Shares can be VERY worthwhile but ut really is a 50/50 chance you take, if you are new to share dealing then Google it and read up on some of the information that is freely available. Shareshops can be an easy way into the process in terms of buying..
Would advise watch ing the oil shares because lots of these oil companies (the small ones I mean) have shares selling at a few pence and then are absorbed by the bigger companies and people assume that this will make them money, this ISNT always guarenteed. I am not sure what the technical term is but they can simply (by law) just pay the holding value and relieve you of your shares!!
This happened when shell took over Dragon Oil (think thats what they were called), they were a small company and it was leaked that Shell were interested in them and lots of people bought shares at a few pence and then expected the price to jump which didnt happen because of the above process...