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Signs That You’re Prepared To Buy Your Very First Home

August 9th, 2022 Posted in Money Tips, Property Investment
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Being ready and able to buy your very first home is a huge milestone in life. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and responsibility to be able to afford even the deposit for a house. Paying off your mortgage is usually a long-term commitment that will take up a lot of your life. As such, it can be an extremely daunting process.

So in this post, we’ll be explaining a couple of signs that show you are certainly ready to buy your very first home.

Signs That You’re Prepared To Buy Your Very First Home - suburban street with terraced houses image
Photo by Martin Sepion on Unsplash

You’ve paid off most of your debts

Your financial circumstances play a huge role in when and if you should buy your very first home. If you haven’t paid off most of your debts yet and aren’t on track to do so, then you should absolutely focus on getting your finances in order first.

You know that you have job security

Job security usually means that you won’t be made redundant or replaced in the foreseeable future. It can also mean having skills and experience that are heavily sought after in the industry, meaning it’s easy for you to find a job should you lose your current one due to circumstances that are outside of your control.

You’re already doing your research

If you’re already doing plenty of research into mortgages, finances, locations, and even schools for your children, then it’s a good sign that you’re prepared to take on a mortgage. You should also look into specialists such as a mortgage broker or even financial advisors that can help you get your books in order to see how much you can afford each month. This can be a long process, but it’s extremely informative and will help you make better decisions in the long run.

You have plenty of savings


A mortgage deposit can easily be anywhere from 5% to 20% of a home’s market value. This is a huge amount of money that most people don’t have lying around. Start saving money now and you’ll find it easier to stomach a big deposit.

Your credit score is looking great

A good credit score means good mortgage rates. Before considering to buy your very first home, check your credit score in advance of researching mortgages to see what you could be eligible for.

You know where you want to live

If you’ve done research on where you want to live then it’s a sign that you’re prepared to choose a location. A lot of people find it hard to pick somewhere to live, so it pays to do your research and make up your mind ahead of time.

You’re thinking about starting a family


If you’re starting a family then you probably want to move into a larger home with more space, especially if you want to have several children.

You’re content with your career

Mortgages require you to have long-term stability and this includes your career. Making frequent switches can result in periods of no or little income, so make sure you’re content with your career so that your financial situation is stable and predictable.

You’re ready to take on the future

Of all the factors to consider when buying a home, one must be prepared for the future. This means a life away from your current conveniences, friends, and family members. It can also mean a life with your new family, and it could even involve starting a new job in some cases. If the idea of change is daunting, then you may want to hold off moving home.

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5 Tips To Make Your First Home a Little More Affordable

August 9th, 2022 Posted in Money Tips, Property Investment
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Your first home is probably one of the biggest expenses to save up for in your life. A typical mortgage deposit can be anywhere from 5% to 15% of the home’s full value which can easily be tens of thousands of pounds. It goes without saying that you should try to reduce the amount you pay for your first home to make it more affordable, and luckily there are a bunch of different ways to do this.

So here are a couple of tips to help make your first home a little more affordable.

5 Tips To Make Your First Home a Little More Affordable - aerial shot of London and the river Thames
Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash

1. Be more selective about where you purchase a home

It’s a good idea to be a little more selective when purchasing your home. Some areas can be much cheaper than busy places like central London, and even homes on the outskirts of major cities can be extremely expensive due to being in prime locations with great amenities. So unless you really want to live in a specific part of the country, we suggest trying to be more flexible with your location.

2. Check your mortgage eligibility

If you’ve got a great credit score then you have a better chance of getting a nice big mortgage for your house. This means you can afford a larger home or one in a location that you consider to be a prime choice. You’ll want to work with a mortgage broker to help you scout out the best deals, but you can prepare by getting a credit check with one of the major companies such as Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion.

3. Consider first home schemes

The government actually offers a First Home scheme for first-time buyers. With this scheme, you could get up to a 50% discount on the market value of your home. However, there are a couple of conditions that need to be met before you can claim this. For starters, the home must be a new one built by a developer or it must have been bought with a First Home discount in the past. You must also be eligible for a mortgage and your income must be below a certain threshold.

4. What about renovating a run-down property?

You can actually save a lot of money by using less conventional methods to get a home. For instance, you could consider renovating a run-down property. Buying this kind of property is fairly cheap, but the costs of renovating it can add up if you’re not careful. This requires DIY knowledge if you want to keep the costs low, but it can work with contractors too if you’re smart about your expenses.

5. Ask how much home you really need

There are many questions to ask before buying a home and you should always re-evaluate your needs and preferences to make this a bit easier. For instance, do you really need guest bedrooms? Do you really need a large garden? Does it have to be detached? Consider these questions and you might find yourself saving a lot of money.

