

It must be me!!
I was born in 1960.
How do I claim?

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

I'm really not convinced that cashing them out and buying new ones makes any difference, tbh. I'm sure that someone may be able to confirm or deny that.
Besides, you also miss out on a draw, as they are entered into the following month.
I'll stick with it, as it gives us a 'reasonable' return, with the added spice of a potential large win.....or nothing....as was the case this month.

Maybe cash-out half and then reinvest. Yes you will miss a draw for one month, but after that you will be able to tell us all which half your winnings are now coming from, the new or the original half.

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

For those debating whether they might get a better return elsewhere, this article might be helpful.

 

[Mustafa II]

For those debating whether they might get a better return elsewhere, this article might be helpful.

The article is pretty inconclusive.

If you are to be clinically sensible with your money - you should:

- pay off debts first
- find a high rate savings account
- maximise yearly ISA allowance (savings & stocks & shares are separate)

...and only once you near your tax free savings allowance do Premium Bonds become a sensible option. That's £1,000 interest for most people, £500 for high earners.

BUT

Premium Bonds are fun and you MIGHT get lucky. This thread is interesting as there are a lot of very lucky and very unlucky people demonstrated, which is what you would expect with a lottery such as this.

The amount I've saved on lottery tickets, coupled with above-average luck, has made it worthwhile for me... but there are plenty of people with £50k in there, that could have made triple what they've won in the same time through savings accounts, investments and ISAs.

Essentially it's a very safe gamble, that only becomes a sensible option if you have utilised all your other tax-free options.

 

[HalfaSeatOn]

£125 for October

May - £50
June - £100
July - £125
August - £50
September - £50
October - £125

On course for an annual return of 6.7 % based on £15k if current trend continues

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

Another blank for me, three months on the trot, luckily Mrs HS won £300 this month