Budgeting helps you work out where your money is going and how much you can save towards buying your home. It can also help you see where you may be able to cut back.

If you've got money to spare, it makes sense to pay off any loans or credit cards first. This is because the interest you pay to borrow is usually higher than the interest you get on savings accounts.

Lenders are increasingly expecting you to have a large sum to put down as a deposit. If you need to save up for this and other mortgage costs, shop around for a savings account to suit you. You may get higher interest in a notice account, but make sure you can access your money when you need it.

If you find you can’t afford a mortgage, check out what other options you have, such as part buy/part rent schemes.

Know where you stand when dealing with the seller, estate agents or other parties that may be involved when buying a home. Hopefully it will go without a hitch, but if it doesn’t, find out how to deal with many of the common problems.

A mortgage is a loan secured against your home, and if you can’t repay it, the lender can sell your home to get its money back. There are lots of different types of mortgage deals, so spend some time looking into which one may be best for you.

This depends on your personal circumstances, such as your income, your outgoings and whether you’re buying alone or with someone else.

You can use our mortgage calculator to work out what your repayments are likely to be.

It’s important that you are sure you can afford the repayments, so be honest with yourself and don’t be tempted to overstretch your money to buy your dream home.

Use our impartial mortgage tables to compare hundreds of mortgages from different providers to help you narrow down your choice.

There are a number of government schemes to help you buy your home if you are a council or housing association tenant, first-time buyer or key worker (such as a police officer or teacher).

Check out what’s available and whether you’re eligible for any of them.

If you've had financial problems in the past and are finding it difficult getting a mortgage, you may still be able to get an adverse credit mortgage.

If you want to buy your home in a way that is compliant with Islamic law, you can get a home purchase plan, also known as an ‘Islamic mortgage’.

Stamp duty is a government tax that you pay when buying a home above a set amount. The amount is a percentage of the value of the property.

You will have to pay money for a solicitor (who will approve all the paperwork and make sure the sale is legally made) as well as for a surveyor.

If you’re selling a property as well, you’ll also have to pay estate agents fees and you’ll need to arrange a Home Information Pack (in England and Wales) or a Home Report (in Scotland).

If you can’t work because of an accident, illness or redundancy, your lender will still expect you to continue paying your mortgage. There are a number of products you can buy to help with your repayments, but check out when they pay out and how long for.

Most people need buildings insurance to cover their home in case the building is damaged or destroyed. You don’t have to buy it from your lender, so shop around to get the best deal for you.

You can buy insurance to cover the loss of, or damage to, the contents of your home, such as your furniture and electrical goods. Shop around to get the best deal for you.

Make sure you change your address with your bank, credit-card and insurance companies, as well as other financial companies that you have arrangements with. It might be a good idea to put a three-month redirection on your old address to cover the transition period. This can also reduce your risk of identity fraud.

Your new address may have an impact on your credit score if previous occupiers have had bad credit. You can check your credit record at your new address using credit reference agencies. You can then ask the agency to change the information on your file if it is incorrect, or it includes details about people who have no financial connection with you.

Don't be tempted to keep or throw away mail addressed to a previous tenant/owner. Always return it to the sender if you don’t know their new address. You don't need a stamp – just mark it 'return to sender' and stick it in a post box. This should avoid you having to deal with any problems if they weren't up to date with their payments.

Once you’re in your new home, work out how much you’ve got coming in and how much you’ll need each month. If this is your first time on your own, you’ll need to plan for gas and electricity costs. You can compare suppliers to get the right deal for you.

You may be able to get a discount on your Council Tax, so check with your local council.

It’s wise to review your budget regularly. If your circumstances change – perhaps you get a pay rise or your mortgage payments go up – look at your budget again to make sure it’s realistic and that you’re making the most of any extra income.

If you’ve chosen a special mortgage deal for a fixed period, don’t forget to check out what’s available a few months before it ends to make sure you get a good deal and don’t pay more than you have to.

It's crucial to talk to your mortgage lender as soon as possible. You may be able to come to an agreement with them, such as a payment plan, and avoid more serious problems.