once per year or once per quarter? For a relative novice to individual share selection, I'd recommend a drip-feeding approach (although some investors say "the time to buy is always now" - which I strongly disagree with). You could be making perhaps four purchases per year over several years, to build up a good portfolio. If your dealing costs are low (say 1% comission or less), you may be able to make a purchase almost every month. With these volatile markets - and with the volatilityb likely to last for several more years - periodic buying may manage to scoop some serious bargains. Of the blue chip shares in my portfolio, almost all of them are companies whose services/products I use day in, day out. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these are the shares that cause me least concern and whose value I feel most confident about. One exception to this rule is BAE (in which I own shares), but here, I can feel confident that a good % of my tax payments will end up in its coffers from time to time, some of which will be returned to me as dividend payments! Thanks for your replies. I intend to keep contributing the full allowance for my Isa for the next 10yrs. I am looking to buy all of my shares over the summer. Depending on the market. These shares will be long term holdings. I have looked at the boards suggested by you and although I have found some of it