Pass Inheritance to your Family with these 5 Easy Steps

29.7.22

When we pass away, it’s comforting to know that our loved ones will be well looked after. Depending on the value of your assets and estate, your family could have to pay thousands in inheritance tax or suffer undue stress if your affairs aren’t in order. This is why making the necessary arrangements for the future is so important! Fortunately, there are a variety of cost-effective ways to pass on our inheritance to loved ones when the time does come, and in this post I'm going to share just five of these.


Make a Will

Writing your will is one of the essential stages of estate planning. Your will dictates how you would like your assets to be distributed after your death. If you fail to write a will, you will have little control over the distribution of your assets (which will be divided according to UK intestacy rules), and any inheritance may be subject to costly inheritance tax that could have otherwise been avoided. You can use professional will writing services and seek legal advice to ensure that your will meets your expectations.

Property

If you wish to pass on your home to your family after you pass, bear in mind that the process can be complicated when it comes to paying inheritance tax. Many people choose to ‘gift’ their homes to their children when still alive to reduce the value of their estate and its corresponding liability, but it’s worth noting that inheritance tax will still be payable if you die within 7 years. Another option is leaving your property as part of a will, where the first £325,000 will not be subject to IHT as part of the ‘nil-rate band’. A further £125,000 tax-free allowance can be claimed as a ‘main residence nil-rate band’.

Equity Release

Many property owners also use equity release mortgage schemes to pass on inheritance to family whilst still alive. Equity release schemes essentially enable homeowners to either sell a portion of their home or borrow money against the value of their property. While this can be an effective way of distributing inheritance to your family, it’s worth noting that equity release schemes may also shrink the value of assets remaining after your death.

Life Insurance

Making use of a life insurance policy is a guaranteed way of ensuring that your chosen beneficiaries receive payment after your death. Life insurance policies written ‘in trust’ remain distinct from the estate in your will and any payouts are exempt from inheritance tax. Popular policies include ‘term’ assurance policies and ‘whole life’ policies, with ‘term’ policies only valid up to a certain age. The notable downside of life insurance policies is that they can become increasingly expensive as you enter old age.

Money

In the same way that you can ‘gift’ property to your family when alive, you can also give cash gifts. The rules around cash gifts in the UK vary - for instance, there is no inheritance tax applicable to gifts exchanged between spouses or civil partners, or those gifted to political parties and charities. You can also make use of an annual tax-free exemption of £3,000 to gift cash to loved ones.

This is a collaborative post.

Four Wedding Preparations you can do Online

27.7.22

Your wedding is the best day of your life, but it also costs the most. In addition to this, wedding preparations require a significant amount of time, and it may be challenging to find the time to carry out all of the activities that are listed on your to-do list. This is especially true if you already have young children to care for. Fortunately, there are ways to complete these tasks without having to get dressed if you don't want to! Here are just a few of the finishing touches for your big day that can be completely organised online.


Photographer

Thanks to the internet, we now have instant access to a wealth of information at our fingertips. This means that a task such as hiring your photographer can now be done completely online, as you will be able to see their portfolio of shots taken in the past, get a price, and even contact details so that you can get in touch with them to discuss specifics about how you would like your wedding photos to look. You can even pay online, so you can plan your wedding while your little ones run wild.

Rings

If you and your soon-to-be husband have already determined the size of the rings that you and he will wear, you can now order your wedding bands online and have them shipped to any location of your choosing. Many people get engaged without having a wedding band, and if this is something you'd like to have as well, you can even order engagement rings online so that every aspect of your wedding is perfect down to the smallest of details. Do not be fooled into thinking that these rings will be of poor quality, as all of the materials are conflict-free and sourced from only the best sources. Therefore, you do not need to worry about the diamonds on your finger as they are of the best possible quality.

Table Decorations

Table decorations are a touch that not many people remember from when they attended weddings. However, those same people would definitely notice if there weren't any either. To your great relief, you no longer have to wander aimlessly through various stores in search of suitable centrepieces. There are countless websites and options to choose from such as these wedding flowers.

