Courtesy of Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis and his website

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/p...nds-calculator/

Someone once told me that you needed at least £7,500 in premium bonds to have a better than average chance of earning more than you would in a bank.

Not sure how that metric has changed given the unreliable nature of our banks

I should add that I was drunk and in a casino when this advice was given to me.

Well, at the risk of repeating myself like an old bore: it boils down to how chance/luck treats you, as Dirty Harry would say "D'ya feel lucky, punk, do ya?" Of course, that was no way to talk to his mortgage arranger.

My experience & that of some people I know - PBs gave very poor returns.

However, a rich ex-girlfriend of mine used to win above average, on the same amount invested as the rest of us.

Does that mean she's supernaturally charmed with money in life or was it just a coincidence?

As Regan in The Sweeney would say, "I don't believe in coincidence."

Well, spooky or just plain old chance, those were my experiences. But for some people they're great. They weren't for me and people I know apart from that ex, though.

Would I buy them again? No, sold the lot, the last chunk recently in fact. I'd only hold them if I were a millionaire and it was just a bit of fun to risk throwing the interest from £30k away each month. But frankly I can think of better fun than that. For example, if I really wanted to be a gambler I could invest half the interest each month in scratchcards or lottery entries. A lot more fun, odds the same or perhaps better! (But do your own research!)

2 X £50. for March.