The Bank of Mum and Dad in the UK props up home purchases, education, and increasingly, day-to-day living. As wages stay stagnant, and inflation rises, many parents and grandparents who are able to, are gifting or loaning their loved ones money. In fact, two-thirds of parents are considering gifting their children an early inheritance, and nearly half saying they’ve already given their children financial gifts, according to 2025 research from Wealthify.
One in five homeowners in 2025 were helped by parents, and an average of £55,572 was given in parental loans and gifts according to research by Savills. Yet money is a difficult thing to discuss with family, and knowing how to pass on money while you’re still alive can be a financial conundrum.
Here, experts explain the common mistakes and pitfalls to avoid.
The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.
Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.
The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.
This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.
We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.
Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.
Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it.
Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.
This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.
Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?
By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.
Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.
Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.
Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.
Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.
Sales of battery electric vehicles hit a record high last year.
Leon Poultney, a writer who specialises in cars, gives his EV recommendations, and the ones that should be avoided.
Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery
Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.
The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars.
It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.
It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.
It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.
The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.
The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.
With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.
It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion.
All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.
While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps.
There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds.
It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.
For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice.
Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.
It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.
“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”
It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match.
It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce.
As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.
What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.
Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe.
The golden rules for a happy, secure relationship
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book Attached, explains why we behave the way we do in love.
The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.
People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.
If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.
You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong.
Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.
When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one.
If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’
When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.
Build a community that works for your temperament and gives you regular, reliable moments of connection.
You can still be kind to people while not treating them as someone who belongs in your inner circle.
Explain what you need. Sometimes people simply don’t realise how you are experiencing them.
Check in with people: does this person actually feel that I’m reliable? Do they experience me as predictable? That’s the only way that you can start to become more secure.
More refined cereals are digested quickly, and fruit juice, whilst one of your five-a-day, contains less fibre than whole fruit. This might mean you find yourself hungry again within 1-2 hours of eating this breakfast.
Swap the orange juice for a whole orange, the cereal for oats and milk or serve it with Greek yoghurt or a boiled egg. This would increase the fibre and protein content; two nutrients strongly linked with fullness.
These pastries are made primarily from refined flour and butter, and are relatively low in protein and fibre.
It is mostly carbohydrate and without protein or fibre, it is digested quickly, leaving you feeling hungry.
Shop-bought packs can contain a lot of white rice, which is digested quickly, and the protein content is often modest.
On its own, it is often very low in protein and calories, so hunger can return quickly.
Unless it’s loaded with veggies, it’s probably pretty low in fibre.
Liquids are generally less filling as they require little chewing which may not trigger satiety signals.
They are ideal for a quick pick-me-up, but if reducing hunger is what you’re after, it’d be better to swap it out.
A full-fat plain Greek yoghurt with berries and seeds tends to be much more filling due to the protein, fat and fibre.
On an empty stomach, it can actually increase your appetite.
Instead of thinking about avoiding foods, think about what you can add to them.
Add beans, lentils or shredded chicken to your vegetable soup and pasta.
Thicken your smoothies with Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and oats.
Apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with berries and hummus with oat biscuits are better snack options than a pre-made snack bar.
Have alcohol alongside a balanced meal containing protein and fibre.
Will Harlow, a physiotherapist for the over-50s and author of Independence for Life, shares the key signs you’re ageing badly – and what to do about it.
Ageing well is maintaining the ability to do what you want you want for as long as you want without needing help. Everyone is talking about longevity but what’s the point in living longer if the last decade is painful and you’re [totally] reliant on people?”
The most obvious early warning sign of bad ageing is pain says Harlow.
Another is losing confidence in doing daily tasks, which can quickly lead to a lack of independence.
One call Harlow often receives is people calling after having a fall and struggling to get up.
When people retire, they often put their feet up and stop. Your body really is use it or lose it.
Throughout our entire lives, Harlow says we need between seven and nine hours of sleep.
The lack of connection can increase the risk of premature death by as much as 29 per cent.
It really is the proxy for overall independence.
The more muscle mass you have, the less chance of heart disease, diabetes, falls and even anxiety, depression and dementia.
The brain can be linked to muscle mass too, Harlow says. It’s not just about being able to lift things. It gives you more energy, better sleep and you’ll look and feel better.
Do short bursts of exercise, between 30 and 60 seconds, in otherwise dead time during the day.
Take joints through a full range of motion for five minutes to loosen it before getting up.
It can increase the decline of muscle mass and bone density, which needs to be avoided.
Harlow advises 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight to stop muscle loss alongside resistance training.
Harlow finds that many patients put off making a change to their lifestyle until their lives are consumed by pain.
For most people, it’s about reducing the number of times per week you’re exercising, not reducing intensity.
Lie completely flat on the floor and get back up to a standing position using any technique. This should take less than 10 seconds.
See how many times you can sit on the chair and stand back up again in 30 seconds. Men should be aiming for more than 14 times and women 12.
The single-leg stand, which involves standing on one leg and balancing for 10 seconds. Everyone should be able to do that and for those under 65, Harlow asks them to do it with their eyes closed.
