Journeys Are My Diary

There’s only so many times you can shout “Please take your sneakers off before you come in.” Since we’ve been in the colder months, the footprints have almost certainly got muddier, too. The buzz of having kids about the house is never boring, but it can make tidying up an absolute nightmare.

Utilize storage

If your kid’s toys seem to keep multiplying by the minute, or your book collection is beginning to spill off of the shelves, then investing in some more storage might be wise. Using large boxes and shelves that you currently own will take immediate action for most of the mess. If you’re short on storage and space, discovering a few nifty tricks might help you hide a few items. Purchasing a few more units and containers to hide other items will help contain everything else – and hopefully drop a few hints for other household members to tidy their belongings out of the way.

Do less frequent but bigger cleans

If the one week you do a light spring clean is followed by a week of friends over, people constantly coming and going and a messy reoffender, then it can feel like it wasn’t really worth the tidy in the first place. Instead of doing frequent little tidies, do a big clean up when it counts. For example, if your carpet is beginning to look a little shoddy after years of trampling and spills, then giving it a deep clean will make vast visual improvements. A decent clean can eliminate the need to keep attacking it with the vacuum over and over again on a weekly basis. Companies such as those listed on www.mytechnicare.com show that their team of professionals can provide high-quality carpet cleaning services.

Keep messy items out of reach

If you have a dish of potpourri that keeps getting knocked over or are worried that your bottle of red wine is going to become collateral in your busy house, it’s wise to move them. Putting items that would create a big cleaning job up high not only removes them from harm’s way but also forces you to do some sorting and organizing.

Have no-go rooms

If it really irks you that you keep locating toy trucks and crayons in the dining room, then it might be time to set down some ground rules. Politely informing your kids that certain rooms are now out of bounds means you have one less room to worry about. Confining mess to certain rooms means that you won’t have to do a wild scramble to clean up every room in the house.

Designate tide-up times

If you know dinner is going to be a 6:30, then telling kids to start packing away at 6:15 means your workload is far lighter. Even though your kids will never exactly volunteer to tidy up, rewarding them with dinner straight away gives them the incentive to hurry up and get it done. Maybe even dessert can be offered if the activity in question has been particularly messy. In the meantime, you can also find tips on how to contain messy activities in the home.

If you’re consistently exhausted from tidying a busy household, the key is to make sure you’re not the only person tidying. Roping in other family members and reminding them to help is not only a time saver but also fair. Showing kids how easy it is to tidy up their mess is a valuable life lesson and gives you valuable time back in return.

Birth is difficult at the best of times, but there are certain aspects of it that, when gone wrong, can make it even tougher. If you’ve ever gone through a difficult birth, you’ll know this to be painstakingly true.

In the time that directly follows particularly difficult labours, it’s important for new mums to follow a number of all-important steps. By doing so, both their wellbeing and the health of their newborn will be protected.

To see what you should do next should you ever, unfortunately, have to go through a difficult birth, make sure to read on.

Lighten your load as often as you can

You’re never going to recover from your difficult birth if you don’t relax, and you’d never going to be able to truly relax until you resolve to lighten your load. Quite simply, share your burdens with those around you so that you can devote your time, effort, and energy to getting back to full fitness.

It’s not just your loved ones that you should lean on in this instance, though. Depending on your unique situation, you might even have to turn to a professional in your quest to lighten your load. For instance, if your difficult pregnancy was the result of birth negligence on your treating doctor’s part, then you should share your burden with a medical negligence solicitor found at the-medical-negligence-experts.co.uk. By doing so, you will be able to be sure that your battle for compensation will be fought, regardless of how much effort you, yourself, put into the claiming process.

Know what signs to look out for

In order to deal with whatever post-pregnancy problems you are faced with in a healthy and wholesome way, you must know the signs that signify that something is wrong. If you don’t know what signs to look out for, your problems will just fester underneath the surface until they decide to rear their ugly heads. When they do decide to surface, your troubles will then be increased tenfold.

Some of the most common post-difficult-pregnancy signs to look for include:

• Revisiting the images of the labour
• Being scared about giving birth again
• Struggles with one’s self-image
• Relationship problems
• Shunning of physical contact
• Difficulty when it comes to bonding with the newborn

If you notice that you are suffering from any of these sings, or if the fact that you are suffering with them is pointed out to you, then you should seek medical attention right away. No matter how inconsequential your problems may appear to be, it’s always best to nip them in the bud before they are given the chance to flower.