Entertainment

Of course you also have the ability to organise the entertainment as well. Again, thanks to the power of the internet and YouTube, it is now simpler than ever before to research entertainment prior to the day of your wedding, and you can do so without having to leave the comfort of your own home. It is likely that performers in the entertainment industry, such as singers and comedians, have posted videos of themselves performing on YouTube and other websites of a similar nature, so that fans can examine their work.

Good luck with you planning!

This is a collaborative post.

5 Ways to Help your Children Find their Passion

24.7.22

Do you ever wonder how some children seem to know what they want to do with their lives from a young age? How can they find passion in the simplest things and never lose sight of it? It's amazing to see and something we should all aspire to. As parents, we want our children to be happy and fulfilled in their lives. So how can we help them find their passion? In this post I'm going to share 5 tips that might just help!


Encourage them to Try New Things

One of the best ways to help your children find their passion is to encourage them to try new things. It's important that they have a variety of experiences to draw from so they can figure out what they like and don't like. Trying new things can be scary, but it's also how we learn and grow. So encourage your children to sign up for that new activity or club, and meet new friends. It might be scary at first, but it will really help them!

Teach them to be Creative

There's no wrong way to be creative, so let your children express themselves in whatever ways they feel comfortable. Whether through painting, drawing, writing, singing, or dancing, encourage them to explore their creative side and find what they're passionate about. Additionally you can help them find their passion by exposing them to different forms of art and creativity. Take them to the museum, listen to different types of music, or read together.

Talk to them About their Interests

Take the time to talk to your children about the things they're interested in and ask them questions about why they enjoy those things. This will help you to get a better understanding of their passions and how they can pursue them. It can be easy to forget to ask our children about their interests because we are so busy with our own lives. However, taking the time to have these conversations is crucial in helping them identify their passions - and this is especially important regardless of how you feel about the topic, as you need to let them be individual.

Help them Set Goals

One way to help your children find their passion is to help them set goals. This can be a great way to encourage them to pursue their interests and figure out what they're passionate about. By setting goals, they will have something to strive for and something to measure their progress. So for example, if your child has set the goal to become a fitness coach, you could read up on this website www.americansportandfitness.com, about the necessary certifications they will need. Understanding what your child needs to pursue their dreams is a great way to encourage them to continue to push forward.

Encourage them to be Persistent

Passion is often something that takes time to develop. Therefore it's important to encourage your children to be persistent in pursuing their interests. This doesn't mean that they should never give up, but it does mean that they should stick with it even when things get tough. Pursuing their passion can be a great way to learn about themselves and their capabilities. One of the best ways to encourage persistence is to model it yourself.

What advice would you add?

This is a collaborative post.www.americansportandfitness.com

5 Ways to Stay Cool in the Garden this Summer

20.7.22

Staying cool during the summer months can be a challenge, something I'm sure we all discovered during the heatwave these last few days! With that in mind, it’s worth considering the various ways in which you can ensure you’re able to stay cool during the summer months, to make sure you can make the most of every moment (and every day!) So in this post I'm going to share some of the strategies you might want to implement to fully enjoy your summer.


Do the Gardening Early in the Morning or Late at Night

If you’re someone who likes to do a lot of gardening work, you should definitely think about when you do that work on the hottest days of summer. It’s usually best to do it in the early morning when the sun is out but it’s not yet too hot. Or if you're more of a night owl, you can wait until the sun is on it's way down and the temperatures drop back down. The last thing you want to do is expose yourself to the mid-day sun, especially when doing difficult work, and you could potentially harm your plants if you want them during the hot midday sun!

Use Misters to Stay Cool

If you have a mister that you can use in your garden, they provide you with a relatively simple and straightforward way to stay cool during summer. Having a little mist of cold water sprayed over you will definitely make a difference and is something you should consider. If you have children you can even buy children's fan with misters already attached - great fun for them as well as being practical.

