Where does the time go?
Hasn’t this year flown! They say the older you become the faster time goes. Now we all know that time doesn’t speed up, it’s one of the few constants we have, but just 4 weeks to Christmas already. That’s ridiculous.
I hope 2017 has been good to you and your family so far this year. I know there’s not much to cheer about in the news at the moment, but that shouldn’t stop us from enjoying the rest of our year. I’m sure the world’s politicians don’t care about us, so why do we spend so much time worrying about what they are going to say or do next? We are investors. We invest for a lifetime during which there will undoubtedly be other “Trump and Brexit” equivalents to worry about in the short term. But in the long term, our lifetimes, our investments grow and always have done.
Time to take control of Christmas
None of us will ever see Christmas 2017 again. It comes around just once. It’s my 57th Christmas. What did you do last Christmas? If you can’t remember vividly now, it couldn’t have been very good. If it was bad, let’s make this one better. Let’s make Christmas 2017 the Christmas we will remember vividly for the rest of our days. It’s up to us.
Much of creating a memorable Christmas doesn’t depend upon spending money. Reconnecting with old friends, repairing broken bridges, giving loved ones our time are all free but much appreciated. But much of this season of giving and receiving depends upon money. That’s why I’m writing this now.
How long will it take to withdraw some of my savings?
Our stock answer when asked is 10 working days for larger amounts. This is because we may have to sell some of your shares or investment funds to convert them to cash first. Typically this takes around six working days. The balance of the ten working days ensures you have cleared funds in your bank account ready to spend.
Smaller amounts of course can often be released direct into your bank account within just a couple of days of you asking.
Other delays could occur if the cash you require needs to be transferred from your pension fund into your drawdown account before a withdrawal can take place.
Anyway, here’s the heads up. Life savings are for spending, all you have to do is ask us to return some of your savings to you.
How to spend it
Over the years we have been privileged to hear how many of our clients spend some of their life savings to realise lifetime goals. Trips to catch up with distant family overseas, helping children to pass their driving test, funding first cars and the dreaded car insurance, even helping to get them on the housing ladder. All big lifetime goals achieved from life savings. But memories are more often made from small unexpected gifts and unexpected experiences. These often don’t cost £10’s of thousands.
If you withdrew just £500, who would you spend it on or give it to?
What lasting memory could you create for just £1000?
The taxman allows you to make as many £250 gifts as you like.
Would £50 buy some sleeping bags for the homeless?
Would £25 buy some chocolates for those working over the Christmas period?
We can arrange to send you any amount from your savings, not just large amounts. We don’t charge and Nucleus don’t charge (Investcentre does I’m afraid). An email to Melissa or a telephone call is all it takes. If you have enough in your current account to make your Christmas memory already, do so safe in the knowledge a withdrawal can follow when you are ready to top up your bank account. Don’t forget to tell us what you are going to do, we love sharing in your happiness and we can keep your secrets.
I’m stuck for ideas as usual, telling me what you are thinking of could help me too. 😀
Treat yourself
In my “Currently Reading” section I enthuse about this book. Buy it for yourself.
Morning Howard
57🤔how the years have been kind!😀Myself and Mandy have just withdrawn a decent amount this month,my daughter has just turned 17 so as my dear old dad did for me we’ve got her a car👍I’ve splashed out on a girls best friend for Mandy and the rest is helping towards or 3week Christmas getaway to Tenerife👌
Thankyou again for all you and the team do for us,we’re trying to live life to the full!
Johnny&Mandy
Some excellent points made as always Our Christmas went really well last year we had used money from my pension to renovate parts of the House as we had promised ourselves, my wife and daughters had been on a ‘girlie’ week to Berlin in the autumn and we had decided to spend more than usual on a decidedly good Xmas as we had family from New Zealand staying with us aswell. Then just after boxing day our normally healthy 17 year old grandson was suddenly rushed to hospital and within hours had been diagnosed with a rare and very aggressive brain tumour and after two major ops in as many weeks we were told to prepare for the worst. A terrible start to 2017 shrinking the normal everyday worries,problems and grumbles of our family into total insignificance. However due to some pioneering work by an oncologist at Christies the unswerving dedication of the wonderful doctors and nurses at the hospital, the support of many people who helped us all cope and not least our grandson’s absolute determination to ‘win’ through despite 8 months of the toughest radiotherapy and Chemotherapy whist an inpatient, he is now recovering, against all the odds So this Christmas, yes there will be presents and festivities but more than ever we are planning to simply ‘take time’ and look at and appreciate all the positives in our life and give thanks for how lucky we are as a family because we now realise life is so precious and some times we get so wrapped up in ‘stuff’ like jobs and money and the everyday things that seem so important that we forget that life can suddenly turn your world upside down and its then you look at your own life and think yes ive worked hard and saved for my future but then wonder have I spent my time wisely, have I really given enough time to the most important things in life, like family….