Alan2005

It's a dilemma all right. Cash is a problem cos the best savings interest rates are a long way below real inflation as the basket of goods is fiddled to include things that justify the interest rate decisions they have made. Stock markets can go either way - especially if we double dip (august saw a drop in GDP in Canada). Gold is over priced for it's practical use and its value as a 'store of value' is based entirely on faith, etc etc.

sparkling_gal

Thanks for the advice but no worries - I'm pretty savvy when it comes to the market and I only invest what I can afford to keep tied up if needs be. Mind you, I did lose out with British Rail.

Now the housing market is a whole other thing. I had a house for thirteen years and made a tiny profit. Folk who moved in after me more than doubled their money in just over a year. That's why I prefer the stock market. But, as you say - it can be extremely volatile and not a good place to keep cash short term - eg. less than five years.

SNOWDUDE

In my experience the brokers seem to all operate in one narrow price band and the banks in another, but at a much higher level.

Posidrive

I quite agree. Moved our funds back to the UK at the end of last week. The currency broker HIFX were noticably better than HSBC, operating on a margin of about 1.5 cents on the current trading rate.