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PREMIUM BONDS FEB 2024

1000 replies

Blondeshavemorefun · 01/02/2024 19:27

New thread and I've been asked to give some basic info. Feel free to add stuff if I’ve missed anything out

Each bond is £1. You have to buy in minimum of £25 each time so means 25 chances to win.

Bonds have to be in for a clear month before going into the draw

If you want to cash bonds in then usually takes 3 days to go into your account

Winnings can be reinvested if holdings are under £50k

Or sent to named bank account if over /want winnings in bank account

More info here

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/savings/types-of-savings/premium-bonds

The best time to buy premium bonds is on the last day of the month, as this means they are only held by NSI for one month and one day, without being entered into the prize draw.

PB to me is the fun and thrill each month of what if I win big and a millionaire - to a day or two later being grateful if win £25😂

I have nowhere near the maximum and probably never will unless I win £50k + on pb

But only takes one £1 to win that million !!!

I love seeing the low holdings win high amounts

Maximum is £50k per person so some do have all for family- mum dad and 2 kids so £200k etx

Those on the thread are varying from few hundred /thousand - to 20/30k to full holdings of £50k x 2/3/4

Everyone is welcome to join in whether small or full holdings

One would expect if had full holdings of £50k to win something every month and think over the year to earn the same as if in a high interest account to win around £1860 in prizes

From google (august 2023) - The consistent winners are the 1.16 million people who have the maximum £50,000.

They hold almost half of all premium bonds and, at current odds of 21,000:1, can expect a monthly stream of tax-free prizes: two a month and three almost every other month, 28 or 29 a year totaling £1,860

From google (Jan 2024) Tho equally With Premium Bonds, for every person who wins £1 million, a lot of people have to win nothing. So the median average will always be lower than the mean average.

This means that, with average luck, most people will win less than the prize rate each year, regardless of how many bonds they hold

But many on here do have £50k and then consider moving it to an account that pays 5/6% if their bonds aren't doing very well as would then def get extra money

But remember savings /interest get taxed

PB and their winnings don't

So they do dither whether to pull out from pb and put in high interest account if not winning anything

If you have PB but not sure if you have ever won esp if moved about a lot

you can write to NS&I. Include these details in the letter:

	Current name

	Current address

	Premium Bond holder number 

	All previous addresses where you might have registered bonds

	Your signature 

You can send your letter to:

NS&I,
Sunderland
SR43 2SB.

There are 3 apps afaik

Cream - prize checker and if won previous month will show a pic - which we all get excited over 😂😂😂

White - main one with info 😄😄😄

Blue - often doesn't work for me but those who reinvest their winnings say it shows if won the day before app shows 🙀🙀🙀

Should be noted that if you are lucky enough to have full holdings you won’t see anything in the blue app even if you have won as that only shows reinvested prizes.

Now this has been debated on MANY times but seems to be correct

When do we find out

Last day of working month - Millionaire knock /call

First day of working month - list showing all winners million to £1k winners - which I always put up for those who can't find it

Second working day of month - cream app showing all winnings

Hopefully I've covered everything

Good luck one and all 😄

PREMIUM BONDS FEB 2024
OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
MyOtherProfile · 05/02/2024 14:00

And what is FH?

thecatsthecats · 05/02/2024 14:18

Interested to know why some of you went down the PB route - some of you seem to have oodles of ££ in them. Wondering if we should invest more!

I received a settlement from work after a shitty situation. I needed somewhere to bung the money safely and not think about it. Started to win small prizes after not winning anything on a couple of grand.

Then won 10k. This increased my subsequent prize rate significantly. I also added another 10k from an inheritance, again, pending investment decisions. So 40k all told and steadily returning a good %. I monitor the return, and I'm doing well Vs other easy access amounts, so no need to change anything.

FH means Full Holdings - the max 50k.

KohlaParasaurus · 05/02/2024 14:29

Interested to know why some of you went down the PB route - some of you seem to have oodles of ££ in them. Wondering if we should invest more!

I received my PCLS last year and used it to top up my own holdings and do the same for DH. It's our instant access fund in case the roof falls in or one of us needs a faceful of dental implants.

Blondeshavemorefun · 05/02/2024 14:34

MyOtherProfile · 05/02/2024 14:00

And what is FH?

Full holdings. £50k

I can only dream !!

OP posts:
CaveMum · 05/02/2024 14:49

Our situation is that MIL passed away and DH got a substantial inheritance from the sale of her house. Our mortgage is on a really low fixed rate until Sept 2025 so there was little point in paying it off when we could get a much better rate of savings interest.

We put half into the NS&I fixed rate 1yr Bond and also maxed out our ISA allowances. We put a chunk in an easy access account paying 5% so we could get at it in an emergency and decided to put the rest into PBs.

It’s temporary for us, when the tax year roles around we’ll move money around to max out the ISAs again (and then again in April 2025) so that will mean taking some money out of PBs. Eventually we will pull it all out of savings to pay off our mortgage in Sept 2025.

TashaG · 05/02/2024 16:48

Only a small amount in bonds for me. Been adding to it very slowly so it is standing at just under £500.

Winning text today - won £100 :)

1975wasthebest · 05/02/2024 16:53

TashaG · 05/02/2024 16:48

Only a small amount in bonds for me. Been adding to it very slowly so it is standing at just under £500.

