For many people nowadays, the mention of social housing, or ‘council houses’ as they’re more commonly known, conjures up images of people living in destitute. The common stereotypes are of the single teenage mum, or of Channel 4’s infamous series ‘Benefits Street’….of housing to be avoided unless one is in absolute dire need. However, the…
Tag: home
What to take to uni: the cheat sheet!
You probably got your packing at least a bit wrong in September…but there’s a second chance as you head back to campus after the coming Christmas break. Here’s how to stock-up on essentials but save on time, money and stress. First, what NOT to pack Unless you have a Heavy Goods Vehicle and a team of…
(Sub) Let It Go! I rent out my room while I’m away on acting jobs
I’m currently in the Middle East acting in a comedy about car salesmanship. I know nothing about cars – I describe a car by its colour! But it will be an adventure to visit three brand new countries (she says, googling ‘what is Jordan like for the working woman’ / ‘what is the risk of…
Is there really any help for first time buyers?
Getting on the property ladder is a priority for me right now. As I tread the hard road to home ownership, I can’t help but wonder why it’s so difficult now compared with our parents’ generation. According to research by Yorkshire Building Society, one in two people aged 35-40 who are not homeowners think it’s unlikely,…
Is ethical renting the way forward?
The property market in south east England has a reputation for being prosperous – unless you are trying to rent, in which case it can be a minefield, with agency fees and extortionate rent prices. I spoke to Jennifer Elliott, who recently founded Silver Birch, about how they are trying to change the current landscape…
Property prices rise…again!
For those of you, like myself, who are trying to get on the property ladder, it’s worth taking note of another alarming (for us, anyway) trend. The average house price has risen by a whopping £15k. This is great if you are on the property ladder already but, for first time buyers, the picture is…
Money Web Issue #1: your weekly round up of the best of British blogging
There’s an increasingly big and brilliant haul of stories and advice out there about the pounds in our pockets. Each week, we’ll scour the best of the UK’s personal finance blogs and tell you what caught our eye. Monevator For those interested in modern online lenders – the type that are taking borrowers off banks…
Speculate to accumulate: part two
First things first, I have a confession. Whilst I have been running every week for the past month or so, I am yet to buy new trainers, as I had promised – having an advert and two films cancelled in short succession does that to you. But, I recently took a much bigger risk than trainers. Last…
Hold back the river, let me buy a houseboat…
With only half of 25-34 year olds on the property ladder now compared with in 1996, and the number of young people owning outright trumping those with a mortgage (Sesame Street Explanation: only those with the wealthiest parents can buy), many people are looking for housing alternatives. I have spent the past 18 months exploring shared…
Buying a home: the legal stuff
We’ve made it! This is the last instalment from me on the home-buying process. But first, a recap. After months of gruelling house hunting and putting up with buckets of drivel from estate agents, we finally found a flat. Our offer was accepted, followed by a busy period of choosing a mortgage and booking a…