Driving

Five Reasons to Lease a Car Instead of Buying

Leasing a New CarFor many of us, when we think about having a car, we immediately think of buying a vehicle. But there is a different way – leasing! It was estimated in 2018 that 1.6 million Brits lease their car and we don’t doubt that that figure is even higher three years on. With this in mind, I thought I’d talk to you today about the reasons for leasing a car, rather than buying:

The Cost

Believe it or not, the monthly cost of leasing a car is often cheaper than monthly finance payments. In fact, many people find that they’re able to afford a much nicer vehicle for their budget when leasing than spending the same money on finance. And don’t forget, most Leap vehicle leasing  will allow you to buy the vehicle outright at the end, if you want to.

Value

There’s that old adage about new cars losing a huge amount of value as soon as you drive them off of the forecourt for the first time, and that’s something that is definitely true. However, when you lease a car instea dof buying, the value of the vehicle is someone elses problem. Because you’ll be returning the car to the dealer instead of selling it, you don’t need to worry about losing anything when you’re ready to get a new vehicle.

Maintenance

Many new cars offer a warranty that lasts at least three years. So when you take out a three-year lease, most of the repairs should be covered. Leasing arrangements mean that you won’t have to worry about the expense of repairs, should something go wrong with your car. Also, new cars don’t require MOTs for the first three years either, so you won;t have to factor this into your budget.

That New Car Smell

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of driving around in abrand new vehicle, and that’s a feeling you get to keep when you lease a car – when the lease is up in a few years, you can return it and get your next new car. This means that you’ll always have a new car which is maintenance and MOT free, too!

No Need to Sell

Are you the type of person who hates to haggle? If so, you probably hate the idea of selling your used car to a dealership or a private buyer. With a lease, you simply return the car. The only thing you have to worry about is paying any end-of-lease fees, including those for abnormal wear or additional mileage on the vehicle, but this is something you can keep an eye on yourself throughout the lease, so you should have a rough idea of what these charges might be.

Adulting · Home

Cutting Costs On Owning Your Home

If you’re someone who owns your own home, and you’ve recently been able to afford a mortgage and find the perfect place to settle into, now’s the time to ensure you’re cutting as much of the costs as you possibly can. Because home ownership and management is one of the most expensive things in life, and being able to save as much as you can is integral to living happily and healthy in your new home. So, without further ado, here are some of the most legitimate and effective ways to cut down the costs of owning your own home. 

Owning your own home

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Know Your Mortgage Rates

How much are you putting towards the mortgage, on a monthly basis? Because it might not be the best deal for you! Tracker rates are often much better than standard variable rates, and knowing the difference between the two, before you settle into a mortgage (and for switching afterwards) is key to saving money on your own home. 

So, your mortgage rates might be off the charts right now, and that’s not fair to you, and it’s not very productive for your household. Make sure you know about what you’re paying, whether it can change, and how much money you could save because of this change. 

Get the Right Insurance

Insurance is key to saving money on your home, especially if something breaks, goes missing, or there’s a security risk. And in the modern day and age, these are all big concerns, so you’re definitely going to need a good policy or two to keep you on track. 

Property insurance, car insurance, contents insurance, etc., are all viable types you’re going to want to look into. But, if you want to properly get to know the kinds of insurance you’re going to need, be sure to click here for more information. Maybe it’s time to change your policy, or get a better rate, or take out your first line of insurance before something goes wrong. 

Get to Grips with DIY

How do you feel about your DIY skills? Because you’re going to need them to save money on managing your new home! Overall, DIY is always going to be useful to a homeowner. You’ve got a lot of maintenance and repairs to keep up with, and when you’re paying upwards of £700 per year to keep your house in good shape, you should think about learning how to carry out basic skilled jobs yourself. Indeed, there are plenty of projects you could be getting on with right now, and each of them save a bit of money. At the end of the day, the pennies really do add up. 

Cutting costs on owning your own home doesn’t have to be hard. You just need to do a little research, make some preparations, and don’t be afraid to ask questions! Switch when you need to, push for better rates, and make sure you’ve got a tool belt to make some good use of. 

Driving

Top Considerations To Make When Searching For Your Next Car

When looking to buy a car, most people can find themselves standing on shaky ground. The purchase of a vehicle can, of course, come with enormous stresses, after all, it is one of the most significant investments you will ever make.

We are going to look today at some of the things you should be considering when searching for your new car.

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Affordability

When it comes to searching for your new car, making sure it’s affordable is possible one of the most important things you can do.

A new car can be one of the next most significant purchases after buying a house, so doing some research on its affordability is more than sensible.

The first thing you should look at is the cost of the car. Companies like Trade Price Cars are great when it comes to looking at finance deals. You should also be taking the other expenses of the vehicle on top of finance into consideration.

Doing some research into the economic factors of the vehicle is just as important. Knowing how much the car will cost to run weekly and the average repair costs are vital. 

Another consideration should also be the cost of tax and insurance. Getting some quotes and comparisons before you make a commitment will be essential in your car buying journey.

Reputation

Another important step when buying a vehicle is paying attention to the car you are going to buy. Most people have a general idea of the car they want, and sometimes this can be the biggest mistake. 

Going car shopping only wanting one car can often spell disaster. All is great should the vehicle you want is a fantastic feat of engineering. What if the car you want has a tripe reputation? You are then left with a new car that costs you a fortune in repair costs. 

The advisable thing to do is creating a list of possible cars that you find aesthetically pleasing. Then taking all of the vehicles from your shortlist on a test drive will certainly help you whittle down the good from the bad.

Be Prepared

Making a good deal of advanced preparations before heading out to view a car is essential. You should be armed with lists of questions and things of note to pay attention to as soon as you get there.

One of the first moves you should make, especially if the dealer knows you are coming is to feel the bonnet of the car. A smart little trick that dealers like to do is start the car and leave it running before you arrive.

By getting a car warm, the second time it starts helps to hide any issues that may be present when the car is cold.

Small things like this should fall to your attention; if something doesn’t look or feel right, there is no issue in walking away and finding the same car elsewhere. 

Driving · Family

The Advantages of Leasing a Family Car

The Advantages of Leasing a Family CarIf you’re in the market for a new vehicle, you may be thinking about buying one, either old or new. There are, however, a lot of reasons to consider leasing a car, instead of owning one outright. Here, we look at five reasons for leasing a car and why it could be the best decision for your family:

Spec Upgrade

Most people who lease a car find that they’re able to afford a much better model than they would if they were buying the car outright.  your monthly payments are typically lower compared with other forms of finance, so you can lease a better make, trim or option. Take a look at Blue Chilli Car Leasing Deals. 

Peace of Mind

With a lease car, you’re going to be driving a brand new car, rather than one which is older. This means that you’re less likely to have breakdowns or issues which cause the car to be unreliable, so you’ll have peace of mind that you’re driving your family around in something to rely on.

No MOT

Because lease cars are usually brand new, they also won’t need an MOT. In fact, new cars don’t need an MOT until they’re three years old, so if you choose continue to upgrade your vehicle after a year or two, you’ll never need to deal with nail-biting MOTs again!

Easy Monthly Budgeting

Apart from fuel and insurance, when you lease a car you know exactly what motoring is going to cost you because your expenses are rolled into one – monthly payments, Road Fund licence and breakdown cover. And if you include a maintenance package, your ability to budget becomes even stronger

Value

When you purchase a new car, the value depreciates the second you drive it off of the dealers forecourt, but when you lease a car this is no longer a worry. You don’t have to worry about fluctuations in the car’s trade-in value or go through the hassle of selling it when it’s time to move on.