Well, hello to you, my reader chums! Buying a house is a long process, one that takes a lot of preparation, saving, and what feels right for you. Going through this process is different for everyone, as sometimes, it can be quite quick, and most of the time, it can take a very long time from accepting the offer to completing on the house. 

If you're in the process of buying your first house, it can be daunting and uncertain. This guide shares some of the things I wish I knew before buying my first house.

Don't expect it to be a fast process

Every house-buying journey is different, as you can be held up by the number of houses in the selling chain, solicitors, and whether there's a new build in the mix. You'll have to consider several factors that can slow down the process. When someone says it can take 3 months, for example, take that with a pinch of salt, because there's always some factor that can delay the process.

There will be unexpected costs 

I wasn't aware of all the costs before entering the house-buying process. I was aware of the deposit, survey and mortgage advisors, but not of other costs and how much they would all be. The costs aside from the deposit include the mortgage advisor, solicitor, surveyor, mortgage application fees, removal vans and insurances, such as building, life and income protection. You'll also want to have some money to furnish or renovate the house, whether you're moving into a doer-upper or a new build.

You'll need to be prepared that things can get delayed or go wrong

Buying a house isn't all rosy and fun, and they say it's the most stressful experience for a reason. You'll need to be prepared that things can go wrong; people in the chain can pull out, a huge issue can be picked up in the survey, or there may be a really long delay with completion.  

A survey shows every worst-case scenario

When you receive the house survey for the first time, it may seem a little shocking and worrying. It's usually an incredibly long document, stating everything about the house, including possible issues that need fixing soon or huge, significant issues that can be quite costly, such as structural damage to the property. It's likely you'll have minor things come up, but bigger problems are rarer. With that in mind, take it with a pinch of salt, because you may not need to fix the problems as soon as they say - the surveyors have to cover everything that could potentially go wrong.

A mortgage advisor helps you get the best possible deal

Our mortgage advisor has been incredible throughout the house-buying process, answering anything we didn't understand or were uncertain about. The mortgage advisor will help you with the mortgage application, see the amount you're able to borrow and apply for the mortgage offer for you. They'll be the ones to have contact with the mortgage provider and can reapply if the mortgage fees improve.

The amount of money you can borrow is based on your earnings

Everyone can borrow a different amount of money towards their mortgage, and this is linked to their annual earnings. Your mortgage advisor will do the affordability application for you, advising how much you can potentially afford. I would recommend that you borrow under what you're able to afford, as that'll make your mortgage payments lower and mean less of a deposit. 

Create an emergency fund

There are lots of unexpected costs when buying a house, including furnishing the house and decorating it. Building an emergency fund can help towards the decoration, furnishings, mortgage payments, overpaying the mortgage and any potential issues you'll want to sort when you move in, like replacing the boiler and changing the locks.

The first mortgage payment can cost more

The first mortgage payment can be higher than your ongoing monthly payment because it'll include interest from the date the mortgage provider released the funds, up to the end of the month, plus your payment for the following month.

Knowing it's the right house is a feeling

You'll probably visit a few houses before you find the right one. Don't expect the first house you see to be the one you buy. The more you see, the more you'll figure out what you want in a house and what you don't.

I hope you enjoyed this post. When are you buying your first home?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums! In the business world, everything is busy; you're either doing client work, admin, marketing, accounts, networking, or generally thinking of ways to improve your business and maintain a good workflow. 

It is exhausting and busy, but incredibly worth it overall. However, even though running a business is busy, it doesn't mean you should fall into the burnout trap or be working 24/7. In fact, overworking and overdoing it are going to have a detrimental effect on your mental health and business. 

I've always been bad at resting, as it doesn't naturally come to me, but over the last year, I've tried to embrace it more personally and professionally. Here's why slowing down is important as a business owner and the benefits it has.

Recharging and resetting mean better outcomes

Your phone needs to be charged every night, and so do you. You wouldn't expect the phone to keep running and working when it runs out of battery - and why are you expecting yourself to keep going when you need a rest? Recharging and resetting is one of the most important things we can do as business owners, whether it's having set times to turn off your computer, having an unwinding evening routine or taking regular breaks. You must find moments in your day and week where you can reset and recharge to be fully present in your work.

With a clearer and refreshed mind, you can make better decisions, foster creativity, feel more productive and enjoy your work. You can give a better version of yourself to managing clients, employees and everything in between.

