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Re:Cryptocurrency chaos as China cracks down on ICOs by Nursie on Wednesday September 13, 2017 @05:30AM (#15236740)
Saving's a poor idea at the moment because the interest rates on offer are so tiny.

Looking at the last 25(ish) years of UK data the base rates have tended to be above inflation, until the 2008 crisis.

But yes, inflation will slowly devalue your debt if the debt is a static amount, borrowing can be a good driver of growth, when managed well. And sitting on piles of currency is not good either - the currency is a medium of exchange, not a store of value, it's better to encourage the economy by encouraging investment over hoarding.

Further, deflationary currency values work yesterday over work today, helping people lock in value and higher wealth purely by being older entrants into the market.

Re:Cryptocurrency chaos as China cracks down on ICOs by dnautics on Wednesday September 13, 2017 @11:51PM (#15244876)
Inflationary currency values work done tomorrow over work done yesterday. If there's a major catastrophe, like, say a giant hurricane that devastates a coastal state with a healthy economy, then the returns on work done tomorrow have a effect that can cascade through the economy magnified by the money multiplier. On the other hand, if you valued work done yesterday, and a bunch of value is destroyed by a major disaster, it is a sunk cost, not an unfunded liability that affects the person who depends on the payment of that liability, and the person who depends on that person, and so forth.
Re:Cryptocurrency chaos as China cracks down on ICOs by richardknop on Wednesday September 13, 2017 @06:09AM (#15236920)
The thing is I really entered economy (got a university degree and started working full time and getting paid) around 2011. So in my life I have never experienced a time period which was good for savers.

Just seems to me that as a saver I never get a break in this economic system. I feel pressure to go into debt and take some crazy loans just not to be left behind.

I think my work experience is quite short though, just 6 years or so. Over longer period of time, since economy moves in cycles, there will be a cycle with higher interest rates (like 5-10 percent) which will again be good for savers. Waiting for this cycle to arrive :)

Re:Cryptocurrency chaos as China cracks down on ICOs by phaemon on Wednesday September 13, 2017 @09:49AM (#15238196)
The advice today is pretty much the same as it was 5 years ago: buy into a low cost fund. Since you're in the UK, through a Stocks & Shares ISA.

I recall the same complaints about low interest rates back in 2012, but the returns from, for example, the Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity over the last 5 years were 16.07%, 9.16%, 8.00%, 10.84%, 17.04%. A bit better than a savings account. Of course, when there's another market crash the value will drop, but there you go.