Premium Bonds. No wins.

We win most months. Small amounts but it's something.

People saying how often or how much they win is meaningless, unless it's considered in relation to the amount they have invested. I could tell you I have a savings account that pays me £300 a year interest and another that pays only £6, but how much use is that information by itself?

With PB your capital is safe but diminishes in real value. You are gambling with the interest, so it can't be relied on to give regular dividends - your interest may be double the average, or it may all go to someone else while you get nothing.

grannyticktock
Thank goodness someone agrees with me

My uncle sent me £1 for Christmas 1957 and, in January 1958, I used it to buy a Premium Bond.
I have one from 1957 and it has also never won once. You would think it would win something in over 60 years. I'm just wondering if those old ones are still entered in the draw.

Chestnut, I'm sure I heard someone from the Premium Bond office say that they are all still in the draw until they are cashed in or the holder dies. That was a radio interview about 2 years ago and the question was asked because there are apparently a lot of people like you and I with one or two bonds that sit there for decades never winning anything.

Just won 2x£25 this month. Have £20000 ther. I know it's not beating inflation but it's very cheering to get a cheque rather than a bill through the post

£50,000 worth for over a decade and have never won a penny, Neighbour has £100 worth and wins at least once a year

grannypiper
I think I'd be inclined to sell them all and reinvest.
DH is convinced that only the newer bonds win!

Are they in a block?

I find that almost impossible to believe grannypiper.

You have had £50,000 for 10 years yet never won ANYTHING???

Ok I realise that some are luckier than others but if you are correct about the amount and time you have had them, you would surely hold the record for the unluckiest bond holder.

Premium Bonds are worth the low interest rate equivalent as they have such entertainment value with a real chance to win a lot.

I think Granny piper should ring the Premium Bonds helpline for a check.

I am puzzled how Granny piper has had £50,000 of Premium Bonds for a decade because 10 years ago the maximum was £30,000. It rose to £40,000 then £50,000 in 2015/2016.
And to have never won a prize? - Well I'd cash them in straight away!!

I think there must have been a misprint either about the amount or the duration.

Yes I had forgotten that the fifty thousand max was only introduced fairly recently.

I invested around 12k in premium bonds late 2014. I won between 100 -200 every year until 2019 when Ernie4 was upgraded to Ernie5 in March. Instead of the original random number allocation based on radio waves it is now generated by a computer made by a swiss company. I won 25 last June and nothing since. This month I cashed in the bonds and bought again in the hope that my new numbers will come out. My dd bought a 3k bond in April and she has had 7 x 25 wins since then!

I win every month - only £25 recently though.

Never won a sausage. I don't recall how many bonds I've got, (not a huge amount) there must be some paperwork somewhere. I'll have to hunt for it and write to them to either put more in (a waste of time?) or cash in, more likely.
It's a waste of time phoning them as they won't tell you due to confidentiality. I've always found them to be a complete and utter waste of time.

Only £25 in January, but since I first bought Premium Bonds, 18 months ago I think I have had £1800 back. The bank have just emailed to say they are reducing (further) the interest on my savings account so I think that will soon be converted to more PB’s (apart from a bit of “rainy day” money)

Just won another £25. That is £50 in three years on a £1000 bond. Just luck of the drawer? Or is it?

I won 2 x £25 this month. Like some of the others, I worked out my winnings over a year and it came to about 1.5%. This is not taxable so that's another bonus. I'm not much of a gambler but I am happy with my bonds.

Like others have said, frequency of winning generally depends on how many bonds you've got.
When I have checked winners on their website I have never seen anyone with just a £1 bond winning any big amounts. They show how many bonds winners hold and how long they have had them.

I worked out our winnings were 1.5 % too

I like PBs because you can cash them in quickly and have the money in your bank account within 5 days.

WE have the maximum and very seldom get anything. MIL has £10000 and wins most months but only £25. I’m hoping Ernie is saving ours for a large amount!

I get about 1.5% also.
I agree Momb, they are easy to cash, and you are not tied into keeping them for any length of time.
I don't find ISAs are worthwhile these days because interest is so low, unless you invest long term, which ain't worthwhile at my age.
I enjoy the excited anticipation at the beginning of each month (I live a sheltered life ).

I used to think it was totally random until daughter bought her 3k bond in April. Shes had 7 wins on 8 draws so a return of just under 6% with four more draws before year end. I'm not convinced Ernie5 is that random.