Open up to your loved ones

Whether you’re a fan of opening up to others or not, in the aftermath of a difficult birth, it’s vital that you do. It could be your partner, your parents, your friends, your cousins, your co-workers, or even your boss — whoever it is you feel comfortable with, talk to them about your situation and what is bothering you. You’ll lift a massive weight off your shoulders if you do.

If you ever go through a difficult birth, then make sure to put the above advice into practice. Doing so will make your life a whole lot easier.

Anyone who has/had a job will know stress is unavoidable, regardless of what the job entails. Many people get stressed from something minimal, whereas others get stressed constantly about anything work-related. If you are one of the latter and you’re looking to reduce stress, take a look at some of the helpful tips below. These could make you a lot happier throughout the week – which could, in turn, help you climb the career ladder further and lead a happier lifestyle.

1. Research CBD Oil
   CBD oil could be the answer to reducing work-related stress. Such oils can help your brain recover from stress-related illnesses thanks to the many cannabinoid chemicals they contain. It’s proven to improve mental health and it could make you feel a lot more positive about your life. Many consumers overlook such products because they don’t believe in them or simply because they can’t afford them. However, when looking at the many benefits such oils provide, it would be a good idea to at least research them in more detail to see if it’s something worth trying. If you’re interested in CBD oil, buy CBD oil wholesale to cut the costs just so it doesn’t hurt your finances over the long term.
   
   
2. Change Your Eating/Drinking Habits
   Simply changing your eating and drinking habits could reduce work-related stress considerably. If you’re constantly binging on fast food and/or alcohol, you are giving your body a lot of stress. Being unhealthy will make you unhappy, and it could be that that’s leading to stress at work. Have a think about the foods/drinks you’re consuming on a weekly basis and see what you could change to make your lifestyle healthier. Have a look at these healthy meals to see if you can implement them into your working week.
   
   
3. Give Yourself a Break
   It’s very easy to go home after a long hard day in the office and still check emails from time to time to keep on top of workloads. However, it’s crucial you set some sort of boundaries and not look at emails after a certain time period. It will help you forget about work, and the chances are, you’re not getting paid to check/respond to emails while you’re working at home anyway. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with trying to get ahead of your workload, as that could also reduce stress, but you still need time away from those emails so you can concentrate on more important matters, such as your health.
   
   
4. Seek Support
   You don’t always need to book an appointment with a doctor to reduce stress, although that is the path many people take if their stress-related illness is more severe. Instead, simply talking to friends and family about your problems at work/home could be the way forward to making you feel a lot better about yourself. It would also be a wise move to talk to your employer about your issues to see if they can help. Many businesses now have access to mental health programs, which could considerably reduce work-related stress.  If you feel that this tip doesn’t help, it could be the right time to get in contact with your local doctors to see if they can give you any help and advice. Coping with work-related stress is easier said than done, but it’s up to you to make changes so work is more bearable and possibly, something you might look forward to on a daily basis. The reasons for work-related stress can vary considerably depending on your situation, but the above tips will definitely give you a shot of reducing stress as a whole.

While love should be at the absolute core of your relationship, you should also know your partner inside and out. Understanding your partner’s emotions and needs are key traits of a happy and healthy relationship. Here are several ways to keep your partner happy.

Being Honest and Open

For a relationship to thrive, it’s essential that you and your partner are open and honest with each other. Communicating effectively on a regular basis can only be a good thing and it helps your relationship stay strong and healthy. Try and take a few minutes out of your day to have a sit down with your partner where you can talk about any problems that you have. The way you handle yourself in certain situations such as arguments can have a damaging effect on your relationship. If you resort to using personal criticisms or withdrawing from the conversation, you are more likely to break up with each other than couples who fight constructively. You should know your partner inside and out for your relationship to stand the test of time.

Understand their Needs

Just as you do, your partner will have their own needs and desires. Fulfilling what your partner wants is another key trait of a happy and healthy relationship. However, if you feel you cannot provide everything your partner wants, it’s best to be honest with them. You and your partner should be on the same wavelength in some respects, otherwise, you wouldn’t be together in the first place. If you feel that you are drifting apart from your loved one, instead of throwing the towel in and ending the relationship, having a chat about your worries and concerns can make all the difference and bring you closer together.