You can focus on the important things

Running a business is a lot of work, and you can't always focus on everything at the same time. Slowing down can help you plan a more manageable schedule where you focus on the more important things, whether that's big projects or breaking down your workload throughout the week, rather than cramming everything into one day. It gives you time and space to be mindful about how you want to work, when and what feels right for you.

You'll enjoy your work-life balance a lot more

You started a business to enjoy working, and that's what you should be doing. If you're constantly on the go, you're not pausing and enjoying what you set out to do in the first place. Slowing down means you can enjoy the work you're doing, what you've achieved and that work-life balance, ensuring you're living your life and working how it suits you. 

You'll feel better in yourself and about daily life

This point is the most important - by slowing down, you'll feel better overall about life and your work, as it gives you more reflection time to understand what is most important to you. You'll start to listen to your body more and appreciate what it needs, taking those restful moments and going with that flow rather than forcing yourself to do things you can't do.

You'll appreciate the little moments rather than focusing on big achievements

Life is a series of a million little moments, and the big moments are the few in between. We spend a lot of time focusing on the big goals and large achievements, rather than the everyday wins, the yes moments and the journey. Slowing down helps you embrace just that; you'll start congratulating yourself more, practising gratitude and having a better appreciation for life.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What would you add?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums! I've always wanted to run my own business. Ever since I was little, I have never liked the idea of having a boss and climbing the career ladder. I loved the thought of building my own business, having the flexibility and voice to run my life how I'd like it.

Running a business is a privilege, and even though it's hard at times, there are a million reasons why I love my business.

We all go through ups and downs, but sometimes the smallest shifts in daily life can make the biggest difference to how you feel. You don’t always need a full life overhaul to improve your mental health. Often it’s about finding simple changes that fit into your routine and actually stick. If you’ve been feeling a little off and want to take better care of yourself, these ideas might be just what you need.

This blog post is a contributed post, written by another author.

Sleep

Movement

Nutrition

Stress relief

Social connections

Fresh air

Comfort zones have their uses. They keep life predictable, steady, and organised. But after a while, that predictability can start to feel like a loop. Daily routines take shape, and most people rarely move outside the same grid of streets, shops, and workplaces. The open road offers a different rhythm. It’s about shifting perspective, one mile at a time.

The Geography of Familiarity

Roads as a Framework for Learning

Social Dimensions of Travel

Vehicles as Enablers of Transition

Psychological Shifts Linked to Distance

Integration into Daily Life

Well, hello to you, my reader chums! I've always been that person who has the get-up-and-go to start the project I've been wanting to do for a while. However, there have been times when I've doubted myself, waited too long to start or questioned whether I'm good enough to give it a go.

If you're thinking of starting a new business, a project or a hobby, here's my advice on how to just do it and make your dreams a reality.

Come up with the idea and map out a rough plan

Everyone has an idea that they're passionate about, whether it's starting a networking event, a side hustle or a new hobby. The best way to begin with any project is brainstorming the idea, the weight of it and coming up with a rough plan. Not everything needs as much planning as you think, and sometimes it's better to start and give it your heart than plan too much and walk away from it.

Decide on the best action plan

When you have your rough idea and plan, you can decide on the next steps to make it a reality. This could be setting up a social media profile, networking at events to build connections, creating an email list or a website. All types of marketing are essenital to work on your idea, but depending on your target audience and your niche will determine the best action plan.

Avoid overthinking it too much

At this point, many people overthink the idea and the action plan, and that's where you're going wrong. If you came up with the idea and have a plan, it has weight in it. You don't need to overthink it. Overthinking any idea will stop you from sharing it with the world and achieving your success. Talk yourself up about what could go right instead of wrong.

Set a launch date/build a profile

With a plan in place, you can come up with a launch date and build up your profile, sharing what you're all about, finding your audience and getting people excited for the project you're launching. The more you share, the more likely you'll get a better reception.

Just do it - and figure out what works and what doesn't 

A launch date, an idea and a plan - it's time to press live. Just post the plan, project or business. Once you've put it out there, you can see where it lands. And, figure out what works, what doesn't and what you need to change.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What would you add?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums! I'm incredibly grateful I've spent my twenties travelling the world, exploring new places, including two backpacking trips, city breaks and longer holidays to see multiple places in one trip. 

Travelling is part of my soul and something I never want to stop; I'd love to be able to keep adventuring until I'm old and grey, making memories with loved ones.

If you're planning a holiday and unsure where to go, here are the best countries I've travelled to that I'd revisit again and again.

