I have a small quantity of shares in Aviva PLC. I have no clear idea why I have them, I believe they evolved from an ancient school prize for reading a book or something else. In about 1973, I was given perhaps 50p in a building society account. Multiple unfathonable take-overs later, and by 2009 I end up with a bunch of shares in Aviva which pay me about £10 a year in dividends. Big deal you say.
Now they want to know if I want to enrol in a "scrip dividend" which is they give me more shares, instead of a few pounds annual dividend.
This is a toy quantity of money, and I have utterly no opinion good or bad about Aviva, I'm prepared to consider any viewpoint. So is it sign up for a scrip dividend, or let then continue to send me a very small cheque now and then?
Theyve just anounced theyre sacking 1700 workers, at the call centres, so you could donate it to them.
Really? I already know much more than I did about them!
Theyve just anounced theyre sacking 1700 workers, at the call centres, so you could donate it to them.
I'm not sure a £10 per year dividend is really going to make that much difference to them to be honest.
For £10 a year, I'd gamble on the additional shares. You'll not miss the £10 and who knows, it might build up into a reasonable amount. Remember, every share you "buy" like this then gets a dividend too.
Did a similar thing with HBOS (dont laugh) shares a while ago, instead of getting 70quid a year got extra shares.
Now I get more of nowt than I did before!