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Legal, pensions and money

Premium Bonds. No wins.

(87 Posts)
watermeadow Sun 15-Dec-19 20:01:02

I know the number of prizes has been cut but I want to know whether other people think that prizes have been more or less abandoned?
How many wins did you get during 2019 compared to previous years?
I bought £10,000 worth a year ago then the same again in April and have won nothing at all. Am I the only one?

rosenoir Tue 14-Jan-20 17:35:43

Just checked my prize history, in the last 5 years there has only been 6 months that I have not won, most was £100.Mostly £25.

quizqueen Tue 14-Jan-20 17:53:02

My 2 daughters have the full whack and usually win about £50 every month on average. I have about £20,500 and win £25 about 9-10 times a year. My ISA was only offering 1/2% interest so I spent it on a car and the house.

If you look on the N&SI website it details how many premium bonds the winners of the big amounts have and what size of bundle of bonds the winning number came from and how long they have been held. I like to see it when someone, who only has a few hundreds worth, wins the million; it does happen.

WOODMOUSE49 Tue 14-Jan-20 20:26:20

I have had the max amount for 18 months. Bought them in two big amounts.

Won every month. Total amount won = 2.5% interest on the £50,000.

I can't afford to lock that amount away for fixed terms and need flexibility to access the amount when I need it, Have done this four times.

Research told me not to buy in tiny amounts., Big amounts stand a much better chance. Most I've won is £125 - 3 times now.

kissngate Mon 20-Jan-20 19:58:39

Checked my winnings online on 12k in 4 yrs from January 15 to January 19 and it was 2.5% pa. In 2019 it was 0.2 %, not sure it was a coincidence that Ernie5 started generating the numbers in February and my numbers only came out once all last year.

Greeneyedgirl Tue 21-Jan-20 09:02:15

Is Ernie 5 partisan do you think kissngate? Does he only dole out to chums or how does it work, or do the mean NS keep some for themselves? confused
I think as interest rate goes down prizes diminish accordingly, soon there'll be hardly anything.
Love your name btw.

tessagee Tue 21-Jan-20 17:30:03

I've had mine since 2003 and have never won a penny. In fact after watching The Money Show last night I decided to cash them in and have a good holiday.
I'm really cross that I invested them in the first place. If I'd put the money in even a low interest account they would have made something by now. A salutary lesson to me for future savings!

kissngate Tue 21-Jan-20 21:23:42

Greeneyedgirl - definitely partisan last year, choosing new chums and rewarding them very well. I'm hoping he will take pity on me and reward my new numbers in the draw from March with a nice big bonus.

As for my name I was sat there wondering what handle to give myself while watching two wood pigeons cuddle up and kiss on our side gate and I had my name.

kissngate Wed 05-Feb-20 23:06:29

For info daughter won another 25 this month on 3k. At this rate she is likely to get a 10% return from 12 draws.

Callistemon Wed 05-Feb-20 23:10:36

The pigeons are getting rather romantic kissngate - a good name!

Littleannie Wed 05-Feb-20 23:14:52

Well, I have held several thousands for 53 years and never won a penny!

WOODMOUSE49 Wed 05-Feb-20 23:50:13

For info from my previous post. Another win £25 today.

Every month now for 18 months. 3% interest so far.

DanniRae Thu 06-Feb-20 09:18:59

I have the full amount and won 2 x £25 this month smile

Liz46 Thu 06-Feb-20 10:00:21

I won another £25 today. Still happy with the bonds.

Gagagran Thu 06-Feb-20 10:18:16

Won 3 x £25 in Feb. draw (hold full amount) Most I have won is one £500 but had lots of £25s and a few £50s. Very pleased with my bonds and enjoy looking to see if I have won anything each month.

Annie26 Thu 06-Feb-20 10:26:52

I have the full amount and didn't win anything this month and last month only won £25. It feels like Ernie is neglecting me sometimes!

jo1book Thu 06-Feb-20 11:27:49

Just had a email to say I have a win. Can't remember my login and husband has put my numbers with his numbers (One of these days I will swing for him) and can't remember where.
It will probably take time to sort it and then find out it's ony £25.

kissngate Sat 09-May-20 19:38:27

Told you Ernie5 was partisan. Someone from County Durham won 25k in April and £25k in May on the same bond. Since found out other bond holders have won large amounts on same bond more than once in past 12 months. NSI told me to take it up with the Govt Actuary Dept.

Keeper1 Sat 09-May-20 21:32:31

If your numbers are not “winning” why not cash them in and reinvest to get different numbered bond?

mrsmopp Sat 09-May-20 21:42:06

They are still worth having as interest rates on savings are pathetic. I’ve had several wins and I check on the iPad app if I’ve won. It’s a bit of fun.

Justwidowed Sat 09-May-20 22:03:58

I worked there from 1959 to 1968.Maximum then was £500 and had only increased to £800 when I left.£25 was the lowest win but it then increased to £50 and later reverted to £25.I won £25 on a £1 bond and it was a lot of money in the the 1960 s.I have had the maximum since December 2018 and have won most months all £25 totalling £600.I like the thrill on the 2nd of each month.Altho I would like the Million pound agent to come on the last day of the previous month !!

Luckygirl Sat 09-May-20 22:49:57

It is very rare for me not to win something each month and the annual interest that I earn is far greater than any other non-risky investment.

GabriellaG54 Wed 13-May-20 00:21:34

All you ladies seem to be 'well covered' for any fall in income resulting from the virus epidemic.
Here's me thinking that the majority of GNers were struggling and worrying about finances.
I don't now feel so bad about spending a few quid in Primark or £139 on a scarf from Sahara. hmmgrin

catladyuk Wed 13-May-20 00:38:16

I bought my new baby daughter a bond in 1966 and in 1970 it won the then top prize of £25,000. That surely proves that it makes no difference how many bonds you own. Over the years I have bought several more and when I was made redundant in 1997, I invested the money in a block of 9,000 bonds. I have had several wins within that block, but never more than £50 and that only once!

notanan2 Wed 13-May-20 02:52:05

All you ladies seem to be 'well covered' for any fall in income resulting from the virus epidemic.

I was thinking that!
Isnt "the full amount" 50k?
Surprised at the number of posters with the full amount. If you believed everything you read on other threads on here you'ld think GNers were all barely getting by!

JenniferEccles Wed 13-May-20 22:45:43

One of this month’s one million pound prizes went to someone with just SEVEN POUNDS worth of bonds !!

How incredibly lucky was that?