willshort.co.uk home page

This page is mostly for my own amusement but I hope you may find something of interest.

First We run a small business engraving identity discs for cats and dogs which you can order online. Click the image below to go to our website.

Getting the best return from your savings

Next are you disappointed at the meager returns you are getting from your savings? Currently (spring 2012) if you get better than 3% you are doing well and you have to keep moving your money chasing the best rates. ZOPA is an online borrowing and lending exchange. It's a new (well new in 2005) idea which, as far as I know, has not been copied by anyone else. The basic principle is that members lend to or borrow from other members. This cuts out the banks allowing lenders and borrowers alike to get better rates than they could elsewhere. Here's the link:-


Preserving the value of your savings

The turmoil in financial markets over the past few years and the resulting recession have caused the UK and US governments to do things which will have a profound effect in the medium to long term. First both governments were forced to rescue several banks; I would have suffered severe loss if they had not so I'm grateful for that. Second both governments have attempted to stimulate the economies of each country by "quantitative easing" as they call it. What it boils down to is printing money thereby increasing the money supply.

Increase the availability of anything and it become less valuable. This applies to paper money just as it does to any commodity and will lead to inflation and the loss of value of the pound sterling and the US dollar. In fact it may lead to the dollar losing its reserve status, which would be as catastrophic for the US is it was for the UK when the pound lost its reserve status. Is there anything an individual can do to lessen the effects of the coming disaster? Well yes, as it happens, surprise, surprise, there is. Don't keep all your cash in paper money but diversify into precious metals. Paper money fluctuates in value according to the success of the economy issuing it. By some measures in historical terms gold is currently undervalued. Gold is a store of constant value; a lump of gold is today worth pretty much what it always was. It may take more or fewer pounds or dollars to buy that lump depending on how people value the paper currencies.

There are issues connected to the ownership of something valuable, not least security. However, I have discovered bullionvault which enables ordinary citizens to own gold without any of the prolems of security, delivery or storage. Please be aware that I am not qualified to give financial advice and am not suggesting that owning gold is right for everyone. If you are interested in learning more here is the link:-
Buy gold online - quickly, safely and at low prices

Interested in woodwork?

I like making things in wood and have a modest but useful workshop at home. One thing I struggle with is the leap from idea to a plan which sometimes means I change my mind part way through a project. How good would it be to have a library of properly thought out plans drawn and presented in an understandable way? Quite good I reckon. I have found a thing called Teds Plans which you can buy which contains many (I mean hundreds) of properly drawn woodwork plans which you can use as presented or adapt to your own requirements. I'm not entirely sure who Ted is but I'm fairly sure he is an American and his plans are addressed to an American audience so dimensions may need some adjustment if you prefer to work in metric. Click the image below to find out more.
TedsWoodworking Plans and Projects