Where is a good place to start putting away a nest egg for the children?

[lisalisa]

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have you the child trust fund thing? you could add to it or start one

I would shop around for the highest interest savings account you can find.
that way it's safe and secure (unlike shares etc) and will grow a lot.
you can have it in your name and then transfer it to the kid(s) as and when. or you could set up a trust fund for them with a specific end date.
The prob with trust funds (for example the ctf) is that you have no control over it. when your child turns 18 it's theirs to do what they want with.

I'm not putting much into ds's ctf in case he's a crack head at 18 and spends it all on drugs lol.
No, seriously though I hope to god he isn't, but if you want to have more control then a savings account in your own name would be the best place

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go to an independant (if such a thing) and see what they have to offer. they should tell you all thats avialble unlike a bank that will pedal it own things.

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lisalisa, just wanted to say that you can move your CTF to one that you choose at any time. You are not locked into it, just find which one you want to move to, contact them, and I think they arrange the transfer. Have you checked the progress of the one the govenment have put yours in - it may not be too bad?

Also, I will try to find some links later about share based investments. When investing over a long period of time history has always proved share based investments to vastly outperform deposit accounts. My dd's is a share based one and has made 15% in the last year!

Hope this helps - if not - ignore .

Halifax are doing a 'children's super saver' at the moment which gives 10% interest at the end of 1 year. YOu have to set up a fixed amount to put in - up to max of £100 and not take any money out . At the end of the year you can start again. When you have a good chunk to invest elsewhere you can. might be worth a look. also check out moneysavingexpert.com, lots of advice there too.

I agree with Helennn shared based accounts are the way to go. My parents opened share accounts for me and brother and sister. And it paid for university and post-grads for all of us and that's in the US where fees run about £20K a year! Our DC have an account with Childrens Mutual who have a few funds to choose from. But am looking for another fund.....so I'll be looking forward to the links Helennn

Have a look at this

I have been recommended this before \link{http://www.jumpsavings.com}
This may be of interest \link{http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/help-and-advice/advice-banks/article.html?in_advicepage_id=124&in_article_id=394209&in_page_id=90}
I am definitely no expert, but think it is worth learning a bit about share based investments, (ie investment trusts, oiecs etc), before discounting them. As long as you are investing for the long term any bad periods will be outweighed by the good. There are lots of good web-sites around - would advise doing some reading up.

Best of luck

Sorry, other links not worked. Don't know how to do them. Please type in address for yourself, .

Just found a useful page if you want to send off for any information before discounting share based savings. Hope link works\link{http://www.trustnet.com/general/brochures.asp?brochure=children}