Esther Shaw
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Articles by Esther Shaw
The five mistakes to avoid when buying your forever home
Esther Shaw Imagine finally unpacking the final cardboard box in your new home, knowing you'll never need to bother with the stress of moving house again. Increasing numbers of property hunters are searching for a “forever home”, according to Barclays, with more than a third of recent first-time buyers stating their intention to buy a property they'd live in for at least 10 years.
The five mistakes to avoid when buying your forever home Original
While a peaceful village setting or open countryside view can be a major draw, there's no guarantee it's going to stay that way - Geography Photos/Getty Images Imagine finally unpacking the final cardboard box in your new home, knowing you'll never need to bother with the stress of moving house again.
The five mistakes to avoid when buying your forever home
"One of the biggest regrets comes from families who have bought for their current situation, rather than the life they're growing into. Open-plan living is great for toddlers, but children quickly grow up and want privacy, somewhere quiet to study, and space to host their friends," said Jo Eccles, founder and managing director of London buying agency Eccord. You'll also need to think about what happens as you grow older too and perhaps aren't as mobile as you are now.
I was worried about getting bored so I started a new career in retirement
Esther Shaw Have you kept working beyond retirement age? Or, have you been compelled to keep working because of your financial situation? Tell us your story at money@telegraph.co.uk The idea of slowing down in retirement is one that makes little sense to Gordon Slade. After a long career in sales, he stopped working at 65 ... but never really clocked off.
I was worried about getting bored so I started a new career in retirement
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Regret taking your pension lump sum? Here's what to do next
Deciding when to access your pension is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make, but not everyone gets it right. Three in five retirees (61pc) who decided to withdraw tax-free cash from their retirement pots before last November's Budget – some out of concern that rules would change overnight – regret doing so, according to wealth manager Quilter.
Buy-to-let vs pension: Which is best to fund your retirement?
Cheap houses, low interest rates and the opportunity to renovate and “flip” for big profits – buy-to-let has been such a dependable source of wealth that many pensioners have relied on it to fund their retirement. For more than 30 years, during what wealth management firm Rathbones called a “golden age of property investing”, returns on buy-to-let investments exceeded those of other investments. But can property still trump a pension?
Why cashing out your pension in full could be a costly mistake
You're winding down to retirement, working part-time, when the boiler breaks and your car gives up the ghost. Your earnings won't cover them both, but you do have that retirement pot from years ago. Almost half a million savers emptied their pension pots in 2024-25, a jump of 100,000 compared with 2018-19, according to the Financial Conduct Authority.
How to beat the competition and buy a 'hidden' property
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Consolidating your pensions? These are the ones you shouldn't merge
While consolidating the various pension pots that have been opened over the course of your career can be beneficial for your retirement savings, it's not always the best choice. Many savers choose to reduce the number of pots to get a better grasp of their financial position and avoid adding to the £31.1bn sitting in lost pensions , according to the Pensions Policy Institute. However, some pension transfers can result in the loss of sought-after features.
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy How to start an Airbnb business in 14 steps
Esther Shaw Whether you have a a spare room , annexe or empty property, listing it on Airbnb as a short-term holiday let is a popular way to supplement your income. Get it right, and it can be a rewarding way to top up the family finances from the four walls around you. But there's plenty to navigate when running a business of this nature, including property restrictions, regulations – and, of course, tax implications.
Nine tips to avoid getting 'gazundered' on a house sale
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Nine tips to avoid getting 'gazundered' on a house sale
Esther Shaw It's every seller's worst nightmare. You agree to a deal with a buyer, your finances are in place, and you have plans to move to your new home, only to find out your buyer has changed their mind. They want money off, or there's no deal. This is the murkypractice of gazundering, which can suddenly throw whole property chains into disarray when buyers change their offer.
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Six practical steps for landlords to combat rising mortgage rates
Use precise geolocation data and actively scan device characteristics for identification. This is done to store and access information on a device and to provide personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development. List of partners (vendors) Esther Shaw Landlords have been given plenty of things to worry about in 2026 , but when the year began mortgage rates weren't one of them.
Seven common home improvements that won't pay off when you sell
If you're considering selling your home this year, you might be tempted to fix everything you can before putting it on the market. Whether it's replacing your outdated kitchen or getting new carpets, many sellers think a bit of investment will help secure a higher price or a quicker sale. But some fixes simply won't pay off. Certain improvements will waste both your time and money , and may well get replaced by the new owner as soon as they move in.
Should you pay off your child's student loan?
If you can recall a time when the resounding answer to the question “should I pay off my child's student loan?” was met with a resounding “no, they'll barely notice it”, that's because it wasn't all that long ago. Changes to repayment terms over the years have made these loans a much worse proposition for graduates , sparking an outcry as many realise they'll be saddled with ballooning debt for most of their working lives .
Should you pay off your child's student loan?
If you can recall a time when the resounding answer to the question “should I pay off my child's student loan?” was met with a resounding “no, they'll barely notice it”, that's because it wasn't all that long ago. Changes to repayment terms over the years have made these loans a much worse proposition for graduates , sparking an outcry as many realise they'll be saddled with ballooning debt for most of their working lives .
How to avoid the 60pc tax trap for 100k-125k earners
You may be familiar with the idea of paying tax at either 20pc, 40pc or 45pc, depending on how much you earn.However, some individuals will unwittingly end up paying income tax at a marginal rate of 60pc.
The common issue that could be quietly wrecking your home and how to spot the signs
Its a fate that would horrify any homeowner. Youve invested precious time and money decorating, everything is finally to your taste, yet all the while water has been quietly seeping through the walls and floors and youve only noticed once the damage has been done.Unfortunately, these kinds of silent leaks are not uncommon.
The government eco grants on offer – and whether you're eligible
The Government's list of eco schemes has another addition for 2026, with the launch of its Warm Homes Plan. It joins the existing Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and the soon-to-end Eco+ and Eco4 schemes, all launched to support the ambitious attempt to reach net zero by 2050. The eco-grant landscape has been criticised for being overly complicated, with several schemes running concurrently for different purposes, and having poor take-up.
How to insure against redundancy in Britains uncertain job market
Do you have any form of redundancy insurance? Would you consider taking out a policy, or do you think its a waste of money?
How much it really costs to live on a narrowboat
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Switch current accounts – and get paid £1,105
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should you invest?
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The taxes HMRC can charge even if you move abroad – and how to avoid them
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What you can do about your neighbour’s messy garden
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
‘I’m 75 – but instead of retiring, I made a complete career change’
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
‘I’m 75 – but instead of retiring, I made a complete career change’
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Four ways £100k-plus earners can cut their income tax bill
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
How to move your Isa tax-free
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
The best ways to invest in gold and make a profit
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The exact age you need to start taking your pension seriously – or risk a poor retirement
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All you need to know
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All you need to know
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
All you need to know
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What happens to your pension when you die?
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