Create Overhead Shade

Shade is one of the most important factors of all when you’re looking to stay cool in the garden. A good umbrella or a pergola that offers shade could be just what you need if you want to stay cool. Sitting in direct sunlight for long periods isn’t good for you and is rarely comfortable for most people, so be sure to make the most of whatever shade you can create. Pop up UV tents are great for little children too, especially as you can move them around the garden as the sun moves.

Install Outdoor Blinds

Installing some outdoor blinds in your garden might be just what you need when you want to block out the sun. And the great thing about them is that you move them up or down as and when you need to. It’s that adaptability and flexibility that make it easier for you to make the most of the warm weather while getting the protection you need when you need it! Find a company that can install high-quality outdoor shade blinds and take things from there.

Invest in a Pool

If you've got the budget, have you thought about investing in a swimming pool? It might mean spending a lot of money, but it could be just the kind of change that you’re looking for. A good swimming pool makes it so much easier for you to stay cool because you can simply dip into the pool when you feel the need to and cool off when it gets too hot. Of course if funds don't stretch that far, there are plenty of fantastic paddling pools available to choose from instead!

Staying cool during the summer months is something that’s always important, so be sure to make the most of the ideas shared above if you want to make sure that you’re able to do that. You’ll make much better use of your outdoor space when you have strategies in place for staying cool on the hottest days of the year. So grab a drink, jump in your hammock, and have a fab summer!

This is a collaborative post.

Create the Princess Bedroom of their Dreams

19.7.22

If your child love all things princess-related and has been asking for a princess-themed bedroom for a while now but you’ve never quite got round to it, then you've come to the right place. In this article I'm going to share some top tips on how to make their princess bedroom dreams a reality. Keeping reading to find out how!


Layout & Presentation

When it comes to the layout of your child’s princess bedroom, you’ll of course need to work with the room you have, including the overall size of the area (and any difficult angles or awkward spaces that you’ll need to take into account). You might want to consider customised fitted furnishings to complete the room, such as fitted wardrobes, a custom bed, or storage units to make the most of the existing space.

Think about your child’s age and how they currently use their bedroom. If they’re younger, you might want to include a dedicated area for playing with useful toy storage and plenty of space to host tea parties and balls for their teddies and dolls. If they’re older, then clothes storage and a dressing table might be more appropriate - or a beautiful writing desk for them to attend to their royal correspondence... or homework!

If you’re stuck for inspiration, check out these princess bedroom ideas, which include everything from classic Disney Princess rooms for younger ones, to more modern but classy looks for tweens and teens.

Colour Theme

When you’re creating a princess-themed bedroom, you may automatically assume it’s got to be pink but that isn’t the case at all. If your child wants to stick to the classic Disney shades of pink, that’s great but lots of colour themes lend themselves to that royal look, including purple, green, ice-blue, and metallics such as gold and silver. Why not create a mood board with your child, including any colours, patterns, or textures that they like? You could do this on Pinterest or in a scrapbook using magazine clippings and paint sample cards. Have a look at room tours on YouTube too as you may get some great inspiration from other children's rooms!


Accents of Royalty

Once you’ve chosen your room layout and colour scheme, you’ll want to get those all-important royal accessories right with princess room decor. This could include curtains, rugs, wall art, and lighting. It’s these little finishing touches that will make your child’s room extra-special and feel like the princess palace bedroom of their dreams! Depending on their age, you could get a personalised night light beside their bed or a custom nameplate or bunting.

Focal Point

Every princess bedroom should have a focal point in the room that draws people’s eyes to it when they walk in. Think about what you could create as a centrepiece for the room, whether that’s a four-poster bed, a mirrored wardrobe, or a dressing table with lights. A mural, decal, or large piece of wall art is another possible focal point that will really give that ‘wow’ factor when your princess sees their room for the first time!

