[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Hugh

And do we really think there are half a million pensioners with £20k spare a year around?

Seems that way.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/bu...s-9979409.html

Rachel Springall, a spokeswoman for Moneyfacts, told the Press Association that applying online could be the quickest way to get your hands on a pensioner bond.

"These deals will be taken up very quickly. Pensioners could be cashing in their current savings pots to invest in these new bonds, as both the high rates and link to the NS&I will be seen as an attractive proposition for them," she said.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...s-website.html

Telling savers not to panic, NS&I insisted the fixed-rate bonds would not sell out – saying it would be several months before sales reach the Treasury's £10billion limit.

But financial experts said they could go within weeks or even days, warning it could be a case of 'blink and you'll miss them'.

Susan Hannums, at comparison website Savingschampion.co.uk, said: 'Experts have been warning NS&I for months that demand for the long awaited pensioner bonds would be high.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/p...-to-apply.html

How great is the danger that Pensioner Bonds will run out before I can invest?

Savings rates analysts have urged savers to apply quick as the bonds are expected to be extremely popular.

Anna Bowes, of Savings Champion, the rate monitoring website, said she expects them to “fly off the shelves”.

So that's NS&I saying they'll sell out, 'financial experts', 'savings rates analysts, Moneyfacts and Savings Champion just from a 5 minute Google.

So, yes, it certainly does appear that there are half a million pensioners with the required capital. Joys of being on the good side of the housing market, final salary pension schemes, etc.

EDIT: Hugh - here's a thought. There are mortgage deals out there that are considerably lower than this 4% rate that the Chancellor is using our taxes to subsidise. If you were a homeowner using equity release or extending your mortgage to invest in this scheme would deliver a profit. A taxpayer subsidised profit. How insane is that?