Keep Things Interesting

Juggling a career, children, and other commitments can be incredibly exhausting and end up leaving you next to no time at all with your partner. Finding time in your day to get intimate with your other half may sound like a fantasy over reality, however, there are several ways to keep your relationship interesting and bring the spark back into your love life. Setting aside time to have regular date nights can be a great way to inject some fun back into your relationship. If you feel there’s something lacking intimacy-wise, introducing a sex toy into the bedroom can bring a bit of excitement and passion to your relationship. However, you go about it, always ensure you are engaging with your partner first.

Seeking Help and Support

No matter how strong your relationship is, there will always be ups and downs. However, there are some bumps in your relationship that may need fixing with some help and support. Making an appointment with a relationship therapist can be a great way to improve your relationship. There are also marital education programs that you can enroll in that teach you both skills such as effective listening and how to deal with conflict. If you feel anxious about needing to get support, don’t be. While many couples may see it as a last resort, getting the right guidance can be massively beneficial and will change how you view one another for the better.

Communicating openly and freely with your partner is a key trait you should take on board to ensure your relationship stays happy and healthy. If you have any concerns or you don’t know where to turn, contacting a relationship therapist may be able to help you improve on your communication skills and give you several ways to fix any damage in your relationship.

According to statistics, there are more than 100 million people around the world who are coping with psoriasis, with 7.5 million of them living here in the United States. Each and every year there are approximately 150,000 new cases that are reported in the country. If you are one of the millions suffering from psoriasis, then you understand exactly how painful, uncomfortable, and often embarrassing the skin condition is.

The good news for those diagnosed with the condition is that there are treatment options out there that are meant to lessen the symptoms, and make you a whole lot more comfortable. Sometimes, it’s not a matter of finding one magic solution, rather it is a number of different treatments working together that provides you with results. Here is a look at some of the most popular treatment options to try.

Topical CBD Oil

CBD oil and CBD products in general are gaining a lot of traction as of late thanks to their many health benefits. CBC oil is one of those products that isn’t just used for one ailment or issue, rather it can be used to treat so many different things. When used in a topical form, you can actually apply it to the areas of your skin that are inflamed, red, scaly, and dry and it can start to provide healing benefits.

CBD oil works as an anti-inflammatory agent, so it can therefore reduce the amount of dryness, redness, patchiness, and even that burning sensation that can be associated with psoriasis.

Steroid Creams

One very common route that psoriasis sufferers take is to try steroid creams. These creams are meant to address the swelling as well as the itching that accompanies psoriasis. The steroids work by blocking the cells that are overproducing in those with psoriasis. What this means is that there should be a smaller number of flare-ups. The creams can also be made at different dosages, with the stronger ones offering even more results.

While these types of creams can certainly be useful, it’s important to be aware of the fact they can cause side effects since they are a steroid. Some of the most common side effects include a thinning of your skin, skin irritation, dryness, and burning.

Retinoids or Vitamin A – Prescription Strength

Another option is to try topical retinoids, available as a prescription from your doctor. Retinoids are a synthetic form of vitamin A, and can address many of the same issues that steroids can. They aren’t as potent as a steroid cream, so results can be a little slower.

Again, it’s important to note that these can also cause irritation and dryness sometimes, so it’s important to monitor your skin for any side effects.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid targets the problem in a whole other way as it is used to help the scales shed. The product is used in an ointment form and can be rubbed onto the various affected areas of your skin. Unfortunately, it comes with a long list of potential side effects, and its effectiveness as a whole isn’t as high some other treatments.

Speak to Your Doctor About What’s Right

Because there are a few different routes you could take with psoriasis, the best plan is to speak to your doctor and find a treatment that works well for you.

You have just bought a new campervan and now it’s time to go exploring. This summer, you are planning a campervan trip throughout the northern states so that you can see as much of the country as you can. Perhaps you’d like to visit Eldorado Canyon State Park in Colorado or an RV Park in Washington State. Just remember to check in advance because some parks have campervan hookups and others allow you to stay but don’t offer water or septic lines. With that in mind, let’s get some other tips under our belt.

1. Have Your Campervan Serviced Prior to Setting Out

Even if you have a new campervan, always make sure to have it serviced before setting out. You will want to know that all the fluids are full, the brakes are operational, and that there are no safety issues that will cause delays or accidents along the way. Safety should always be your main priority.

2. Get Out of the Camper as Much as Possible

You are in the house 48 to 50 weeks out of the year, so why would you want to spend the entire trip in the camper? Get out as much as possible. Most parks have great hiking or bicycle paths to explore, so get out and about. Just bear in mind that some of those paths you hike can get a bit ragged, so bring along the best hiking boots that are sturdy you can find. Tripping and falling are not on your to-do list!