Enjoy creating a princess room of their dreams!

This is a collaborative post.

Minimise the Risk of Flooding in your Home with These Tips!

When you spend a lot of money on you house, it's understandable that you want to take care of it as well as you can. However, sometimes no matter what you do there are certain things that you can't control - your home flooding for example. But that doesn't mean you can't take certain steps and precautions to hopefully minimus the risk of flooding in your home, and hopefully the below tips in this post will help.


Turn off Taps

If you aren't paying attention, it's too easy to forget that the taps are running. But turning off your taps is one of the best ways to keep water from building up in your kitchen sink, which can cause flooding. So remember to turn them off when you are in the bathroom, kitchen, or any part of your home with a tap.
 

Don't Let your Hair go Down the Drain

Every time you take a shower or wash your hair you probably lose some hair, which then goes down the drain. The best way to stop this from happening is to put a cover over the hole so that the hair can gather on top instead of going down the sinkhole. This will help prevent the plughole getting blocked, and therefore increasing the risk of the water overflowing!

Use a Plunger

If you don't cover the hole in your bathroom sink, hair or soap scum will probably just fall down. This can then cause a blockage in your pipes, which makes it harder for water to flow down. You can use a plunger to start clearing out the pipes so that they stay as clean as possible and don't have any objects that could cause water to back up.

Clean Out your Gutters

During Autumn there are likely to be a lot of leaves, dirt and debris which can mess up your gutters. If you don't check them regularly, they can block your drainpipe and cause water to build up. So try to make it a habit to quickly check your gutters to make sure there is enough space for water to flow freely, which is especially important for rainwater.

You can always call a professional to make sure you have the right gutter system and that it works well so that water doesn't damage the foundation of your home. They can also explain the importance of regular gutter cleaning as they are incredibly knowledgeable on the problem.

Fix your Driveway if it has any Cracks

If you start to see cracks in your front driveway you should get this fixed as soon as you can. It could be a sign of damage to the building, which could get worse if rainwater filled the gaps and eventually cause your house to flood. So keep an eye on this and call a professional contractor if you start to notice any significant problems. You should take care of this as soon as possible.

With these helpful tips, you can easily figure out how to keep your home from flooding. You don't want to have to deal with big water problems, so make sure to do these things today!

This is a collaborative post.

3 Things to Consider when Choosing a Kitchen Backsplash

18.7.22

Every homeowner would agree that the kitchen is one of the most important areas in the home. As such, it is vital for the space to be aesthetically pleasing as well as functional and practical. Therefore, it is no surprise that Confused.com's research discovered that 96% of Brits had renovated their kitchen before, spending about £5,219 on average. Countertops and cabinets feature heavily in many essential kitchen design decisions, but backsplashes also matter. Your kitchen backsplash has aesthetic appeal and protects your wall surfaces from the splatter of sauces and oils, so it is vital to put significant effort into its selection. Below are some vital factors to consider when choosing a kitchen backsplash.


Material Choice

Many experts recommend considering various material options for your backsplash, just like when investing in a countertop. Your material choice matters because it must be practical and not just chic. For example, natural stone is beautiful, but it is more practical in kitchens where a lot of cooking does not occur. Also, it requires frequent cleaning and must be sealed yearly. A glass backsplash is also worth considering because it is easier to clean but may compromise your renovation budget.

Several kitchen design experts recommend quartz as the perfect backsplash option. It is non-porous, so no grease or oil will seep into it. Plus it is available in a wider range of colours and designs, comes in large panels, and is easy to clean, making it ideal for a family-friendly kitchen. Tile, ceramic, and thermoplastic are other great material choices to consider.

