Best long-term investment - any interesting ideas?!

[Reiltin]

We've been thinking about moving house. We have some equity but not enough to get us a similar sized house somewhere nice and we really don't want to lose a bedroom.

So instead, we're thinking of taking the money we'd spend on a bigger mortgage and investing it. But we aren't sure of the best thing to do.

Obviously, there are various savings accounts and stocks/shares, and we both have pensions which we'll probably increase the contributions to. But I'm trying to think a little outside the box! We'd want something pretty stable - we're not gamblers - and the housing market doesn't seem to tick that box anymore. I've heard that art is a good investment but I'm not sure if that is just talk.

Does anyone have any interesting ideas for where I can put my money?!

[MamaDuckling]

Wine.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

NSANDI

[BeaufortBelle]

Art but you have to love what you buy so that it doesn't really matter if it doesn't appreciate as much as you'd like.

At the moment with interest rates so low and stock markets potentially volatile - you could whack as much as possible into premium bonds for a year or so.

I've also read that good quality static caravans on well run sites are money spinners. They don't of course appreciate but if well looked after last well and the return on the capital outlay is supposed to be good.

[scopello]

Firstly, I would put the maximum that you can into your pensions before the end of the tax year in a few days' time. The existing tax relief this attracts is a no brainer. Secondly, utilise your full ISA allowances and your children's JISA too. If you still have loose change after that, splurge on a long haul holiday and buy some art.

[BeaufortBelle]

That all goes without saying scopello

[Jonathonseagull]

Land

[Au79]

Don't see that housing doesn't tick the box- it's gone up more consistently than most other investments.

Am I wrong about that? I bought a house by myself in 1988 for borrowed 25k, several gradually bigger houses later it's worth about 3/4 mill, owned outright with DH. Maths isn't my strong point, I admit - but isn't that fairly good?