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Are You Prepared for an Injury, or Will It Take You by Surprise?

July 25th, 2022 Posted in Money Tips, Wellbeing
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Most of us don’t really plan ahead for injuries or anything of the sort. For instance, we don’t have a pair of crutches ready and waiting for us to use, and we don’t exactly have a wheelchair that’s ready to be used in our garage. But being ready for an injury doesn’t just mean how you’ll deal with it physically–it can also mean financially or in terms of your work as well.

For example, if you’re injured and your employer doesn’t have a sick payment policy, then you may be out of luck when it comes to your income. Unless you have savings prepared in this situation, then there’s little you can do to manage your finances and you might end up running out of funds. So in this post, we’re going to discuss a couple of concepts that will help you prepare for an injury in order to minimize the impact it has on your life.

Are You Prepared for an Injury, or Will It Take You by Surprise? - person on crutches image
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Get in touch with a law firm as soon as possible

The first thing to do is get in touch with a law firm or at least look around for one in your local area. A personal injury law firm is going to be a great help in getting you back on your feet. They’ll help you recuperate the costs of a personal injury and they’ll ensure that you get the right amount of compensation from your insurance company. The entire process of speaking to your insurer and getting financial aid after an injury can be complex and daunting, so having a lawyer at your side can really make things smoother and easier.

While you don’t necessarily need to get in touch with a lawyer, it helps if you at least understand your local options so you won’t be in a panic when you are injured. The sooner you can get in touch with a professional, the easier it’ll be to recover.

Can you continue earning while injured?

One of the biggest concerns you’ll face when injured is that you won’t be able to make money. Thankfully, there are plenty of workplace policies that will give you some form of sick pay while you recover. These days may be limited or the amount may be capped, but it’s a good way to keep making money while you’re injured. However, if this isn’t an option or you work a job that doesn’t have any kind of sick pay, what choices do you have?

If you’re able to work remotely, then you could do a couple of hours each week to maintain some form of presence at work. This is usually good enough for most employers to keep paying you a full salary. Your injury might also not affect your ability to work. For instance, if you have limited mobility due to a leg or foot injury, then you might still be able to work on a computer. This isn’t ideal, but it’s still a good way of stabilizing your income while you’re injured.

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The Right Time to Hire a Professional

July 14th, 2022 Posted in Money Tips
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Living independently while undertaking tasks like DIY and replacing tyres is amazing. Independence is a good quality. You feel successful and proud when you can perform chores on your own that other people might need help with. However, there are times in life when it makes sense to look to others for help and support. There are circumstances in which you need some expertise and sound judgement. Here are a few situations that someone might encounter throughout their career. Never be afraid to seek assistance. 

The Right Time to Hire a Professional - female yoga instructor with students
Photo by Elina Fairytale:

Assistance With Health Concerns 

It is crucial to get help if medical malpractice happens. When issues or injuries arise as a result of negligence, a deviation from accepted practices, or an omission, it happens. Human error is a possibility, but it shouldn’t be anticipated when your health is in jeopardy. Malpractice can sometimes have serious repercussions. The results of the tests may be impacted, and it might be too late to correct any issues, if you request a test and they refuse to perform it or reschedule it for strange reasons. When you get assistance from professionals like OH Parsons, these issues can be resolved successfully. Even though it could be challenging to prove carelessness, you should strive to get your case handled and resolved if you think you have been damaged as a result of something that has happened. 

Advice on Accounting 

When it comes to filing your tax records, you should look for outside aid if you lack the necessary knowledge or comfort. They are professionals that are aware about all the different methods you might save money. However, they’ll make sure everything is finished properly to avoid having to pay any extra charges or taxes. They can also help you maximise your financial resources. Accountants may have received training in a range of financial disciplines to assist you in selecting the finest financial advisor. Because you won’t have to worry about missing deadlines or filing your tax returns wrong, it also considerably reduces your workload and helps things run more smoothly. 

Assistance with Exercise 

Even though it might not seem like it, whether you’ll need assistance depends on the type of task you want to complete. By themselves, riding and walking are OK. There are many enjoyable ways to exercise at your disposal. Exercises utilised in other disciplines, such as weightlifting and yoga, require caution, especially when using weights. With the range of exercises offered, where proper form and comprehension are essential, it can make the difference between an injury healing and happening. When you’re heavy, it’s simple to hurt yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing or if you’re unsure if you’re doing it correctly. The best way to ensure that you’re doing it correctly and moving in the right route is to hire a trainer or yogi, someone with knowledge in that profession. You don’t want to end up hurt, injuring yourself or even injuring others because you are not exercising and using exercise equipment in the right and safe way. 

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