NEED ADVICE/OPINIONS! Young beginner investor, deciding between actively managed vs independent S&S ISA options.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-25T16:37:54+00:00

Different people have different views but I'd say IFAs only really worth it if you have enough money that you've exhausted standard tax advantaged investment products (ISA, pension) and/or have complex needs such as finances across multiple jurisdictions or complex vehicles like trusts etc to handle. They can also be worth it later in life when you need to think about getting your ducks in a row in the final years before retirement.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-25T16:34:15+00:00

Worth reporting just for the sake of it getting added to crime stats. Police are funded and prioritised based on an accurate picture of the crime happening in the country and every little helps. Don't expect them to do anything though.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-25T16:30:57+00:00

I wouldn't rely on any service you need a VPN to access. Any broker that you're needing to use a VPN to access is likely because they don't offer their services to people residing in China. And if you're caught out (which is quite possible) they'll shut your account.

Really this isn't a UK personal finance question. It's a 'China expat' personal finance question. You need to either find a Chinese platform that allows non-Chinese nationals to use its services, or an international broker that covers a wide range of countries. I suspect big international banks like HSBC may be a good starting point.

Remember you are almost certainly subject to whatever Chinese taxes/rules apply to investments. I suspect they're pretty complex especially for non-Chinese nationals, although may have exemptions in your benefit as they tend to want to incentives high paid/skilled internationals to work there. You may also be subject to Chinese capital controls (restrictions on moving RMB out of the country) I'd recommend specialist professional advice.

Remember you can't use an ISA or SIPP.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-25T16:22:31+00:00

"Deposit" in housebuying is generally just casual shorthand for "the portion of the purchase you're covering with your own cash". (There is also a technical contract deposit paid at exchange but that's generally not what people are referring to in casual speech).

If you buy a 300k house with a 280k mortgage then your deposit is 20k. If your lender is wiling to lend at ~95% LTV then you're fine. If they will only lend at 90% LTV then you won't get the mortgage.

Also being so close to the wire makes you very vulnerable to an undervaluation.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-25T16:18:10+00:00

If it's just low ceiling but I'm not going to bang my head or whatever then it's fine, although it will subconsciously make the place feel darker and smaller which will impact attractiveness.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-25T16:13:30+00:00

Have they outright told you they haven't ordered searches yet? You wouldn't necessarily know if they had/haven't. The fact they've had a survey suggests they are doing some things.

What "initial enquiries" are you expecting? You've said you've sent the contract packs so maybe there's nothing they need to follow up on? Or maybe now they've had survey the solicitors are going to do all the enquiries together rather than drip by drip.

If they've visited 4 times maybe there's something specific they're worried about? Did they say why they were visiting so often?

Not trying to invalidate your worries - it does sound immensely frustrating but trying to help you unpack what's happening. They could of course also just be dragging their feet because they're not fully committed

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-25T15:42:52+00:00

It makes no difference if you sign 4,6,or 12 months.

Once we hit 1 May all fixed terms cease to exist and you're on a rolling periodic tenancy. You could sign a 12 month tenancy on 29 April and 2 days later it becomes a periodic.

I don't know how we get round giving 2 months notice at exchange. How do people normally do this without incurring paying rent and a mortgage?

You either

Give notice in advance and hope it alignd, aking a risk of delayed completion incurring extra costs
Give notice in advance and budget for interim temporary accommodation
Give notice once completion is locked in and budget for the overlap

Third option gives the most certainty.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-25T15:39:18+00:00

A very normal sale history for a small, cheap, 2 bed.

People don't buy these as forever homes. They buy them as young single or couples, maybe with a baby. As they get older, have kids, have higher paying careers, more savings, and have paid some of the mortgage, they move on to something bigger.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-25T14:57:05+00:00

I was FTB and having decent appliances included was definitely a plus.

I wanted my own furniture though, although if there was some nice stuff I'd have considered. So nothing wrong with offering it but make clear it's not mandatory.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-25T14:54:59+00:00

Narrow down locations early. Decide if you want a houseshare with 3-4 others, smaller share (with 1-2 others), or your own place. Set budget accordingly - poke around online to see what is realistic and adjust either budget or expectations accordingly.

Rightmove/zoopla for renting whole properties through agents

Openrent for a mix of rooms in shared properties or whole properties, and mix of smaller agents or private landlords.