Sri Lanka

Canada

My road trip in Canada was an experience I'll never forget. The landscapes and mountainous scenery didn't look real, and I don't understand how lucky I am to have experienced it all. I took a road trip across Alberta and British Columbia, visiting Banff, Canmore, Jasper and Golden and soaking up the beauty along the way. Beforehand, I also visited Toronto and took Niagara Falls off my bucket list. 

Why do I want to visit again? I've never felt more at peace than in the surroundings of Alberta. Banff National Park had to be my favourite, especially Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, hiking to Lake Agnes, Johnston Canyon, Bow Falls, Banff Town and Canmore. Driving throughout Banff National Park was a dream where I didn't want to miss a second of the views. Beyond that, driving through Jasper National Park and Yoho National Park was just as gorgeous and magical.

Thailand

Thailand is a country I have visited multiple times and would love to revisit again. There's something magical about Thailand; it's called the 'Land of Smiles' for a reason. I have many gorgeous memories of Thailand from the two times I've visited, one time for 5 weeks and another for a week's trip. Thailand has plenty of beautiful islands with clear waters and incredible scenery, such as Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe, Koh Tao and Koh Samui. Each island has its unique appeal, whether you'd prefer a party holiday, pure relaxation or watersports, such as snorkelling and scuba diving.

Aside from the gorgeous beach and island scene, Thailand has some of the very best foods, including curries, noodle dishes and rice meals. I also adored the cities, their beautiful temples and learning more about Thai history and their culture. 

Indonesia

I absolutely fell in love with Indonesia, more than I expected to, and I'm not only talking about Bali. Many people only visit Bali on their trip to the country, but there's so much more to the country than one island. Indonesia boasts diversity in terms of religion, historical sights, island cuisine and mountainous territory. 

Italy 

Italy is my favourite country and my most-visited country, and I had to include it in this list. It's hard to describe why I love Italy as it has been my obsession since I was a little girl and part of my heritage. There's much joy in Italy to explore, from the delicious food scene stretching from north to south, whether you love Bolognese, cured meats and tortellini to arrancini and pizza down south. It's the land of delicious, fresh food made from the heart. 

Italy has plenty to explore and variety across the country, from gorgeous cities to explore with their cobbled streets and old, historic buildings, lakes and mountainous towns with scenery you'll fall in love with and coastal towns with a charm like no other and picturesque scenery. I've visited 7 times across the country, but there are plenty of locations I'd see again, such as Lake Maggiore, Tuscany and Bologna. 

Switzerland 

Love chocolate and cheese? Switzerland is the land for you. I only ever heard positive things about Switzerland, and I'm happy to confirm it lives up to every positive review. The mountainous and lake towns, especially, are a gem to visit with scenery I could only dream of, matching the beauty of Canada's national parks. I fell in love with Spiez and Brienz and felt lucky to go up Mount Niesen. 

Zurich was also a massive surprise with its appeal, chocolate shops everywhere and delicious cheese fondue! The perfect place to eat as much as possible.

Vietnam 

I've visited Vietnam twice and I'm obsessed with the country for multiple reasons: the food, the diverse scenery, the history and the feel of the country. I can't explain why or how I love Vietnam, but there's something about it which is special to me. The rush of Hanoi, the quietness and gorgeous rice fields of Mai Chau, the beauty of Cat Ba Island and Halong Bay, boat tours in Tam Coc and quaint ambience of Hoi An. 

I could mooch and explore Vietnam forever, especially eat my way around it, with the banh mi, pho, rice pancakes, noodle dishes and curries. I'd love to roam around the wild streets of Hanoi, cycle around Hoi An, watch the mountainous view in Halong Bay and cycle along the peaceful rice fields.

Malaysia 

Malaysia is a country that surprised me on many levels. As it borders Thailand, I assumed the culture would be very similar; however, I couldn't be more shocked at the diversity. Malaysia's culture was diverse in terms of religion, history and food scene. Kuala Lumpur with its iconic skyscrapers, city appeal and noteworthy Batu Caves, Cameron Highlands with its hiking experiences and tea plantations, the national park in Penang and the calmness of Langkawi and the beaches.

Croatia 

I adored everything about Croatia, and I wish I could revisit to see more of the country. I've only seen Dubrovnik, and the capital was a gorgeous, historic city with plenty to see and relax on the many beaches. I loved the food, the vibes, the clear waters and the general peace - and I'd love to see more of Croatia's islands.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Which countries would you revisit?

Thank you for reading <3