3. Mount a Bike Rack to Bring the Bikes Along

As mentioned above, biking from your camper is great fun in the summer months. Why not bring your mountain or touring bikes along with you? Mount a rack on the back of the camper and you can bring the entire family’s bikes on the trip.

4. Tote Your Car Behind

Perhaps you will want to get out and about in a nearby city on your camping trip. Many families tote their car along behind the camper so that they can get into town for groceries or do a little extra exploring. Some locations can be difficult to access with a camper, so you’ll want to know that you can get around in those locations if the need arises. Besides, passenger cars use less gas than campers, so it will save you a bit of money as well.

5. Sleep Under the Stars Some Nights

Some families bring along tents so that they can spend a few nights out under the stars. Others just bring along sleeping bags and lay them on the ground near their campfire. Again, why would you want to spend all of your time inside a structure, mobile though it is, when you can do that at home?

6. Enjoy Free Camping Whenever Possible

The United States also has a huge number of acres where you can camp for free. Some locations allow overnight parking off road and others allow camping stays up to a couple of weeks. These are governed and maintained by the Bureau of Land Management, so check out their website to plan free camping stops along the way. These will not have amenities, but you can plan around that if you really want to enjoy an authentic camping trip – and a free night or two along the way!

These tips should help you have a camping trip you will always remember. Just remember that safety is always a concern so bring along a first aid kit, an epi-pen in case of extreme allergic reactions to foliage or insect bites, and always know where the nearest hospital or clinic is. Have fun this summer and don’t forget to photo journal your trip! It’s something you’ll always want to remember.

If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t check your car tyres all that often. However at this time of year, especially when the weather can make roads even more dangerous than they already are, it’s a good idea to try and look after your tyres. If you live or travel around places like Scotland, you will also find that many roads which travel across countryside are narrow and windy. Distances are often underestimated and so with large gaps between towns and villages, it’s important not to end up stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Here are my top tips for looking after your tyres:

1. First and most importantly, your tyres should be the correct type and size for your car. You can check this information in your manual, however you should have them fitted properly, in Dundee for example, with experts like Fife Autocentre.

2. Keep an eye on the condition of your tyres. They should always look in a good condition – no tears, gouges, scars, lumps etc. If there is something that makes you question what it is, look into it.

3. Tyres should always be pumped up to the correct pressure. Again you can find this information in your manual but it might be handy to keep a note of it in your phone or even on a sticker on your dashboard etc. so you don’t need to keep looking it up. Always check the pressure in cold weather and adjust accordingly. Also adjust the pressure if you carry am unusually heavy load.

4. Tyre grip. The law requires a car’s tread to be 1.6mm but of course you can change them if they begin to look worn on any part of the tyre. If you don’t know how to check for the depth of your tyre tread, look it up. It’s really simple and takes only a moment or two to do.

5. Carrying a spare tyre is not a legal requirement but it it is a good idea. If you hope to rely on it in the case of a puncture, it’s also a good idea to make sure that it’s road worthy by checking that occasionally too.

6. Check your wheel alignment. If your wheel alignment is out, tyres can often wear on the insides, where you can’t really even see them. This can cause unexpected punctures and often you will need to replace tyres sooner than just regular wear and tear.

7. Last but not least, experts recommend you rotate your wheels. Often rear wheels wear down at a slower rate than front ones and some even say left wear more rapidly than right. Rotating your tyres could help them to last longer and you might get many more miles out of your money!

Driving with faulty tyres of any sort, can be incredibly dangerous. If you are breaking the law, you will be subject to fines. If your tyres cause lack of control or slower braking, you may even cause accidents. Because of this it’s really important just to take a few minutes, every few weeks, just to make sure your cars are in the best possible condtion they can be

In lots of ways, dogs have behavioral similarities to human beings.  For instance, like human children, play helps dogs develop both mentally and physically.  On top of that, dogs like trying out new things with their play toys. The only problem with their playful nature is that, they sometimes end up hurting themselves. To ensure that your dog stays safe while playing, here are 3 ways to keep your dog safe while playing with dog toys.

1.    Be around them during play time

Dogs are playful and can be a handful sometimes. Luckily they are easy to train. You can train your dog to only play, when you, are someone you trust is around. However, this doesn’t mean that your dog should have a boring day, every time you are not around to play with them. Just ensure that the house is dog-safe, then let the dog free. For instance, you can set aside a nice open room, with good natural lighting, then leave the dog a ball to play with. The dog will be happy playing around with the ball until you return, and it’s safe. Just don’t forget to take your furry friend out for more exciting games, when you return.