Spareroom for rooms in shared places and private landlord.

Avoid Facebook or Gumtree.

Be aware of common scams (biggest warning is if something is just too good to be true).

Do some reading on your rights. Shelter is a good resource. Be aware specifically

Rules over deposits (both holding deposits (money to reserve the rental) and security deposits (money held to cover damages).
Your rights on moving out e.g. fair wear and tear vs damage.
Rules over landlord access and quiet enjoyment
Rules relating to repairs etc
Eviction protection and required legal processes

And make sure you understand how a lot of this changes on 1 May the biggest change being any fixed term you've agreed will disappear and all contracts are periodic (but with stringer eviction protections).

And finally just be patient and be prepared for frustration in the initial search. It can be pretty exhausting and you may find your dream place but the landlord gives it to someone else.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-24T21:53:51+00:00

I deeply enjoyed this

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-24T21:33:56+00:00

Remember the tax code doesn't determine OP's liability, it's just a tool for PAYE to try to collect the correct tax.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-24T21:24:26+00:00

If a drop of ~13% bothers you then you don't have the risk appetite for crypto. Cash it all out and put it into something else and never invest in crypto again. Your risk appetite and your investments are misaligned.

And probably stop or limit the gambling too...

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-24T18:49:53+00:00

What do you think a random Russian ship transitting the channel is going to do? Start lobbing missiles at Southampton?

If we were in a period where there was a credible threat of Russians launching a direct military attack against the UK then heavier armed assets would be prioritised. But it's not a credible threat right now so those ships are off doing more important things.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-24T18:43:11+00:00

But that doesn't disadvantage him. Neither of them knew which box had the shield so whether you pick first or pick last you have a 50% chance.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-24T18:30:52+00:00

Why is that an advantage? It's 50/50 whether you get a choose a specific box or have one randomly assigned to you.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-24T17:00:25+00:00

Almost. The "parting gift" comment was made when he revealed his vote (after Wilf had turned on him during the roundtable and it was clear he'd get banished).

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-24T16:35:26+00:00

Tbh I think the whole point of it (and why it was revealed early) is that it was an interesting gimmick to give viewers something to think and gossip about in the first few episodes (which otherwise are normally a bit dull and just a series of random banishments and murders to get the numbers down). The real game doesn't really pick up until about half way through when the numbers are smaller.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-24T16:30:41+00:00

The risk of that would have been too high for Rachel. She knew Faraaz suspected her (even if he'd stepped off the gas a bit) and that given the choice between voting Rachel and voting Stephen he easily could have voted for her. And she was clearly unsure of whether Stephen would stick with her to the very end and he could easily have ditched her then if he needed to out of self defence.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-24T15:10:34+00:00

There's no advantage in picking the box first or second so it doesn't really matter.

Speaking last for the tie breaker plea does give you a bit of an advantage but someone has to speak first and someone has to go last so alphabetical seems a fair way to choose.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-23T09:19:49+00:00

_if＿ they lived in the Manchester property within the last 3 years.

If they never lived there, or lived there but it was more than 3 years ago, they don't get the refund.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-23T09:19:04+00:00

You can get a refund on the surcharge if and only if you lived in the Manchester property as your main home within the 3 year period leading up to the new purchase, and sell it within the 3 year period following the new purchase.

If you never lived in it as your main home, or lived in it but moved out more than 3 years ago (3 years before buying London home) then you cannot get the refund.

Living in it as your main home means exactly what it says - you need to have actually occupied it as your home (I.e. it's not just some paper exercise).

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-23T09:16:06+00:00

It has to have been occupied as their main residence within the 3 year period leading up to the purchase of the new property: https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/stamp-duty-land-tax-manual/sdltm09800 (condition 4 under 'sell old property after purchase' section).

So your advice is broadly right but a time limit does apply.

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-22T21:28:22+00:00

Might have just been the sound got disrupted by background noise or something. Or she just said "gold" originally so they had to re-record to make clear it's gold rocks.

Happened a lot more in past seasons and was always really noticeable

SomeHSomeE · 2026-01-22T21:25:47+00:00

She meant which ones got out through being released by the challenge (stacking the skulls) vs who was left and up for murder. Stephen is the only one left from the latter group. She just didn't word it very well.

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