Silly season investing: why we put our money where our mouth is (literally)
It's summer, which means it's officially silly season - that strange time when the media focuses on stories about giant vegetables and dogs that can surf. So in that spirit, let's talk about some investments that are anything but boring.
Sure, we spend most of our time talking about sensible things such as pensions, ISAs, and diversified portfolios. And rightly so - these are the investments that'll actually help secure your financial future. But sometimes, just sometimes, it's worth putting a little money where your heart (or taste buds) are.
When investing gets personal
Take our very own Sam, for instance. She's a Chapel Down shareholder - not because she thinks English wine is the next Bitcoin, but because she loves the stuff. We're talking small amounts here - think hundreds, not thousands - money she fully expects never to see again. Her investment gets her:
A decent discount on bottles (always handy)
Invites to exclusive shareholder events
An annual pack of goodies
25% off food at their restaurant
The right to attend board meetings (which feature actual wine tasting!)
Is it a sound financial investment? Well, her shares are now worth about half what she paid for them. But ask her if she regrets it, and she'll pour you a glass and explain why some investments are about more than just numbers on a screen. It's almost philanthropic - supporting something you believe in while getting some fun perks along the way.
The fun stuff people actually invest in
The world of alternative investments is surprisingly vast and wonderfully weird. People put money into:
Entertainment ventures – Have you ever heard of The Bike Shed? Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor's trendy motorcycle venture was crowdfunded and now offers membership to its exclusive biker community. It's the kind of investment that makes you feel like you're part of something cool, even if your biggest adventure is the weekly shop. Chris put in £900 and gets special member invites. Again, money we fully expect to lose, but it's the kind of investment that makes you feel like you're part of something.
Food and drink brands - From craft breweries to artisan coffee roasters, there's something satisfying about owning a slice of businesses you can literally taste. Graze (remember those snack boxes?) sold to Unilever. Depop went to Etsy. Tails dog food found its way to Nestlé. Sometimes these David-and-Goliath stories do have happy endings.
Collectibles - During Covid, when people had extra cash and time on their hands, vintage watches became surprisingly popular investments. Classic cars, rare whisky, even Pokemon cards have had their moments in the sun.
The appeal is obvious: these investments feel tangible. You can touch them, taste them, show them off at dinner parties. Try doing that with your NVIDIA shares.
Why we love them (and why we don't recommend them)
The thing about these alternative investments is that they are enormous fun, but they're also enormously risky. They're the financial equivalent of that friend whose brilliant company but absolutely shouldn't be your emergency contact.
Most of these ventures are high-risk, speculative investments. Many won't give you your money back, let alone make you wealthy. The success stories grab headlines precisely because they're rare.
But that doesn't mean they're worthless. They can:
Get you comfortable with the idea of being a shareholder
Make investing feel more real and engaging
Give you stories to tell (and products to enjoy)
Make fantastic gifts for weddings or special occasions
Just don't confuse them with your pension.
The boring stuff that actually works
While Sam's enjoying her Chapel Down discount, her serious money is doing boring, sensible things in diversified portfolios and tax-efficient wrappers. Because the truth is that the investments that'll fund your retirement aren't usually the ones you can drink.
Our approach isn't as exciting as owning part of a trendy restaurant or a craft brewery. We won't send you exclusive member invites or annual gift boxes. But we will help you build the kind of financial security that means you can afford to buy the odd bottle of wine without worrying about whether it's a good investment.
Getting the balance right
This all ties into something we talk about a lot: getting the balance right between securing your future and enjoying your present.
Put most of your money to work in sensible, diversified investments that align with your long-term goals. But if you want to put a small amount - money you can afford to lose - into something that brings you joy – well that's not financial planning, that's life planning.
Maybe it's shares in your local brewery. Maybe it's that vintage watch you've always admired. As long as you understand the risks and it doesn't compromise your serious financial goals, why not?
After all, what's the point of building wealth if you never have any fun with it?
If you’d like to chat about the boring (but effective) stuff please give us a call. We promise we'll make it as painless as possible.
Please note: These are examples of very high-risk investments that we wouldn't advise on as part of your financial planning. Boring but safer investments are more likely to help you reach your financial goals. Also, please drink responsibly (our compliance team asked us to mention that bit!).
The information in this blog was correct as of 22 August 2025.