2.    Get them safety-proven dog toys

Like kids toys, there are dog toys that have a mixture of adventure and safety to them.  When it comes to this, Nina Ottosson toys are among the best. Nina has been in the dog toys business since 1990 and knows all about safety when it comes to dogs. Nina Ottosson dog toys are designed in such a way that, they can be played anywhere. For instance, they have mentally engaging games that can be played indoors, where it is safer. They also have games that can be played outdoors on the grass while your furry friend enjoys time out in the sun. With Nina Ottosson toys, you can be sure that your dog is mentally healthy, while at the same time playing in a safe environment.

3.    Get your dog big toys

One of the biggest risks that your dog faces while playing with toys is that of swallowing them. In their playful nature, dogs also love to put into their mouths, whatever they are playing with. As such, to ensure that your dog stays safe while playing, get it a big toy that is not easy to swallow. But it’s not just size that you should put into consideration, the material composition of the toy matters too. Unless you are there monitoring your dog play, make sure to get your dog toys that are big and made of hard materials. Such toys are hard to swallow and also hard for the dog to tear up and swallow. The last thing you want is for your dog to swallow pieces of plastic that may lead to medical complications.  Sticking to safe toys is the best way to build a better, more connected relationship, with your furry friend. That’s a relationship worth going the extra mile to buy safe toys.

In the last few years, the concept of veganism has gone from a rarity to a hugely popular lifestyle choice. Even if you yourself are not vegan, the chances are you know someone who is, or someone who opts for a few meat-free and diary-free options throughout the week. It’s not difficult to see why; with so many new vegan options now available to customers, it’s never been easier to go vegan.

According to one study, an estimated 2.66 million Brits are taking part in Veganuary 2019, a record-breaking number. Another study from The Vegan Society revealed that within the UK:

• 56% of adults in the UK practice vegan buying behaviours
• 19% have cut down on buying meat and are checking cosmetics and toiletries for animal-testing
• 13% actively choose meat-free or dairy-free meals when eating out
• 51% are happy to see vegan food in shops and restaurants

There’s also an increase in people opting for the ‘flexitarian’ approach instead of forgoing meat and dairy entirely. This is where people opt for vegan or vegetarian meals every so often and actively reduce their meat intake. In fact, 34% of meat eaters in the UK had reduced their meat intake as of July 2018, where only 28% had done in 2017. Maybe because of this, the mindset towards vegans has drastically improved, with 43% of people saying they respected vegans for their lifestyle.

But what has caused the popularity boost? Looking at the results of last year’s Veganuary, a movement that challenges people to sign up for a month of vegan eating, the top reason for people signing up was animal rights concerns (43%). This was followed by 39% of people who signed up for health reasons, and 10% who said it was for environmental reasons.

Perhaps there’s also a hint of vanity in the choice to go vegan, given the reported correlation of Google search for the word ‘vegan’ and the word ‘Instagram’. In a world where we love to take photos of our meals and share them on social media, it’s not difficult to believe that Instagram has helped circulate numerous brightly-coloured vegan dishes to help improve its previously ill-held reputation of being nothing but leaves. Vegan food choices have definitely expanded in recent years, which is sure to have helped tempt more and more people into ditching animal products. For example, Live Kindly outlined some amazing vegan food trends for 2019 that sounds truly delicious:

• Vegan seafood is set to take centre stage, as arguably the final frontier for plant-based substitutes to offer up.
• Vegan ice-cream and deserts are also on the rise, with the likes of Ben & Jerry’s releasing vegan ice-cream options in 2018 and leading the way for other ice-cream companies to follow suit.
• Vegan jerky is pinned to be the vegan snack of 2019, offering up a meaty, chewy treat without any animal product!
• Vegan cheese will expand its repertoire in 2019, with more variety of offerings such as parmesan-style and Blue-type cheese. Vegans and lactose-intolerant people, rejoice!

Of course, this means there are ways for businesses to get in on the vegan trend. A recent survey found that 91% of vegans are having a tough time finding to-go meal options. The market is certainly there, just look at Greggs — their headline-grabbing vegan sausage roll launch in early 2019 saw the meat-free version of their customer favourite appear in 900 stores. But after becoming the fastest selling launch for the company in more than six years, it is now set to head to 1,800 stores.

