This week I did something slightly different. Two small buys — one ETF I've been curious about for ages, and one individual share I've wanted to own for a while.
First: £100 into the SPCX ETF. This is the SPDR S&P Kensho Space Economy ETF — and yes, it holds SpaceX. Not directly (SpaceX is still private), but through various publicly-traded companies that have SpaceX exposure, plus other space-related companies. Why? Honestly, because I find the space sector fascinating and wanted a tiny piece of it in my portfolio. It's speculative, it's niche, and I know that. That's why it's a small position — £100, about 0.5% of my portfolio. If it goes to zero I'll be annoyed but not hurt. If the space economy takes off over the next 20 years, I've got a seat on the rocket. Is it sensible investing? Debatable. Is it fun? Absolutely. Sometimes you just want to own something interesting.
Second: £100 into Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). This is much more my speed — a boring, established, dividend-paying company that's been around since 1886. JNJ has increased its dividend for over 60 consecutive years. It makes everything from Band-Aids to cancer drugs. It's the kind of company that keeps chugging along regardless of what the economy is doing. The share price has been under a bit of pressure lately — talc litigation, some patent expiries — but I'm not buying for next month or next year. I'm buying for the next decade. At my age, that's either brave or foolish. Time will tell.
So that's £200 total. £100 into a speculative space ETF and £100 into one of the most boring, dependable companies on Earth. Balance, as they say, is everything.
I'm keeping both positions tiny. The SPCX holding is pure curiosity — I want to watch it and learn. The JNJ holding is the start of what might become a larger position if the price stays attractive. But for now, small steps.
As always: this is what I did with my own money. It's not a recommendation. Do your own research. All investing carries risk — you can lose money, and past performance doesn't predict future returns. SPCX is a niche thematic ETF — it's concentrated, it's volatile, and it might not be suitable for most investors. I'm comfortable with the risk because the position is tiny relative to my overall portfolio.