Rent Out Your Car-Work from home UK

As someone who owns four cars - don’t ask, long story, three children - I was interested to hear from someone who’s making money by renting out his car via a website called Whipcar at www.whipcar.co.uk. Basically, he makes about £30 a day hiring it out via the site when it would otherwise be sitting on his driveway. Check out the site.

Autograph Profits

In earlier bulletins we talked about stamps and how, if you want to invest, you’d be well advised to take a look at the Stanley Gibbon’s index of the top 30 rare stamps. I’ve since been asked about autographs and suggest that there’s an equally good index which tells you what’s what in the world of autographs. Take a look here:

http://www.stanleygibbons.com/investments/invest-in-autographs/frasers-rarities-index.aspx

Now, I have quite a strong autograph portfolio myself – Ali, Laurel and Hardy, Margaret Thatcher etc – and it’s a fun and profitable investment. Rule of thumb, I’d reckon it rises in value by some 10 to 15 per cent a year. It’s well worth thinking about investing in these and a good place to start finding out what’s what is back at Stanley Gibbons. Copy and paste this link for a free how-to guide.

http://www.stanleygibbons.com/investments/downloads/Guide_to_Alternative_Investments.pdf

Beware Advisors

I’m a fan of traded endowment policies – choose wisely and you can make a steady return on these. We have an article available on request. But you do need to be careful. A friend of mine has just surrendered his and has banked £23,000 or so. Only problem is, he’s paid in more than that. That’s partly due to low returns these days but also, and often overlooked, it’s as much to do with high charges.

It’s something to bear in mind when you look at any investment really. You’ll often be quoted a figure – 5 per cent return or whatever – but is that gross or net and what are the charges that are being skimmed off? You may find someone is recommending an insurance company investment bond instead of an investment trust. Why? Well it may have something to do with the up to 8 per cent difference in commissions that are being paid. And you may be steered towards a higher-commission sipp than a low-cost stakeholder pension.

Investor Supperclubs

I’ve had a phone call inviting me to a supperclub for investors in London. The idea is that you go along to someone’s home, have a bite to eat, meet like-minded people, network etc and then leave a donation for the meal. I’m told that this supperclub idea is ‘hot’ in London and that it’s a good way to make money. I’m not convinced – it could also be a way of spending a lot of time and money cooking and not recovering your profits. But one or two friends who know more about this sort of thing than I do tell me it’s a useful earner.

Quick Tip - Rent Out Your Car

Autograph Profits

Beware Advisors

Investor Supperclubs