Summer Break! - Luxury on the Cheap

The DIY Income Investor (and family) is going on holiday soon: 21 days of all-inclusive relaxation, away from the markets, with the portfolio on automatic pilot.

But the important point for today's post is the choice of holiday. One of the fundamental ideas behind the DIY Income Investor approach is to bear down hard on expenditure (whilst in parallel increasing income). Now, in extremis, this might mean putting off the holiday till the next year. But provided the budget allows it, at least get a holiday that is good value.

This year's choice (like last year's, and the one before) comes out at a total price that is less than that of a modest hotel room, but includes excellent food, comfortable accommodation, day-long entertainment and international travel.

The FTSE 100 - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow!

A house built on sand
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The FTSE 100: big, reliable 'Blue Chip' companies quoted on the London Stock Exchange. Shares that you can rely on for a long-term, buy-and-hold investment?

Well, generally yes. However, as I have pointed out before (in relation to dividend-paying shares), things change -possibly more than you think. Our search for stability is maybe illusory.

Portfolio Buy: Carillion (LSE:CLLN)

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The quest for sustainable income for the portfolio continues with the purchase of dividend-earning shares in Carillion. 

The company is a leading integrated support services company with a substantial portfolio of Public Private Partnership projects and extensive construction capabilities. Carillion provides expertise in commercial and industrial building, refurbishment, civil engineering, road and rail construction and maintenance, mechanical and electrical services, facilities management and the UK's Private Finance Initiative - outsourcing government investment.