Despite the job market hiring fewer entry-level roles, employers are still looking for grads…
But you should be prepared to keep an open mind.
We’ve compiled the sectors hiring graduate roles, what degree is required, and what they pay.
Hiring in the UK could finally be on the up
of employers offered entry-level positions from July.
That is up nearly 15 per cent from the same period last year.
But graduate unemployment rose to six per cent in 2025 and 700,000 jobless graduates were claiming benefits.
Around 42 per cent of UK finance and insurance employers say they will be open to graduate roles this summer.
Business loan company Portman Finance Group has taken on 50 graduates over the past four years.
Portman graduates start on £36,000 for the two-year programme and the education you need to apply is a minimum “ABB” of A-levels, and a 2:1 or above university degree. But not in a specific subject.
What makes it particularly rewarding is that there’s always something to learn.
Nearly half (47 per cent) of trade and logistics companies will be giving graduates a go this year.
Salaries start at £30,000 with an uncapped bonus, rising to £50,000 plus a company car as a senior account partner.
More than half (52 per cent) of UK tech and IT firms are actively looking for graduates.
Successful entry-level candidates can earn a basic salary of up to £35,000, with the opportunity to triple that within their first three years of working.
46 per cent of public sector, health and social services organisations are also ready to take graduates, according to a survey by Manpower.
For example, Police Now runs a graduate programme into policing. They recruit graduates from any degree field, as long as they achieve a 2:2 or above. Starting salaries range from £31,164 to £42,210 depending on location and rising each year.
Can we treat guests without blowing our budget?
According to Waitrose, a dinner party revival is underway led by younger people trying to reduce the cost of getting together.
The i Paper food writer Sophie Morris [below] asks chefs for their best ideas for hosting at home.
People will feast on the bread, and then need less fish/steak/expensive whatever. All small plates restaurants know this: this is why the first thing on the menu is always artisan bread and butter.
ELLA RISBRIDGER, AUTHOR OF THE KITCHEN BOOK – GOOD FOOD FOR EVERY DAY
Chef and food writer Helen Graham turns vegetables into centrepieces to cut down on meat and fish expenses.
Graham’s recipes include a braised cabbage with a preserved lemon sauce, a roast cauliflower with saffron, and harrisa roast carrots with mango labneh.
Guests will always appreciate a stellar interpretation of the ordinary. Think lasagna or curry.
Cooking dinner for your guests is spoiling them – you’re being generous with your time, your effort, and your home. So don’t feel the need to go overboard elsewhere.
Ask friends to bring a contribution, be it a nibble or a pudding.
[Presentation] can be the key to elevating something . Spaghetti and tomato sauce suddenly looks like a feast when tumbled on a lovely big plate, dressed with olive oil and parmesan and placed in the middle of the table.
Have one expensive filling, like shredded chicken, and two cheaper options, like refried beans, says Ella Risbridger.
Shop-bought ice cream is so easily zhuzhed up with the help of handy toppings, says Eleanor Steafel.
Assuming your child will be with their partner for ever
Frances Bailey, is a specialist family lawyer at Mills & Reeve. “One of the areas of difficulty that we see,” she says, “is where parents gave their grown-up child a deposit to help them on to the property ladder, or they’ve passed wealth on as part of sensible inheritance tax planning, and haven’t thought about what might happen if that child’s relationship breaks down.
“The parent might feel aghast if suddenly the son-in-law or daughter-in-law, who is now an ex and no longer in favour is saying, ‘I’ve got a claim to that money. That’s in our pot, and that should be divided between us as part of our settlement.”
Bailey says that what might happen is the adult child, who has been given this deposit by her parents, says to her now-ex: “When we sell our £500k home, we owe my parents £125k,” and the ex son or daughter-in-law says, ‘no we don’t, that was a gift, and it should be split between us.’”
David Macdonald, founder of wealth management service Path Financial, says often parents don’t want to imagine their child’s marriage breaking down – but that they should think realistically. “Johnny goes off and buys a nice pad with his wife, but five minutes later they’re divorced, and the parents have to watch the ex-spouse waltz off with half their money.”
What can parents realistically do to protect their money in case of any future relationship breakdown? It depends on the specific situation, but parents can use a legal framework to set up a declaration of trust which states the gift belongs solely to their child. Or the money can be a gift, but protected with cohabitation, prenuptial, and post-nuptial agreements. “There’s 100 per cent a squeamishness around prenups,” says Bailey, “but it’s becoming a bit more socially acceptable to have them.
“If there’s a family business, then there can be an expectation from the outset that each child will have prenups, postnups, cohabitation agreements – then, you’re not saying to your son-in-law [individually] that you don’t like them or trust them. Having this as a rule for everyone, whoever their partner is, feels less pointed.” Bailey had a client whose family were all in business together, and their shareholders’ agreement effectively stated that if they get married, there will be a prenup. “That’s easier, as then you’re not having an awkward conversation.”
