World Savings Day winners, 3 of 3
Valentin from Bulgaria was watching TV with his family when our World Savings Day draw picked his name. Here’s what happened next.
On 31 October, World Savings Day, we held a live draw for everyone who invested in SaveSmart for 12 months during October. Every €1,000 invested was one ticket. Three names came out. The third prize, €1,000, went to Valentin.
He was at home with his family, watching TV.
“She couldn’t believe it”
Did he think he had a chance? “Maybe a tiny one. I wasn’t entirely sure, but of course I was really hoping I would win!”
The first person he told was his wife.
“At first she couldn’t believe it! Then she immediately started checking her own email, hoping she’d won too.”
The quick round
Four quick questions, no overthinking.
- His first thought“This is a scam.”
- If his money had a personalityA gardener: plants it and waits
- How often he checks his investmentsEvery day, sometimes twice
- The prize is going towardA trip
How it started
“What finally pushed me was the desire to stay ahead of inflation. I realised that simply saving money wasn’t enough, because its value was slowly being eaten away. I wanted my money to work for me rather than just sit in a bank account.”
A friend recommended Afranga. “I didn’t have any particular expectations, so I gave it a try with a small first investment. As I got more comfortable with the platform, I gradually increased the amount.”
Anything surprising? “Not really, to be honest. What impressed me was how simple and straightforward the whole process was.”
The honest part
The worst money advice he ever got: “To just keep all my money in the bank for peace of mind.”
One difference worth knowing: money in a bank deposit is covered by a deposit guarantee scheme. Investments with Afranga, including SaveSmart, are not.
The money mistake he can laugh about now: “Trying to time the market and waiting for the perfect moment to invest. While I was waiting for the perfect opportunity, I was probably missing plenty of good ones!”
Do his friends know he invests? “Some do, and some are curious about it. I believe everyone should make their own financial decisions based on their goals and risk tolerance.”
“Spend less on things you don’t really need, and stop trying to impress anyone. Start investing as early as possible. Time is your greatest advantage!”
Valentin’s advice to himself at 20
For anyone who has never invested
“Don’t be afraid to take the first step. Start small, with an amount you feel comfortable with, and take the time to understand what you’re investing in. Don’t expect to get rich overnight, and don’t invest money you can’t afford to lose.”
Valentin’s €1,000 is going on a trip. We suspect his wife will have a say in where.
Valentin’s answers were lightly edited for length.
Meet the other winners
- Martial, France, first prizeHe was sure it was a scam. It was a €3,000 prize.
- Alessio Bottiglieri, second prizeHe’d never won anything. His boss said it was a scam.
The World Savings Day draw was run under its published terms and conditions. Prize amounts are prizes from the draw, not investment returns.
Afranga is licensed as a European Crowdfunding Service Provider (ECSP) by the Financial Supervision Commission of Bulgaria, Resolution 863/12.09.2023. Capital at risk. Not covered by any deposit guarantee scheme or investor compensation scheme. Afranga EOOD, Reg. No: 206337510.
The views in this article are the winner’s own and are not investment advice.
