Over longer periods of time (five years or more), investments such as stocks, shares and funds have the potential to give you higher returns compared to cash savings. But the value of investments can fall as well as rise. There is a chance you may get back less than you put in. Ensure you have safety net savings before starting to invest. Eligibility criteria, fees and charges apply.
Overlay
You could win £10,000
Plus 100 other cash prizes, including 10 prizes of £1,000 and 100 prizes of £100.
For a chance to win:
- Set up a monthly contribution of £50 or more into a Stocks and Shares ISA, General Investment Account or Junior ISA or
- Increase your existing monthly contribution by at least £50
Enter by 6th October 2026. T&Cs, fees and charges apply. Your capital is at risk. Free entry route available.
Investing regularly – the benefits
By investing what you can afford on a regular basis – and forgetting about it – those small amounts could soon turn into something worth having. Here are a few of the potential benefits of forming a regular investment habit.
-
01
Even out the ups and downs
The markets rise and fall all the time, so if you’re investing a lump sum and then the market experiences a fall, it could take a while before your money builds back up again.
By investing regularly, you could benefit from highs and lows in the market – what they call ‘pound cost averaging’ – and this helps cut down the risk of investing when the market is high.
-
02
Stay rational
Investing regularly removes the worry of trying to decide when to invest or withdraw your money. Trying to time the market is difficult and is often driven by emotion. And it’s thought of as a riskier, short-term approach.
Making a regular payment every month over the longer term, five years or more, means you invest whether the times are thought of as ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
-
03
Invest what you don’t need
You don’t always spend the same amount of money every month – sometimes you’ll have more of your pay left over than others. Investing regularly means you can squirrel any extra cash away and build your pot up quicker.