Textures and Colour

Textures give your kitchen's theme an illusionary effect and more character, so it is vital to consider it when selecting a backsplash. Also, selecting the right colour for your kitchen will depend on its theme. For example, you can opt for neutral colours if you prefer minimalistic effects or choose backsplashes in light colours if you love warm textures to give your overall design a unique touch. In addition, prioritise creating contrast in your kitchen with your backsplashes. You can choose a lighter colour if your countertops and cabinets are a dark material and vice versa. On the other hand, you can extend your countertop's colour to create an alluring visual effect with multiple tile colours. You can read more about how to decorate with coloured tiles to make sure you get it right.

Budget

Defining your budget is, without a doubt, the first step to conducting any home improvement project. It would help to determine whether to keep your spending below a strict limit or are willing to pay a bit more to get what you desire. A defined budget in the early stages of your backsplash selection and installation efforts helps save time by narrowing your options. Indeed, you don't want to get your hopes up on a lovely marble or glass backsplash only to find that it costs way more than what you are willing to pay. More sophisticated designs will definitely cost more than basic ones. Still, if your heart is set on a particular style or colour, you can search for those produced from cheaper backsplash materials.

Good luck with your Kitchen designing!

This is a collaborative post.

4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Engagement

13.7.22

If you've recently gotten engaged, congrats! Now, your big question is probably "what happens next?" It will likely take a bit of time until you can officially start planning your wedding. In the meantime, you and your fiance can still do plenty of things to make this time even more special. An engagement doesn't have to be just a precursor to the wedding; it can be an exciting period in its own right, and in this post I'm going to share four ways you can make the most of your engagement.


Celebrate with Friends and Family

Engagements are a great excuse to throw a party! This is a chance to celebrate with those closest to you and can be a special event. It's your chance to set the tone for the rest of your engagement and have a party that's as memorable and unique as you are. Getting people involved and excited is a great way to make your party a special event. If you don't know where to start, take a look around for inspiration: there are tons of ideas for engagement parties out there.

Get to Know One Another Better

Engagements are a great chance to get to know one another on a deeper level. By fully enjoying your engagement, you can remember there's no rush to get married - this period can be as long as you want. Discussing the future is good, especially if you put forward your expectations and goals. There are also tons of questionnaires online that are specifically designed to help you get to know your partner better. If you decide to do something like this, ensure you're both fully present and listening to one another. Engagements are also an excellent opportunity to move in together, if you haven't already, and spend time together just the two of you.

Plan the Big Day

Engagements are a good time to start putting together your wedding budget. While it may be too early to start booking vendors, it's never too early to begin researching potential options for everything from catering to wedding photographers. You'll get a good feel for what's out there and how much things cost. This will make it easier to start booking things when you're ready and have a set date. Plus, this also gives you a chance to sit down and discuss your wedding priorities with your fiance. You can also do various preparations with your partner, like picking your new wedding rings together. It's good to do this well before the wedding to narrow down what kind of ring you'd like, from a 2.5 carat diamond ring to a family heirloom.

Go on a Romantic Engagement Trip

There are many different ways to celebrate your engagement, but one of the most common is a romantic trip away. You can use this trip to celebrate your love, explore new destinations, and get a feel for what married life might be like. If you both have a passion for sports, you could try sailing or even scuba diving. If you're more into cultural activities, plenty of places offer guided tours that make for a great way to experience the best of a new location. No matter what you decide to do, remember that this is your time to enjoy each other and celebrate your new engagement. Make the most of this opportunity to relax and enjoy a break from the daily grind.

An engagement is a great time to celebrate and get excited about the future. Engagements are usually pretty long, so make the most of the time by getting to know each other better, planning the wedding day, and going on a romantic trip together. An engagement is a chance to enjoy the excitement and anticipation of the future! Here's to a long and happy future together.

This is a collaborative post.

How to Survive the Holidays with Children

12.7.22

Caring for a baby or toddler at home is tough. Having school-aged children home for the holidays is difficult too. But having to deal with both of those things at the same time can be enough to drive you up the wall! Whether you're at home full-time or you have to juggle work and holiday childcare, having to work out how to handle both preschool and school children at the same time is no easy feat. It can be exhausting, even if you love them and you don't have to do it all day.

