Money, food and the universe

[jansman]

Last week I went to the building society to update our savings accounts. Well, the interest paid was derisory. There have been a number of posts I note about savings/investments/ buying tangible items etc. so here goes...
I noticed also last week when doing a little restock that a number of our favourite tinned items had crept up 4 and 5p an item. 5p on a 50p tin is 10%!!!! Now my ISA ain't paying that.
A couple of years ago we had a healthy amount saved, but making something like 2% interest. The mortgage was 6 1/2 %. No brainer there we paid the mortgage off. Best move ever.
On another thread here I mentioned that I keep cash "in case", but money for money's sake is rapidly losing it's attraction. It is a resource after all.
So today I went shopping. If my savings are making sweet FA, and my favourite foods are increasing by up to 10%, then that too is a no brainer. I made sure that the foodstuffs have good dates, and J feel that this has been a good investment. On top of the food, I bought tomato feed, Growmore, fleece,slug pellets , cleaning materials etc.
Contrary to what our glorious leaders tell us, wages are not outstripping inflation( not in my world at least), and food is still rising in price. As many here know, I am in the meat trade, and meat IS going up. Mainly for environmental reasons around the world. This will knock on to everything else.
So the 200 quid I was gonna stash, I have invested in goods we will use, and the pennies it would make in the bank, will now realise £20 at least.
So every month now( for the time being) I am going to save half and invest half in tangible goods.
Thoughts anyone?

[pseudonym]

Sounds good to me.

I cashed in my ISAs in last year and have been renovating/updating my house.

Once complete, like you will be investing in tangiable goods.

[PreppingPingu]

Aye good moves. Its a type of food insurance/investment. Buying food that we use is perfect - buy a bulk when its cheep and then you have it when prices rise. Of course I normally see food staying up once it risen unlike petrol that seems to yo yo or has done in the past few years. I am trying to think of a food that goes down and up in value. Sugar has done that in the past. I have bought the 5k bags when they have been a good price then they go up and when they drop back a bit I buy them again. All saves a few pennies in the long term and as you say - pennies seem to earn naff all in the bank atm unless you have enough to invest and very few of us have enough to invest in various pies in order to hedge our bets.

[jansman]

Excellent. Not just me then? My Father in Law is spending money like there is no tomorrow right now. His reasoning is he is an old man, the house needs to be comfortable, and the work will cost more next year, and the cash worth less.
This afternoon I bought an aviary from a neighbour ( birds are a hobby of mine) for £60. Flogged it for £90. Miles better than the bank. The profit goes into preps.
I read that the banks do not need savers' money because of the government quantitive easing, which is why interest rates are so low. So stuff 'em.

[Arzosah]

Very interesting - I'm certainly spending savings to keep the house in good repair (pointing - nothing flashy!). And if the goods you're buying are things that you need, then it makes sense - the only thing I'd add, from my experience on the Old Style board on moneysavingexpert.com, is to be aware of the money you're not spending now that you've bought in bulk - putting that money into preps, of course, counts as awareness, absolutely

Foods that go up and down in cost - gluten free pasta - was £1.50 for ages last year, its now £1.40 at Sainsbo - and their pesto, same kind of thing. Huge savings can be made by comparing food prices on mysupermarket - especially for branded, which I don't really use.

[Xel]

Track down a copy of "the Alpha Strategy" on the Web.

I think it dates from the inflationary 1970s. Basically it says on "buy stuff ".

[redskies]

I've been saying for years that the best pension isn't money, it's a sustainable, renewable food source and an off grid house to eat it in. Then again, it comes to something when a food store is, legitimately, an investment.

If anyone wants fleece, don't buy it from B&Q or wherever. Get hold of the nearest wool board or even just find the nearest field with sheep in it and then the owner. Folk here were being offered £1 per fleece last year, which is ridiculous. You should get an awful lot more fleece for a lot less money, and it'll come with the lanolin still in it, which can be removed and turned into skin creams

[cpslashm]

I've always though that how much I spend is more important than how much I earn - and I've more control over it.

So now I'm investing money on making the house and life in general cheaper to run so that a small pension will be plenty to live on.

I hate adverts with a passion.

[Bad Wombat]

...making something like 2% interest...

Well that depends where you you put your money. Last big investment I made was in September 2011. It did about 16% over the first year and 18% in the second year. This year will be much less, possibly around 4%. It's relatively high risk over the short term. Hopefully less risky over the long term.

[jansman]

...making something like 2% interest...

Well that depends where you you put your money. Last big investment I made was in September 2011. It did about 16% over the first year and 18% in the second year. This year will be much less, possibly around 4%. It's relatively high risk over the short term. Hopefully less risky over the long term.

My life experience has taught me to be wary of " investments", you speak of " high risk". That is more risk than my Wife and I are prepared to take. Why? We were both mis sold private pensions back in the 80's. then a crap mortgage endowment- and I really mean crap. The 14 years we paid that, and the mortgage interest(at 8 to 15 % in that time), then we lost a pension I reckon.
Obviously where my attitude comes from. Along with the fact that I simply do not have cash to 'lose' in so called investments. Is not the mantra, ' do not invest what you cannot afford to lose?'