Winning text today - won £100 :)

That’s a fabulous return - well done! 👏

Blondeshavemorefun · 05/02/2024 17:36

TashaG · 05/02/2024 16:48

Only a small amount in bonds for me. Been adding to it very slowly so it is standing at just under £500.

Winning text today - won £100 :)

You have £500 and won £100 @TashaG

Wow. Well done

Lovely to see small holders win

OP posts:
NextPrimeMinister · 05/02/2024 19:26

@MyOtherProfile I have them as the winnings are tax free. I pay 40% on any interest I earn over £500 (excluding ISAs) which is easy to do with current interest rates.

And I have the chance of a BIG win.

Happiestathome · 05/02/2024 23:46

I don’t max out my ISA’s and can earn quite a bit of interest tax free due to my low income, but I still save in premium bonds because of the (albeit tiny) chance of a life changing win! I like the hope of a better life. Sad I know, but it makes the days a little easier

Wingingitbestican · 06/02/2024 00:40

I initially put money in premium bonds when saving interest rates were low. I needed the money available as well so didn’t want to tie it up. I also naively thought I had a good chance of winning a big prize - think 5k plus 😂

elkiedee · 06/02/2024 03:54

I'm just after a little flutter and most of my savings are in cash ISAs, as I am expecting to need to start taking money out of them from September/October 2025 if DS1 starts university as he hopes to next year. I've moved most of my savings to a slightly higher paying account, not the top rate available but easy to organise just now.

On the Premium Bonds I'm not really expecting to win anything much but I can at least take back what I've paid in relatively easily, so I'm only gambling possible interest that I could get by adding it to a savings account. I've just opened an account this month with £25 so I won't be in the draw until April, and I will probably buy a few more by the end of this month, but it won't be very much at this point.

43ontherocksporfavor · 06/02/2024 06:33

We added to ours from a very small start over 10 years ago . Put lots more in when interest rates were low. Most we have won in a single month is £75 . Usually £25 about 3 times a year. Once we got a £50. This is in £30k so it’s not great but like the easy access, and a chance to win big .

43ontherocksporfavor · 06/02/2024 07:34

Actually DH says we’ve won about £400 in last 18 months. Going to put it in savings now as can get 5% with easy access.

Sallyingon · 06/02/2024 10:41

I do it because I don't have much money and the interest wouldn't be all that great in a savings account. I've had various amounts between £10k and 4k... currently at the lower end. I can withdraw when I want, add to it easily and there is the chance of a big win. I like the gambling aspect without losing money. Yes I know I'm probably losing a bit on interest, but actually I was pretty pleased with my winnings last year.

1975wasthebest · 06/02/2024 10:54

I feel pretty much the same as some PP’s. I don’t give a shit about the guaranteed interest of £250 for my own relatively small holding, if I were to put it in a typical savings account. More important to me is having fun with the gambling aspect, and knowing my ‘stake’ is always there when I need it.

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 06/02/2024 11:07

Shit run this month. 2x full holdings and we got £50 :-/

Is anyone else's prize checker app still not working? Mine still says something's gone wrong.

longtompot · 06/02/2024 13:41

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 06/02/2024 11:07

Shit run this month. 2x full holdings and we got £50 :-/

Is anyone else's prize checker app still not working? Mine still says something's gone wrong.

You need to uninstall and reinstall. I had to do it several times. Very frustrating when you have to type in your number each time. But touch wood seems to still be working.

Grinchinlaws · 06/02/2024 20:58

I put £10k in about a year ago and have won a total of £225 since then, all £25 wins except for this month when I won £100 - I was chuffed!

Eventually I will put my full 6 months emergency savings in PBs but currently have some in a fixed rate account. I like that the money is easily accessible, wins are tax free and there is the chance of a big win (admittedly tiny).

ThisWomansWorkNeverEnds · 06/02/2024 22:24

I think I'm going to withdraw some of my bonds and put them in a savings account. Thinking about £5k - £10k.
I don't have a cash ISA.
Looking for advice.
Would it be better to put it in a cash ISA just now or wait until the new tax year in April? Or put in another savings account?
I have a savings pot with TSB, the interest is 3.09%, I not sure if there is a maximum amount can be put into it.
Thank you for any advice!

elkiedee · 07/02/2024 04:20

If you're going to do it and you haven't already put the maximum - £20K - into a cash ISA since the beginning of the current tax year, do it now with your £5-10K. Then you keep your options for the next tax year open. Decide what's important to you in terms of access. You can probably get a little bit more than 3.09% from your TSB account even in a straightforward easy access or from a limited but accessible account - in either an ISA or a non-ISA account.

blitzen · 07/02/2024 09:17

Repost from old thread

£275 for me this month. (£25, £50, £100, £100).

So chuffed with that!

Minikievs · 07/02/2024 16:36

£50 on £26k here 😐

LondonLovie · 07/02/2024 22:59

Place holding and hoping I do better next month. £125 on full holdings

slithytoveisascientist · 08/02/2024 00:06

I don't understand ISAs at all

You put it in and get interest after a year
Then what? Move it?

Can you put another £20k in the following year so it's £40k?

Should I have ISA rather than PB?

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