It might be difficult, but there are plenty of things you can do if you want to survive the holidays with your sanity intact. Balancing keeping children of different ages happy can be hard, but there are things you can do together. And in this post I'm going to hopefully help!


Think about Finances

Before making any plans, you might want to think about the cost of keeping everyone entertained during the holidays. Maybe you want to do lots of things together but it can get expensive if you plan multiple activities over a few weeks. It could be smart to make a budget so that you know how much you can afford to spend every day, whether it's on activities, meals, or any other expenses you might have.

One of the things that can help you save money is focusing on free activities. Depending on where you live, you can usually find various things to do that won't cost you a thing. There are activities that will always be available, such as going to the park or a trip to the library. But you can also find that there are free events put on or free entry into some attractions during the holidays. If you want to take little ones for a treat, some cafes and restaurants will do 'kids eat free' deals too.

Find Activities Everyone can Enjoy

Entertaining children at different ages can be tough, but you can find things that everyone can enjoy. There are ways to adjust activities to work for different ages or things you can do that kids of any age will like. If you look at the article Toddler Games: 7 Ideas To Keep Your Child Entertained And Learning, you can see that lots of activities and games can be fun for toddlers and older children too. For example, arts and crafts are fun at any age and children can use age-appropriate methods and skills to be creative. You can get active in different ways that work for any age so everyone can have fun dancing, running around, or going for a bike ride. You can easily adapt certain activities to suit a range of ages too - you might just need to get your thinking cap on!

Start off Slow

If you have at least a week of holiday in front of you, and up to six during the summer, you don't want to go full steam ahead right away. You might want to plan lots of things to do together but you don't want to run out of energy before the end of the holidays is in sight. It's best to ease your way in and make sure you pace yourself. There's no need to start packing activities into every day. Not only will it make you tired but children are sure to get tired quickly too. Space out your outings and treats and try to make sure you have some calmer activities on your list too. I like to plan one 'big day out' a week and then just choose smaller / closer to home activities for other days. That way everyone has chance to relax - plus your budget isn't spent all in one go either.

Let Them be Bored

Children need to learn how to be bored and how to find their own entertainment. If you spend every minute of the holidays providing them with things to do, they won't learn how to overcome boredom on their own. Of course, you can still make sure there are things available for them to do at home, so they can pick up a book or do some crafts if they feel like it. But you don't need to have a full schedule of things to do for the whole holiday. Let them have periods of boredom so that they have to use their imagination to come up with something fun to do!

Create a Routine

Just because it's the holidays, it doesn't mean you should throw out your routine. It might be a bit different from your routine during term time, but you can still have a good routine that keeps everyone on track. It might be even more important if you have mixed childcare arrangements where you need to make sure handovers happen at the right times. You can still get everyone up at the same time, have breakfast, and ensure everyone is ready for the day. You might have to schedule naps for younger ones, which could be the perfect time to spend some time with older children on their own.

Don't Forget to Make Time for Yourself

It's always important to make time for yourself as a parent, and it can be even more important when your children are at home all day. It's not always easy to find time for yourself, but there are a few ways you can do it. If you can, why not ask if their other parent or another family member could take them out for a few hours, or maybe you have a friend who would be willing to work together a childcare arrangement with you. Hiring a babysitter is an option if you can afford it too. You could also look for activities and clubs that they can join during the holidays, some of which you might be able to get financial help with or could even be free. And there are always evenings, when you can take some time for yourself after they've gone to bed. 



Plan Plenty of Downtime

There's no need for everyone to be rushed off their feet for weeks. Having downtime could mean you might plan some things to do but it gives everyone a chance to relax. You could plan to watch some TV or movies for a while, play some games that everyone can join in with, or do some quiet activities. There are lots of things that you can do at home too, from baking or making lunch together to building a fort or getting out your fancy dress box. Don't be afraid to let children chill out with screens too - everyone needs time to switch off and be and they are a great way to achieve this. Of course you can put limits on them if you're worried about them being used too much though.

