[kerrsclyde]

As a result of being a bit obsessed with fool.com around the turn of the millenium I invested some money into Index Funds. I still have these investments now and they have tripled in value.

My wife and I have made far more money via house sales however, due to the rise in UK house prices in recent years.

I'd agree most people I know don't directly invest in the stock market. You use to hear much more small talk about stock market investing 20 years ago than you do now.

Maybe:

Less money to invest (price of housing / cost of living etc)

Difficulty focusing on the longer time frame required for stock market investing

Big push in the UK on investing into pensions

[noduerme]

This is a really interesting perspective. Yes, your reasoning seems sound. I'm in the States - I would have assumed that the UK would be a much trickier place to invest in real estate than here.

It definitely seems to be a world-wide trend for people to stop planning long term futures and start betting on whatever crypto or other bubble seems hottest.

Having tripled in value I assume you're happy with your mutual funds; but that's not where you're going as a long-term strategy? And if not, why?