These are all-round mad times. The People have unilaterally decided that lockdown is over and are going about their business. I have mixed feelings about this, but at the same time, I managed to have a BBQ with my bubble over the weekend and take my niece for an ice cream for the first time this year, which has been very beneficial in terms of mental health. It was great to see the family and in particular, the little ones.
With the world opening back up, stock markets have been quite volatile. EasyJet shares have been all over the show, but are, more or less 100% up from their lows in March, which is remarkable. I even saw the familiar orange and white livery flying in the distance as I walked the dogs this morning.
Travel is back on!
Movement of people and general mobility is good for the world. Stuff and people moving from A to B creates demand, wealth and tax revenues. This however, has to be tempered with the fact there is still a virus out there which we all now seem to have forgotten about and are just accepting that this is the way it’s going to be from now on.
I won’t lie, I think we’re jumping the gun as a nation. We are going shopping again as of yesterday and social distancing, mask wearing and everything else we’ve been so concerned about for the last 12 weeks or so, is now little more than a serving suggestion for life, rather than a rule.
At TMM we’ve had a couple of developments since last week. Dave has been ploughing on with selling the mass of postage stamps he’s acquired thanks to Kantar, Chris has been focussing on our business with even more rigour (and landed a couple of sales), and I’ve been given the painting by numbers that is maintaining the website.
Stamp Success
Dave has liquidated the stamps and raised around £220 in cash. This will be reflected in the June monthly update that will be published in July. It will drop the value of our fund, but has certainly given us more flexibility now we’ve got cash in the bank rather than stamps in a desk drawer.
Royal Ascot started today, which has been good for some matched betting and with the football starting tomorrow, I will be hitting the offers hard and to hell with the bookies and their gubbings, although I am not sure how keen they will be to be losing ANY customers at the moment – let’s wait and see what they do.
I’ve been persevering with surveys, with Opinium and Prolific ticking over nicely. I’ve also been looking in more depth at Investment Clubs for TMM. I know we’ve been banging on about this for a while, but it’s stepped up a bit in the last week or so as we look for something a little more stable. We’ve got a few £ in the fund which is sitting there doing nothing at the moment, other than losing value.
Where to put our cash?
Now is a great time to be investing in start ups and the like and I would love for us to be putting money into Seedrs or CrowdCube, but unfortunately that is not possible as Chris’ job places a few restrictions on this kind of investment. Apart from that however, trying to come to consensus on higher-risk start ups would also be a potential stumbling block. I have invested in this type of asset in the past and have successfully exited from a couple, with a decent return, but make no bones about it, this type of investment isn’t for the faint hearted, and so, as ever we need to say what we always have to say…this isn’t advice, seek out professional advice if you are considering making any investments. Don’t do it, just because you read about it on here. We, and in particularly I, are no benchmark for anyone!
Following on from my Football Index post from last week, I took my own advice and spent the rest of the money in the account to varying effect. Lionel Messi was a good buy; Gini Wijnaldum less so.
We’ve not been looking at any new initiatives per se, but have made an investment through our company in some stock (a considerable diversification from what our normal business activities are) which we hope will yield a positive return. If the worst comes to the worst, we should be able to break even on it; as always though, it is never straightforward and trying to find the right platform to sell. We’ll report back in the monthly report.
As we come to the end of yet another cracking Corona Virus diary, don’t forget that Gregg’s are opening up soon, Timpson’s is already open. Time to get yourself a sausage roll and some keys cut. Keep the money moving!
I wonder if Timpsons staff are allowed too and their kids to school? They are key workers after all..
Dad joke alert 😀
Booo. Resign.
I’m with you about jumping the gun – what with the recent protest gatherings and the shops reopening, I think some people have forgotten that the virus is still out there, infecting and killing. Up our way, there have been illegal raves with thousands attending – I just don’t understand why some people value their social lives more than their own health, or that of their friends and family. Or maybe I’m just old!
Good luck with the matched betting and also the Football Index 😉
Being curmudgeonly is a gift which comes with age; embrace it.
This weekend, as with the last 2 or 3, it seems that people have decided it’s all over; there was a chap in the Telegraph this week who said he’s opening his pubs, with or without Government approval, on 4th July as to remain closed will be the end of his business.
Lockdown is over. The Government has lost all authority; let’s just pray that they don’t need to impose a 2nd lockdown as no one will listen to them.
In the meantime, there’s £ to be made!