Ellie Milner, another partner at Mills & Reeve, who advises clients about estate planning and succession, says: “It’s worth protecting against that relationship that the parent thought was rock-solid, but might turn out not to be. There’s nothing worse than a client saying, ‘oh it’s fine, their partner is lovely.’ They’re lovely – until they’re not.”
Protecting wealth is important, says Milner, but what’s crucial is to also protect family relationships. “When we’re talking to clients, they’ll often say, ‘my oldest child wants to buy a house, so we’re going to give them some money,’ but they’re not necessarily thinking about their two other younger children, and what provisions they might make for them as they get to that stage.”
Will a parent have the means to do the same for those other children, or are they going to be differentiating between them? “That can cause issues in the family dynamic,” says Milner. “People make piecemeal decisions in the short term, but it’s good to take a step back and think, ‘what do we want to achieve here, and what does this look like for all of our children?'”
If a parent is going to differentiate between children in terms of the money they give them, clarity is key. “We have a team who deals with inheritance disputes,” says Bailey, “and those are often about lack of communication. People haven’t been clear about why they’re perhaps giving money to one person and not the other. It might feel unnatural, because if you’re family, why do you need these formal conversations? However, it can really pay dividends later on if families have talked about this openly from the outset.”
A parent might give their child who has kids a bigger amount to help with nursery fees, and the other child without their own kids might be fine with that – or they might see it as rejection, or preferential treatment. “Sit down with the next generation,” says Milner, “and say, ‘ok, you’ve done really well in life, how do you feel about us disproportionately helping your siblings? Is that going to be a problem?’”
Macdonald adds that depending on how you divide up your assets to your children, “money can be the most poisonous legacy imaginable”. He refers to the Gucci family as an example of how not to do it. The Guccis have spent decades embroiled in jealousy and greed, with bitter legal battles over millions following the 1995 murder of Maurizio Gucci. While the vast majority of families are not dealing with this kind of immense wealth, families have still fallen out over much smaller amounts of cash.
“If you’ve got a child who’s inclined to be a bit lazy or feckless,” says Macdonald, “I’d counsel against giving them too much of an easy ride financially. They may fall back into a more meaningless life than they could have if they’d had to make their own way, with a bit of struggle, make mistakes, and find out what life’s about.”
Macdonald has found, in his work, that the more functional and well-adjusted the child is, the better they tend to cope with being given money. In his experience, when it comes to the very wealthy, there are those adult children who might live quite a modest life, do philanthropic work, or even take on a lower-paid job they find meaningful, like gardening or nursing, while being custodian to a fortune. “There are others who go down the cocaine-and-Ferrari route, buying up properties and assets, fighting their siblings, and keeping score of every penny.”
Assuming you can control your child’s future
“Clients differ wildly in the level of control they want in their adult children’s lives,” says Milner, “and they also differ hugely in what they believe is a worthy use of their money. With the best will in the world, your children grow up to be the people that they are, as much as we all like to think our parenting could dictate that. It can be challenging when the parents are high-achieving – maybe they’ve made their own money, and have children who aren’t minded in that way.”
Milner says that the adult child might have taken a vocational path or aren’t motivated by buying a house. If a parent wants to give money to a child who isn’t necessarily going to “settle down”, it’s about bringing children into the conversation, and talking to them about their interests. “What motivates them? What’s their passion?” says Milner. “Talking about that can sometimes get parents over that hump of, ‘is this a reasonable use of the money I’ve worked incredibly hard for?’”
You can legally stipulate what you want the money to be used for by creating certain types trust, where the money is only paid out for university, or a home. But if you give cash directly to an adult child, it becomes their legal property, and while you can of course verbally encourage them to use it for something specific, you can’t legally enforce how it’s used.
Not leaving yourself enough money for a nice life
Milner says that while there’s a drive to help children out, it’s also good not to rush into it. “Work out with a financial planner how you’re going to also get what you want from life – and that’s not the bare minimum. What do you want your retirement to look like? If you needed care, would you want that to be at home?” Trying to plan a long way into the future is key so you can understand what you can afford to give now, and then maybe a bit more in five or 10 years when there’s a bit more clarity around the future. “It’s something clients don’t always think about, and I have to say to them, ‘do you want to be in a position where your children are living a much easier life then you are?’ The fact that, actually, they might want to be able to go on some nice holidays, is perfectly reasonable.”
Macdonald says that giving too much too early is a mistake, but there is also a risk of giving too little. “Most people die with too much money, because they’re worried they’ll run out. They could have helped their children when they were younger and needed it more, and been alive to see the impact.”
At the same time, it’s important to accept that you might not get it completely right. “I see people in ‘paralysis by analysis’ where they’re going round and round the houses on money, and end up doing nothing, as they’re scared of making a mistake,” says Macdonald. “You don’t know what the future holds for investments, health, or the lives of your children. It can be bewildering for parents to figure out what best to do, but that’s why it’s worth getting advice from financial planners, and solicitors, so you’ve thought of your family’s interests, but also your own future.”