Team Up with Other Parents

There's strength in numbers, and teaming up with other parents can really help you to survive the holidays. You can plan some playdates together or swap who has the children so you each get a chance to have some time to yourself. It can be a good way to send either your older or younger child to spend time with a friend so you can have some special time with whoever is left. You can also team up together and plan outings or other activities so you can tackle the day together - everything is always easier with another adult along for the ride!

Split Time with Younger and Older Children

It's always a good idea to try and give each of your children individual attention. While it's not always easy to do, there are ways you can ensure each of your child gets the one-on-one time they deserve. During the holidays, it could be even more difficult, but you can still find ways to do it. You might spend time with an older child while the younger one is taking a nap. Someone could be off on a playdate or attending a club or class, while the other is with you and gets to spend some time with you. Just make sure everyone is treated equally, so plan a special one-on-one day for each child.

Give Older Children some Freedom

While it might not work for everyone, allowing older children to have a bit more freedom can mean you don't have to provide constant entertainment for them. If you can allow them to go to the park with friends or even just play outside without your supervision, they will learn to entertain themselves. And with mobile phones available to everyone, it's easy to make sure they're completely safe, even if they do walk or cycle a little bit down the road. Of course, all children are different, so some can be a bit more trustworthy and mature than others when it comes to things like this. If you have teenagers, they can definitely be allowed a bit more freedom.

Find Family Fun on Holiday

If you decide to go away during the holidays, the whole family is usually together, which means you need to find things to do that everyone will enjoy. Fortunately, there are activities that everyone will like, from toddlers to adults. Things like swimming, bike rides, or going for a meal in a restaurant can all please everyone, no matter their age.


It can be hard to manage the school holidays when you have younger children too. But there are lots of ways you can keep everyone entertained until it's time to go back to school. I hope this post has helped!

This is a collaborative post.

Top Tips for Purchasing a Second-Hand Car

7.7.22

There are many advantages to buying a second-hand car: they are environmentally friendlier than new cars, they tend to be a lot cheaper (a benefit which knocks on for insurances and taxes), you have a wider pool of vehicles to choose from, and, for the same money, you can buy a better model than you would be able to afford as new. But are there any downsides to buying used cars and, if so, how are they mitigated? The answer is simple - choose a second-hand car that is the right age and many of the perceived downfalls simply evaporate into nothing. In this post I'm going to share my top tips for purchasing a second-hand car.


Too Old

The disadvantages of buying too old a car are obvious; the older a car is, the more likely it is to suffer mechanical issues and break down on you, ultimately costing you more in repairs and breakdowns than it has saved you in the purchase price. How old is too old? Probably any vehicle over five years old should be crossed off your list of probable investments. This is not to say never buy cars older than this: cars with careful owners, with especially sturdy models, that have benefitted from thoughtful repairs and renovations can, of course, be excellent investments.

Too Young

Is there any such thing as too young a vehicle to purchase second-hand? Well, yes. If your chosen vehicle is less than eighteen months or two years old, you are most likely losing many of the financial advantages of buying second-hand. The environmental impact will still be quite high, as the car has not been run for long enough to mitigate the carbon footprint or resource price of its manufacture, so you will lose your green credentials for buying too young a second-hand car. And, as if that wasn't enough, your car might not yet be as tried and tested as you would like. Often, cars that are bought and sold as used vehicles tend to be sturdy models that are well run-in and no longer subject to recall as any faulty models would have been picked up and sorted out by the previous owner.

Just Right

This leaves us with a sweet spot of two to five years for an ideal second-hand car purchase. In fact, it can be narrowed slightly to two to three year old cars, simply in order to avoid having to MOT your new-to-you car in your first year of ownership. Now you know what you are looking for. KAP offers used cars for sale in Brighton with easy financing options and 100% guarantee. Good luck car shopping!

This is a collaborative post.