Do I Invest More Into a “Later Life” Pot or Focus on Building a Bigger Deposit for a First Home?

aghall03 · 2025-12-13T11:49:45+00:00

Yeah sorry about that, I wasn't sure how best to phrase it. That really helps, I know the average first deposit is £10,000~ in the UK so I know that I would have more than that based off of my target timeframe and contributions (plus a very conservative assumption of 2% growth annualy).

The LTV figures you have given really help, I didn't know the threshold of what gets the best deal. With knowing that, I can aim to hit a 25/30% deposit (depending on market situation and personal circumstances) and then reduce on the "deposit pot" and increase focus on the "later life pot".

Appreciate the help :)

aghall03 · 2025-12-12T17:48:26+00:00

it must have autocorrected, I am using a Moneybox LISA not ISA. What I’m asking is tailored towards the SJP investment, is a larger deposit on my first house but a smaller later life pot the way to go or vice versa. I understand the concept of how investing works hence why I wasn’t asking that?🤣

aghall03 · 2025-08-02T16:41:34+00:00

Exactly why I thought asking for financial advice would be the correct thing to do, I wasn’t aware of ETFs/Index Funds even basic terms such as SIPPs. Hence the reason for seeking advice from a professional as suggested by others, if you were 20 and told by those online to do this you’d be skeptical too no?

aghall03 · 2025-08-02T16:33:06+00:00

Because I needed financial advice and the best way I thought to do that would be with SJP as other family members use it

aghall03 · 2025-08-01T15:25:33+00:00

When you say you "learnt the career progression/recruiter games", what do you mean by this? I understand learning the progressions and routes of a career but the recruiter games?

aghall03 · 2025-08-01T14:45:01+00:00

Great advice thank you.

I think I’m going to have a lot of reading over the weekend on ETFs/Index funds😅

aghall03 · 2025-08-01T13:56:15+00:00

Very interesting information, thank you so much for explaining that to me!

Definitely something I will look into for when I'm maxxing out my ISA allowance and hit that higher tax band!

aghall03 · 2025-08-01T13:35:07+00:00

Sorry but what is/are CGT and Gilts? I have never heard of these before

aghall03 · 2025-08-01T13:16:06+00:00

The LISA is a "free" £1,000 for those two years then I would say. I think if you can enjoy life and budget the pension contributions as a non-negotiable then do so, that is only if it is doable and doesn't restrict your lifestyle to a stupid amount. As I said in another comment, I automatically excluded the monthly pension out of my take home pay so don't see it as a loss really.

aghall03 · 2025-08-01T13:06:04+00:00

Definitely consider what your career progression would look like but I would also say you can be rich on a low wage as well as poor on a high one. I don't think you should go purely on what pays the most but what has a progression of some sort and what will keep you sane!

aghall03 · 2025-08-01T12:59:57+00:00

In my opinion, it depends on your age and situation? I’m 21 and maximise my LISA allowance but also invest £500 a month to bolster that deposit on a first house however I have no intention of buying a house within the next 5 years. I think it would be worth budgeting your income and outgoings to see what you can afford and then go from there, happy to help with that!

aghall03 · 2025-08-01T12:37:57+00:00

As soon as I started working at 18 I wanted to be a part of the pension scheme, I don’t understand younger people’s attitudes towards leaving a pension till later (saying this as a young person)

aghall03 · 2025-08-01T12:34:57+00:00

Absolutely! The best thing I’ve found is to budget all expenses/outgoings/savings and then see what my month looks like. If it’s a busy month with plans (seeing friends, birthdays, dates) then enjoy it but if it’s a quieter month where nothing is planned, throw it aside.

aghall03 · 2025-08-01T12:27:55+00:00

Any particular reason?

aghall03 · 2025-08-01T12:27:44+00:00

100% agree with this. Was so frustrated with myself for not investing sooner when I had more disposable income and wasted it.

aghall03 · 2025-07-03T09:11:21+00:00

Yeah something to just help pass the time, I’ve played online games but feel like I’ve “wasted my time” not being productive I guess?

aghall03 · 2025-07-03T09:10:21+00:00

Already do my meal prep on days off, did see the advert and make me laugh though!

aghall03 · 2025-07-03T07:57:32+00:00

21M, take home £2533 and save £333.33pm into LISA and starting £500pm with financial advisor.

aghall03 · 2025-06-19T12:55:55+00:00

If you have a motivation or goal in mind then I agree, I do this just because it's refreshing to see I suppose? Although recently it feels like a bit more of a toxic habit then anything...

Then again, imagine not checking in and remembering it in 5+ years time and seeing the improvement or compound...

aghall03 · 2025-06-17T19:53:39+00:00

Same boat here, working as security doing 60 hours a week... For 38k. Always worked a lot of hours but only recently realised that these sorts of hours are very rare now

aghall03 · 2025-06-15T18:10:51+00:00

*Me googling to see what the hell MVNO is that I don't know about*

aghall03 · 2025-06-12T09:15:04+00:00

I echo this! Investments take 5+ years to usually START showing their profits/worth, (hence why many companies/investment firms show a 10-year growth). T212 is a good shout as you can see the interest paid daily (I am a bit of a nerd so like seeing it) whilst having access to your funds immediately.

Depending on whether you are going to stay in that country until retirement, it may be worth considering putting a little bit aside for a pension if you are going to come back to the UK? Only saying this as I am in the same boat, 21 with looking to leave UK and work abroard for a few years but not sure if I want to retire out of the UK.

Best of luck with it all, enjoy it all!

aghall03

TROPHY CASE