Making a deal? Get it in writing! A solicitor's advice.

Sometimes a man's word is NOT his bond!
And for those times when promises are broken and deals go sour, a written contract is always better than a verbal one according to solicitor Rosemary Wright.

"While oral contracts are legally binding in theory, they are much harder to prove in a court of law," she advised.

So whether it's loaning money to a friend, or buying a car from a private dealer, having the terms of your agreement in writing will save a lot of potential headaches later on.

It doesn't have to be a full blown contract; something jotted down on paper with both signatures would do, and could be used as evidence if the deal breaks down.