April was an absolute rollercoaster; financially speaking, emotionally speaking, and at some times literally speaking! Easter holiday in The Netherlands: Efterling, tandems and nature reserves I mentioned on my last update that we headed off to The Netherlands during the first week of the kids Easter holidays. We drove across to Hull and got the ferry overnight to Rotterdam. First up, we headed north to Zandvoort staying in an apartment. The owner of the apartments showed us around, including getting to hold the 1-day old guinea pigs! The next day we picked up a couple of tandem bikes and set off on a 30km route across the tulip fields at Keukenhof and on to the beach and sand dunes, very cool! Had some amazing fish at a place called Hoogies. The morning after we popped in at the Formula 1 track at Zandvoort, free entry and literally no one about, apart from half a dozen people out on the track in their own cars, very fun to watch! We then headed south to Gouda, did a Sirupwaffle...
So, I fell down a bit of a rabbit hole recently. Having been an "index tracker and chill" kinda guy for the past 5 years, I've recently discovered the hidden benefits of owning individual shares. These benefits are aside from the usual (hopeful!) growth of the shares in question, as well as any dividends paid out, I'm talking about Shareholder perks! P remier Inn free breakfasts, Ferry and Eurotunnel discounts, restaurant and wine vouchers, you name it! Top picks for me Obviously the top picks depends on what kind of thing you buy! However the stand out ones for me are: Whitbread Free Premier Inn Breakfasts (for up to 4 adults) Minimum amount 64 shares ( ~£1,600) Mitchells & Butler Pub/restaurant vouchers Minimum amount 1 share ( ~£2.75) Distribution: Sent once per year (late December / early January) Notes: You receive one booklet with ~12 vouchers per year Must be on the shareholder register by late Nov / early Dec I know, I know, I hear you cry: "don...