christhpc

Mine matures early November. Wish I'd stuck more loot into them, still they've been the best part of my (taxable) cash savings over the last 12 months. Here's what they say in the T&Cs: So yeah, nothing concrete but fingers crossed they'll treat these as they did the Inflation Linked Certs and allow them to roll over.

Dunno, but I've got one of these that I emptied last month so I'll give it a try and report back. Actually, do I need to call them? Please tell me I don't. Ringing them is a stuff of nightmares.

I suppose they're alright if you like that kind of thing. Not the kind of place I'd lay down money for though. If I'm going to buy somewhere it's going to have a drive / some hope of parking within 1/2 mile of my home. And somewhere to put the colossal wheely bins that isn't blocking half the pavement. God help the place if they've got those dumpsters taking up even more parking now. No offence.

Haha. I wouldn't pay £30K for one of those terraced things on those streets, never mind £300K.

I understand your sentiment on this one Petro and normally I'd agree on debt being bad, but (for now) the government are sticking to the contract with regard to the rates being less than a commercial loan: From http://www.slc.co.uk/media%20centre/news_views.html#item1 Although slightly less good news if you took out your student loan before 1998: Although as those dudes got grants and didn't have to worry about tuition fees I've slightly less sympathy Anyway, the point is it doesn't make sense to pay these things off early. Not while it's possible to earn more on deposit. They do not negatively impact credit-worthiness in any way and have a negligible effect on the amount you can borrow. That said a mate did pay his off early, but he conceded it was just for peace of mind rather than any kind of financial benefit.

Damnit Although the page actually says the new rate, "Applies to new accounts applied for from 12th August 2010 to date." Means I'm screwed though as I only just opened an account. Still, as the account has Faster Payments gubbins it's better than Egg at 2.8%... Which I've just learned has dropped to 2.5% now for new accounts (opened from 21 July 2010).

I was off sick last week and noticed how every morning the BBC excrete out this back-to-back property propaganda. Homes Under the Hammer, To Buy or Not to Buy, Cash in the Attic... Gotta love the intro to Homes Under the Hammer with computer generated houses all puffing £-signs out the chimneys. Still, they're just filling a need, eh? BBC got a gentle rap over the knuckles about it last month: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/05/bbc-daytime although not for the right (HPC friendly) reasons. Fortunately I was able to turn off the telly and do more productive stuff instead (i.e. surf the interweb, HPC.co.uk, etc.)

I love you Shell

Nice, but you need to pay them £25 a month for the privilege. Or have £50,000 deposited with them. Or earn £100,000 and pay it into the account each month. Or have a £300,000K+ mortgage with them. Good rate for anyone that fits that criteria though obviously.

Hastings is alright. I had some good times there and for the self-employed able to work online it might make sense or the retiree that doesn't might mixing with the more colourful members of society, and there's decent pubs and stuff. But for me it doesn't make sense as the job opportunities are limited, and I'm not willing to commute the 3-4 hour door-to-door round trip to London. It's nice enough during Summer with all the International Students (or whatever euphemism they're called these days) but outside that time it can be a bit grim. As Sid Public has said there are serious social issues there. Brighton has drugs and homelessness but there's enough money there (for now). Hastings on the other hand has some very poor people indeed, and definite no-go areas such as Farley Bank and parts of Ore which make Whitehawk look like Chelsea. And they aren't even off the beaten track unlike in Brighton. Even the town-centre after say 9pm is a dodgy place to be on your own (fortunately there's usually a police van parked up). I'm a fairly big bloke and never had any trouble whilst coming home from a night out, but many of my friends did back in the day. Anyway as you say this is the Brighton thread and I may be biased but I am from Hastings originally. I'm of the opinion that Brighton is quite w*nky and up its own a*se but as I have this strange need to live by the sea I know where I'd rather be. For now. I will say that I'd rather buy in Hastings than Brighton right now. If that makes sense Simply as I wouldn't be able to afford anything remotely decent here.

Bargepole central with this one

Oh yeah, I'm definitely not saying Brighton's so much better than Hastings, certainly not to command the kind of comedy house prices we get round here. Although I will say I've never felt scared walking around Brighton at any time. Hastings on the other hand..!

Yes there is, unfortunately it takes 50% longer to get to London than it does from Brighton. And there's even fewer jobs there than in Brighton (or Eastbourne... or Worthing.. or probably any town in the SE). Shell, I agree there is much better value in Hastings, and I don't want to trash your posts, but believe me after living there for 18 years there's not nearly enough value to make me even consider going back Prices have rocketed beyond any kind of justifiable level. See below as to the effect of these rises. Hastings being the only place in the SE in the top 10:

Secure data disposal dontchaknow. Requirement under the Data Protection Act I'm sure. The (private) company I used to work for got rid of them as a cost-cutting measure so staff then just binned em. Tbh councils should have manual shredders. And get feral youths to operate them rather than taking them out on community service - i.e. spending two hours to paint a single bit of railing.

You can't. Basically. Been there done that etc. Just be glad you're getting 1% - that's all I got when interest rates were 5%. Cue the tax avoidance crew's entrance...

I've not even been able to get an ISA transfer pack from my preferred bank. So I've been getting 0.5% for the last two weeks on my ISA balance with the prospect of a further 1-2 months o'0.5% during the transfer. Happy days.

Here's hoping! Didn't you know that HPC is a secret front for evil BTLers that just want to swoop in and grab all the loot once everyone's lost their jobs, homes and 60" plasmas.

Crap.

I don't know anyone in my age group that's bought or is currently preparing to buy without a considerable loan or gift from their parents. And in one case, a couple I know that are planning to buy are stretching themselves to the limit based on current mortgage rates (4.5% 2 years fixed apparently) and a 40 grand loan from dad. Showing him what the payments would be at twice that rate or asking him if he thinks that rate will be available 2 years down the line doesn't seem to dissuade him. I hasten to add that it was my non-HPC friends that initiated the mauling on this guy regarding affordability. It was all I could do not to weigh in with a full on Financial Planner style tirade.

It's available online here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00sh3ft/Today_29_05_2010/ Lawson is on from 1hr 38mins - after the predictably one-sided Tory-bashing CGT report.

Just got my letter today and unsurprisingly got the same (12.7% over the term). I'm going to let them automatically roll into a further term. Next ones mature in Feb 2011 and Sep 2011. Stay tuned for more ILSC excitement...

Actually it's +8 hours at the moment as we're in 'British Summer Time'.

Love it All aboard the Brighton to London gravy-train £toot toot£! Obviously she will need a second home as commuting to London is entirely impractical.

...Is the right answer.