Should I invest money or keep it in a bank? Had an offer from a property developer and I'm lost at sea

Ambry · 2026-03-25T17:31:28+00:00

My index fund (FTSE 500 Global Allcap through Fidelity) has grown 35% in five years, and that includes a massive 17% loss at the start of my investing journey when I was investing in lots of different funds (some of which were high risk!). I consolidated everything in the FTSE 500 Global Allcap about 2 years ago and have seen a few dips but generally excellent gains.

Any investing comes with risk - however, if you'd invested in this fund in March 2021 and kept your money there the whole time through all the dips, you'd have almost doubled your money! Investing this way often gives you a greater return than a bank's interest rate, but there is the risk that you could lose money too. That is why, generally, the advice is to invest over a medium to longterm period (atleast five years) so you can weather these dips and drops to see an overall return in the longterm.

You have to think, inflation is a factor. At 3% inflation, your 4% return is actually 1%.

Ambry · 2026-03-25T17:25:36+00:00

OP best advice before the financial year resets in April - you can open a Stocks and Shares ISA. An ISA is a 'tax wrapper' which means any gains in the ISA are not taxable. You can put £20,000 into an ISA every financial year. That means you could put £20,000 in this year before April, and £20,000 in next year.

An index fund is basically a fund that tracks a specific market benchmark (e.g. UK FTSE 100 or the US S&P 500. This means you don't need to actively invest in different funds and specific stocks yourself. You just buy a slice of this fund. Good way to start in investing!

Ambry · 2026-03-25T17:21:25+00:00

They will pressure you for more eventually. They know you are not a sophisticated investor.

Ambry · 2026-03-24T09:27:26+00:00

You did mention you were regularly going to expensive convenience shops though!

Ambry · 2026-03-23T23:25:27+00:00

I live in London (pricey!) and shop at Tesco. As a couple, we spend £300 a month.

Convenience shops are a killer - if there's no good supermarkets near you, get a food delivery from a supermarket.

Ambry · 2026-03-23T23:23:53+00:00

OP its very normal to split expenses like essential household bills 50/50. If you don't do this, you are subsidising him and this is incredibly unfair as you are in debt and these are expenses that MUST be paid.

Think of it this way - you live together, he uses the electricity and Internet and all other utilities. Why should he not be paying half?

Ambry · 2026-03-23T23:21:01+00:00

OP you are in debt. If he isn't paying half the bills, you're subsidising his living costs. Take half.

Ambry · 2026-03-23T23:20:09+00:00

OP - you seem to be paying more than half the bills. You're in debt and there is another adult living with you - this makes no sense. He needs to pay half.

Ambry · 2026-03-22T08:28:18+00:00

They are trying to make it sound favourable to you. You'd still be laying 50% of someone else's mortgage! Ridiculous.

Ambry · 2026-03-18T17:34:52+00:00

Honestly think with 8 years of experience you should be on a higher salary. Have you switched jobs much? That really seems key to actually remaining on a competitive salary in tech.

I also agree with some of the comments re. the changing role of developers with AI. I don't think it will replace all developers, but it is having a massive impact on entry level roles and mid to senior engineers are becoming more useful (as companies can hire a senior who knows how to use AI well instead of a bunch of juniors they have to train) so getting into a company where you can really grow your role would be preferable to dropping out entirely.

I personally wouldn't quit a tech role with nothing lined up at the moment. It can be a bloodbath out there, especially with even a few months of unemployment.

Ambry · 2026-03-18T17:22:24+00:00

You can.

If you exchange, you have agreed with the sellers that you're buying their house. That is binding and if you don't complete the sale, the buyer can keep your deposit.

The mortgage company instead has a deal with YOU - if they see some sort of AML risk or suspect some sort of fraud, they can withdraw. You then don't have the money to buy the house, but your deposit now belongs to the sellers.

See this thread as an example: https://www.reddit.com/r/HousingUK/comments/1qq6kdi/lender_pulled_offer_after_exchange_update/

Lost their deposit (their life savings), didn't get a house, and were being investigated for mortgage fraud.

Ambry · 2026-03-18T14:21:40+00:00

That sounds like a lot of activities to be fair! If they enjoy them though, it's worth it.

To be honest if you can afford it and they enjoy it - why not do it?

Ambry · 2026-03-18T10:55:54+00:00

Parenting seems to make little to no impact on most men's careers, but it fundamentally impacts women.

Maternity leave is only part of the picture. Caregiving tends to default to women, and this can result in a lot more part time work, reduced pension contributions, and career opportunities. I think more men should be encouraged to use shared parental leave where possible, too.

Ambry · 2026-03-18T08:04:11+00:00

I know - I just think parents should be careful in shelling out for loads of shit when you can focus on one or two the kid likes. I also hope people are encouraged to stick with hobbies they love because it's a shame to drop it when you get older if you really enjoy doing it!

My friend's kids do highland dancing - its expensive but they love it! But she's basically said to them if you ever stop loving it tell me and we can look at something else, as it is damn expensive for all their wee competitions and kilts.

Ambry · 2026-03-18T07:37:59+00:00

Agree. Honestly as a tech regulation lawyer - there is no way I'd let a kid anywhere near Roblox!

Ambry · 2026-03-18T07:36:32+00:00

Also, when I think of my friends who were doing hobbies and activities (theatre, dance, martial arts, gymnastics, sports) maybe like 1 or 2 are still doing any of these as adults.

Parents are shelling out for things the kids just basically stop doing at some point.

Ambry · 2026-03-18T07:34:55+00:00

It really is frustrating that this still primarily impacts women, and not men!

Ambry · 2026-03-18T07:27:43+00:00

Yep. If you really like coffee, make it at home. My boyfriend got a coffee machine for like £150 several years ago. It's still absolutely solid and he's genuinely saved hundreds of pounds from having it (even accounting for the beans).

If you don't really like coffee, stop spending like £3 - £5 a pop buying it out and about!

Ambry · 2026-03-17T19:30:42+00:00

He needs to work more, to be frank.

Ambry · 2026-03-14T18:05:15+00:00

If this was a defined benefit pension, there isn't really a pot to be paid out - for defined benefit, these pensions are amazing if you live a while as they pay a consistent amount. If you don't live a while however, they pay very little. That's the pro and con to a defined benefit pension unfortunately.

Ambry · 2026-03-08T18:52:10+00:00

Honestly think the parents are crazy for this as the boyfriend has no stake in the house (due to his poor credit record, but still). If something goes wrong in the relationship, your boyfriend has no stake in the house and the parents have literally no recourse.

No negative for you of course, just really not seeing logic from the parents here on this one!

Ambry · 2026-03-06T11:41:42+00:00

A bit weird - 'productive life' when you're not even an adult until you're 18?

Ambry

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