ET Speaks From Home

Advice for First-Time Buyer

If you are first-time buyer, it is crucial that you understand the variety of costs to come and how you can improve your chances of buying a home. Taking these into account will ensure that you can manage your mortgage repayments without dragging your budget into the red zone.

We know that it is really hard for first-time buyers to set foot in their dream home! It took us a while to buy our first house together and we have all been there! We know it is very difficult to buy a house when you have no help.

Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Teachers

It is that time of the year again! Just a few more days before the school term ends before a long-awaited summer break! It is time we show our appreciation to this group of exceptional hard working people that we leave in the care of our children!

We all know that it is not easy to educate our precious little ones, so why not send your child’s teacher a small gift of appreciation? Check out some of these amazing gift ideas for your child’s teacher we have selected and reviewed.

4 kids bedroom updates that require minimal effort

It’s summer, which means that many of us don’t really fancy spending the time we have with our families painting walls, sifting through piles of broken toys or trying to construct furniture. However, many of us don’t have much choice, as the longer days and cool nights are the only time we get to complete the tasks and finish the projects we’ve been putting off so far this year.

Kids grow out of their bedrooms quickly, whether they’ve fallen out of love with a particular cartoon character or simply have a new favourite colour, your kids room will go through many changes before they’re all grown up! So, with that in mind, here you’ll find some quick and easy kids bedroom updates that not only require minimal effort but won’t break the bank either.

GraviTrax Starter Set Review

Introducing you to this outstanding interactive STEM track system from Ravensburger’s GraviTrax that is gravity defying! Now fans can use their imagination to build their own superb tracks, release the gravity spheres and watch the forces of nature work to create an action-filled adventure! This STEM system (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) is an ideal set to teach children about gravity, magnetism, kinetic energy and fun. It is suitable for ages eight years and above.

i-Top Electronic Spinning Top Game

i-Top is the next generation pocket-sized electronic spinning top game that will appeal to both children and adults alike! This toy combines the classic spinning top look with modern twists! Not only can it be stored away neatly by placing the pin into the groove, it also comes with an electronic counter with hidden animations.

i-Top is a very well made spinning toy with a clever compact design, it is perfect as a travel game! It is available in these colours: blue, red, orange, purple and green.

Tofuture Tofu Press Review

What is a Tofuture tofu press? Tofuture tofu press is a simple yet awesome kitchen gadget that gently squeezes out the excess water from the tofu to make it taste even better. This tofu press simply transforms the taste and texture of tofu and saves the mess of soggy paper towels and use of heavy books to make tofu taste delicious.

Incredibles 2 Toy from JAKKS Pacific

The wait is finally over! Everyone’s favourite family of superheroes Incredibles 2 is out now in UK cinemas from today! To celebrate the release of this heartfelt super-sequel, JAKKS Pacific has an extensive line of Disney Pixar toys that will bring the adventures of the Incredibles to life from action figures to feature dolls to playsets and vehicles!

We have received these two amazing toys from JAKKS Pacific: Jack-Jack Attacks and Mr. Incredible action figure, along with the official guidebook from DK.

How To Improve Your Kitchen On A Budget

Kitchen improvements are always extremely fun. I think part of the reason for this is that you actually feel the benefits of the home improvements when you renovate your kitchen. You’re in there every day, usually cooking and doing stuff. So, if you can make your experience better, it’ll only make you happier.

Sadly, most kitchen renovations are costly and involve loads of work. However, you can certainly improve your kitchen while sticking to a budget. Here are a few ideas that will make a big difference to your home:

How To Maximise Space In Your Home

Space is becoming an issue for many of us, as homes are get smaller. New homes are often built to the minimum space requirement, so that property investors can get more return for their money. As the world population rises due to people living longer, space in already populated areas is at a premium. As purchasing a house or renting a larger property is beyond many people’s price bracket, people are seeking ways to make their home feel larger by maximising every bit of available space. A change in family circumstances such as a new baby requires a bit of creative thought, so that your home isn’t bursting at the seams!

Celebrating 10th Anniversary of Thomas Land

Last weekend, we were delighted to be part of the 10^th Anniversary of Thomas Land press celebration which has been open at the popular Drayton Manor Theme Park since 2008! Did you know that since its installation, the Thomas engine, which journeys from Knapford Station to Tidmouth Hault, has travelled an incredible 13,799 miles in total? This is the equivalent to travelling from Scotland to London and back nearly 15 times!

Monster Beach Bundle Giveaway

The most anticipated animated family movie of the year, Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation, is teaming up with Pulsin Kids’ Fruity Oat Bars this summer to give one of my followers the chance to win this amazing Monster Beach bundle.

We are thrilled to be giving away a haul of delicious Pulsin Kids’ Fruity Oat Bars (3 multipack boxes of delicious Strawberry, Orange Choc Chip and Blackcurrant & Apple flavours) and official Hotel Transylvania 3 merchandise including a 3D bat drawstring bag perfect for your swimming costumes and towels, a spook-tacular beach ball and stylish sailor hat – aye aye Captain!

What does a new boiler cost?

There’s no doubt that installing a new boiler or replacing an existing boiler is a huge expense for any household.

Costs for a new boiler installation are usually broken down into two main components. Firstly, there is the fixed cost of the boiler itself. There is a huge range of boilers with different makes and models to choose from, each boiler coming with its own price range.

Classy Home Office Hacks For Busy Mums

Whether you work at home all the time or need a place where you can go and concentrate on occasion, a home office is perfect for space for this. However, converting a room into an ideal office space and be a challenge, especially if you are a busy mom with lots on your plate already. Luckily, if you keep reading, you will find some simple, easy, and speedy hacks that can help turn your home office into a place in which you want to spend all your time.

Adapting Your Home To Meet the Demands of a Growing Family

You might think that you’re in the perfect home, but it’s only perfect for your current circumstances. If you’re thinking about having a child, or have one on the way, then it won’t just be the number of hours of sleep you get that’ll change once they arrive – so will the suitability of your home. But you don’t necessarily have to move house just because a little one is on the way. By making a few changes, you can give your current abode more space, so that there’s no reason for people to be falling over each other!

The Costs Of Buying A House You Don’t Think About

So, you’ve been visiting several properties, and finally, you’ve found your ideal home. Was it love at first sight? Many homeowners explain that they fell in love with their house the day they visited it. They feel attracted to the place, and they soon realised they wouldn’t be happy without it.

Of course, when you decide to buy a house, you need to make an offer the seller can’t refuse. To do this, you have to be in a position where you know exactly how much you can afford to pay, and consequently, how high your price offer can be. For first-time home buyers, the process of making an offer can be difficult. Even though you might be advised by a real estate agent, it’s fair to say that you need to start your home search journey with a mortgage estimation. IN other words, before you can even visit properties, you need to know exactly how much money you can borrow. However, it would be foolish to assume that the price of the house or a flat is the only investment you are required to make when you buy your new home. If you’re new to the property market, it’s crucial that you understand the variety of the costs to come. Taking these into account will ensure that you can manage your mortgage repayments without dragging your budget in the red.