How to Invest £1000 – The Complete Guide

Looking at how to invest £1,000? A thousand pounds is a decent sum of money with which to start your investment journey. It will allow for a reasonable rate of growth before fees start to eat away at your potential gains. However, there are many pitfalls to avoid when investing your cash and in order to maximise on your returns, it is advisable to conduct as much research as possible. You might also consider an independent financial advisor if you have a considerably larger sum to invest.

In this guide on how to invest 1,000 pounds, I’ve done the leg work for you, comparing fees, historical returns, products and providers in order to provide you with the best possible solutions as well as an idea of how you can expect your money to grow.

Of course, what works for one person, is not always the best option for another, so below I have detailed the various options to suit individuals, depending on your stage in life, and how much access you require to the funds in question.

Questions you should ask yourself before you invest £1,000

If you have £1,000 burning a hole in your pocket and want to put it to the best possible use, then you may be looking for the best investment to grow your wealth. There are several considerations to take into account, which I will explore in some detail throughout this article, however, before you even consider investing £1,000, you should ask yourself the following four questions:

Do You Have Any Debt?

The first question to ask yourself is whether you currently have any debt collecting interest. The interest you pay on the debt will often outweigh the gains you could earn from investing your cash. Therefore I always recommend that you pay off any debt before you look to invest.

Can You Afford To Lose Your £1,000?

This may seem like an odd question, no one wants to reduce their capital, however, investing is a risky activity and whilst there are ways to mitigate your risk with a truly diversified portfolio, there is still always a level of risk that remains and the value of your initial investment can do down as well as up. Therefore, you need to ask yourself whether you can afford to lose your money, and if not, you may be better off finding a savings account with a good interest rate. Refer to our guide to Cash ISAs for information on the best interest rates currently available.

How Long Can You Leave The Money Invested?

This is an important question as in order to ride out volatility in the stock market, it is always recommended that you leave your money invested for a minimum of 5 years. Should you require access sooner, then investing may not be for you.

What is Your Investment Objective?

Knowing what you are investing for is the key to picking the right type of investment for you. Are you hoping to buy your first home or save towards your pension? Are you saving up for a holiday or a new car? Establish your long term and short term objectives early on in the process in order to guarantee success.

Best Ways to Invest £1,000

Once you have established that you are ready to start your investment journey, you may be looking for the best or most lucrative investment for your £1,000. There are several vehicles that can help you along your journey and here I have outlined what I perceive to be the best ways to grow your investment.

Also consider: Your Comprehensive Guide to UK Treasury Bonds

Stocks and Shares Lifetime ISA

A stocks and shares Lifetime ISA would be our first pick for anyone aged between the ages of 18 and 40 who won’t need access to their money for the foreseeable future. Lifetime ISAs are designed to help people save to purchase their first home, or alternatively for their retirement. The best thing about them is that they attract a very generous 25% government bonus when you deposit into your Lifetime ISA account. That means your £1,000 would have generated an income of £250 the moment you deposit into your LISA. This is your growth before you have even invested your £1,000 and represents by far the most efficient way to grow your wealth.
However, there are stipulations that you would have to adhere to in order to fully utilise this account. A stocks and shares Lifetime ISA can only be used to purchase your first home, or as a pension fund when you hit the age of 55. Any early withdrawals will incur a penalty.

There are many providers who can offer a stocks and shares Lifetime ISA, however, I have outlined our recommendations below:

Self Invested Personal Pension

The next best way to grow your £1,000 quickly is to invest in your future by putting your money into a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). Like the best Lifetime ISAs, depositing your money into a SIPP will attract a government bonus which varies according to your tax bracket. For basic rate taxpayers, your £1,000 contribution into a SIPP will attract an additional £200 from the taxman. This means you have instantly grown your pot to £1,200 before you have even invested the funds. Higher rate taxpayers will earn an additional £400 although this will need to be claimed when you submit your tax return.

There are a number of SIPP providers who I have covered in more detail in my How to Start a Pension Guide, however, below are our top picks for pension providers:

Stocks and Shares ISA

An investment ISA may not attract a government bonus, however, they do offer full flexibility when investing and any earnings are tax-free. Investment ISAs have performed well in recent years with an average rate of return of 4.8% for 2017/18 and 4.04% for 2018/19. This means that in your first year you could average a return of £48 increasing your pot to £1,048. Over the course of five years, and given the miracle of compounding, using these average rates of return, your pot could be worth £1,263.81.

Of course, as always with investing, there are no guarantees and the value of your investments can go down as well as up. Below are our top picks for best investment ISA providers:

How to Invest £1,000 on the Stock Market

The above providers are both particularly good for their investment funds, which can open up the world of investing to new and inexperienced investors. However, more seasoned investors may want to consider a platform that allows them to conduct trading by selecting their own shares from the FTSE 100 and building their own portfolio. Therefore we have outlined our recommendation for best investment ISA for a ‘do it yourself’ trader.

Other Smart Ways to Invest £1,000

If investing in the stock market isn’t for you, then don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with several other ways you can make the most of £1,000.

Invest in Starting a Side Business

If you have an idea lurking in the back of your head and would love to get it off the ground, then this might be your opportunity. Income from a side business can do wonders for your personal finance and it is often possible to get started with very little investment.

Invest in Your Education

Often the best way to invest £1,000 would be to further your education and personal development. This can lead to an immediate and long-lasting return on your investment as well as a welcome boost to your career.

Is it safer to put my £1,000 straight into a savings account?

Yes, if safety is your number one goal, then a savings account will guarantee that you will get back what you put in. However, I haven’t recommended this course of action within this article as with interest rates at such an all time low, your money will actually fail to keep up with inflation and will end up losing value over time.

This is why I recommend that you invest your money. Whilst investing does carry some level of risk, there is always the option to select a cautious portfolio where the provider has taken steps to mitigate your exposure to risk.

Should you still not want to invest due to the associated risks, then please refer to my Guide to the Best Cash ISAs to discover where you can find the best rates available for your cash.

Please be aware that whilst I have taken every measure to ensure that the information within this article is accurate, this cannot be considered financial advice and should you require advice for your unique situation, you would be best to seek the services of a financial advisor.

FAQs about investing £1000