See the part where I said get financial advice from a Financial Advisor. No excuse not to and if you are buying a house in Edinburgh for instance you can nip to ESPC and get free advice. Before you even go through houses they go over your risks, expectations, money worries, deposits, coverage incase of illness or injury etc. It was all basic but sound advice that cost nothing more than a bus journey to George Street. I doubt there aren't similar people giving out such advice elsewhere, and if not, pay for it. Buying a house is the single biggest debt you are ever going to encounter and there is no excuse for taking it with a pinch of salt.