evlPanda said.. Rudebeef said..
Well thanks for the replies. Not exactly what I was expecting, I think only the Lego idea is within my price range.
Lets say 2-3k, hanging onto whatever it may be for 3-5 years and looking to do better than 4.5% with a term deposit so will have to settle for higher risk.
Certainly not in for the big money, was more thinking of a sit and wait sorta forced savings for later.
Like Mark_Australia said. "Rent out shares". Write options.
You can even rent out shares you don't own. It's fantastic.
Basically an option is as its name suggests. You purchase an option to buy or sell a share at a future date. You can buy options or write options.
A few grand is a nice amount for playing with options.
Disclaimer: I don't trade options.
Be careful writing options for shares you don't own (naked call options). The potential loses can be greater than your initial investment. Be prepared to find cash for margin calls if the market moves the opposite way to what you predicted. If you can't afford margin calls then you should probably not be trading this particular side of the market.
Having said that, writing options for shares you do own (script covered call options) can provide downside protection and increase the return on the shares and the 'downside' is know (sort of) at the start.
Think of options as a leveraged investment, if you pick the market direction correctly you can make much more than if you invested the same money direct in shares.
Likewise, if you pick it wrong, the market may spank you like a Naish X3.
Do your homework before trading options and understand what the affect of both a rising or falling market will have on your position.
Know the possible outcomes!!! Options can be used to profit from a falling, or, for that matter, stagnant market (depending on the strategy you take).
Options are general traded on parcels of shares in multiples of 1000 shares, so this sets the 'floor' that you can enter the market at.
Suggested reading: "Understanding options trading in Australia" by Christopher Tate
Disclaimer: I read the above book >10 years ago and made some good returns on reasonably conservative (for options) strategies, haven't traded options for years (I gave the share portfolio to the ex wife in exchange for going kiting whenever I want. ie divorce)