Making the switch to a vegan diet can be so beneficial on a personal level too. A new study was brought to the public eye by The Guardian, outlining that the “five-a-day” notion for fruit and vegetable consumption is, sadly, not entirely accurate. In fact, the study from the Imperial College London advises 10-a-day! The now-recommended 800g of fruit and veg daily would help reduce heart disease, strokes and premature deaths. Picking up a few vegan meals throughout the week, or switching to a vegan diet entirely, would certainly help hit this healthy target.

You might not be ready to give up cheese and meat just yet, but you can easily increase your vegetable intake. Even a small garden can house a few home-grown herbs and fruits! You can grab a compost bag and start cultivating your own supply of tomatoes for a home-made tomato sauce, or cucumbers for the freshest salad you’ll ever taste! Don’t forget your proteins — a vegan diet has loads to choose from, and you can grow some in your garden alongside the veggies. Think beans and seeds, like sunflower seeds or soybeans.

Will you be looking to add a few vegan options to your week? You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how far vegan cooking has come, and if nothing else, you’ll reap the many environmental and health benefits.

This year I turn 40 and at one point I started one of those “40 before 40” lists but I have to admit, I didn’t get past about 4 things, let alone 40. However one of those 4 was to buy a new car for myself – although when I say new, I mean used but new to me. For as long as I can remember, I have always had the cheap run-around car. It’s never cost more than about £500 and it was always just to run the kids to school and doing the shopping. When I eventually got a nice car, it was passed down to me from my then husband, as he was getting a new car himself. Sadly that car was stolen a year or so later and then I was back to the cheap, no choice, run-around car.

So my goal this year, is to finally head out and pick myself a car. I don’t have a massive budget but just knowing that I chose it and paid for it myself will be really nice. However I have to be honest and admit, I don’t know a whole lot about cars, and if you saw my current car (parts of it are held on by cable ties!) you would totally class me as a sterotypical “woman driver”. Because of this, I don’t want to be taken for a fool by a car dealer and I have been doing some research! So, what should you look for when buying a used car?

Find a good and reliable dealership

While one upon a time, car dealers had a bad name for themselves, being dodgy dealers and fixing cars to seem better than they are, these days that isn’t the case. Often a dealer is the absolute best person to buy a car from. Dealers have a reputation to uphold and they need for people to recommend them to others and keep people coming back. If they sold dodgy cars, or gave people misinformation, they would soon lose people’s trust and no one would come back. If you’re looking to buy second hand fiat cars in Brighton consider a credible dealer like KAP Motors.

Always view the car properly

This probably sounds obvious, but it’s also easy to feel awkward when you’re looking around cars – especially if like me, you don’t really know what you’re doing. However take the time to inspect it properly, especially looking for things like;
– worn tyres (this will set you back extra money if you have to replace them almost immediately)
– dents and scratches (it’s not so much the little ones, but anything that stands out – plus it might help you negotiate on price)
– panel gaps or varying colours (this may show that a car has been in a crash and badly repaired)
– oil, brake and power steering fluids (these being low may imply the car hasn’t been well maintained),
– electrics (check the windows open, the wipers work, the radio switches on etc. – again this might be a relatively cheap fix for you but good for negotiating)
– glass (look for chips as they could turn into cracks and cracks can fail an MOT).
– upholstery (stains and tears can be off-putting, so can funky smells – make sure you would be happy driving around in it)
– spare wheel and accessories (if you get a puncture, are you going to be able to fix it? Do you have not only a spare tyre but also the tools to change it?)
– wear and tear (all second hand cars will show some signs of use, but does the mileage fit with the rough condition of the car?)

There are of course other things you can check for and this includes; document checks, MOT and service history checks, mileage discrepancies incase the car has been clocked and so on.

Take the car for a test drive

Most of the time you should be able to take the car you are looking at out for a test drive. While you’re doing this, there are a few other things to look out for. Does the car start okay? What temperature does the gauge show (has the owner warmed it up beforehand)? Check the clutch, transmission, steering and suspension. Does the engine sound okay? Does the car perform as you’d expect? Test the brakes.

Most importantly though, do you like it? Are you happy driving it, does it feel right and will you be happy owning this car for the foreseeable future. If you have done your due diligence and everything seems to be ticking the boxes, you’re probably good to go. Make sure you get the best deal, cover yourself for being able to take it back if something doesn’t feel right in the first few days and if you’re taking out some sort of finance to pay for it, make sure you consider all the different covers available to you.