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How much money do you consider 'sufficient' in Savings.

(118 Posts)
GillT57 Thu 20-Oct-16 16:15:41

I think a lot of people on here are being a bit unfair to OP. All that was asked was what we think is a reasonable amount to have in savings, pointing out that those with savings over £23k may well be penalised anyway when it comes to care home fees. To answer your question: if you have enough income to comfortably do what you wish i.e keep the house warm eat well, eat out occasionally and have a few holidays if you wish, then I think that sufficient funds to cover emergencies such as a boiler failure/new roof/etc is what you need, so in that case if you have around £20k that you do not need to supplement your regular expenditure, that should be ok.

gillybob Thu 20-Oct-16 16:06:34

If only indeed Linsco56

I can dream though. they just won't be as sweet as the ones I would have if I had that bank book

Linsco56 Thu 20-Oct-16 16:02:08

You've got it just about right gillybob. That's a nice comfortable safety net.....if only!

gillybob Thu 20-Oct-16 15:58:50

I think a cool million would be sufficient savings to have. I would put it in an old fashioned savings account then I could look at the savings book every night before I went to sleep. I would sleep like a baby with the book tucked under my pillow.

jollyg Thu 20-Oct-16 15:50:54

Thanks DianaL, and those who pointed out my error.

I am suitably penitent.

Linsco56 Thu 20-Oct-16 15:50:17

I suspect jollyg knows that. It's a typo.

Elegran Thu 20-Oct-16 15:32:04

You've got it arse-about-face, Jollyg It is BELOW the given figure, not ABOVE it. It couldn't possibly be as you put it - they'd never get the money back for non-free care from people who had nothing!

Dianalou Thu 20-Oct-16 15:29:00

You have to have less than £23,000 in savings in order to avoid paying for your nursing home!

wot Thu 20-Oct-16 15:27:17

Good God!! £23,000??? What planet are you on?

Ana Thu 20-Oct-16 15:23:12

I can't quite work out what you mean by your post, jollyg - you make it sound as though you'll get free nursing home care if you've got at least £23,000 in the bank. Surely it's £23,000 or less?

And of course, if you live in your own home without a spouse they'll take that into account as well and you may have to sell it.

Anniebach Thu 20-Oct-16 15:21:02

£23,000 ?

TriciaF Thu 20-Oct-16 15:14:17

I agree, Nina.
We have no savings at all.
We do own another house though (apart from a small mortgage.)
I never have, except for the few times I was saving up for something. Strange, because both of us come from families who were very money conscious.
At these times the value of money is so changeable it's hardly worth bothering. And what's the UK interest rate on savings at the moment? Next to nothing, then you can be taxed on the interest.

ninathenana Thu 20-Oct-16 14:52:49

Sorry jollyg I disagree I don't think most folk would have £23000 in savings. Of course there will be some who have plenty more. Many pensioners live more or less hand to mouth and as we are thankfully a mixed bunch, I think several GN's will have half or less than that. Or even none.

ninathenana Thu 20-Oct-16 14:45:45

I have given D a several thousand in total over the past few years for various reasons 2 cars for instance. I've now had to tell her what savings we have left we need for emergencies over the next however many years. She and her brother (whom we support and is living at home) will have any cash left and the house between them when were gone.
If I came into money I would give it to the children as I feel we have enough savings. If it was a large sum, I may keep some smile

jollyg Thu 20-Oct-16 14:42:25

There are no pockets in a shroud.

If you trust your kids not to be profligate, and as my Mum used to say[ this phrase came from German Jews who fled to UK with nothing]

Give whilst the hand is hot.

I read today as long as you have £23,000 in the kitty you will get nursing home care free.

Im sure most folk here have at least that.

However only you know your kids/relatives, so its up to you.

tanith Thu 20-Oct-16 14:39:53

Why not give it away if there isn't anything you need or want to buy. I don't have any specific figure for savings I think everyone has a different life style so expectations will always differ. As long as our outgoings are more than our expenditure and we have a buffer in the bank we are happy.

Liz46 Thu 20-Oct-16 14:20:58

As long as you have enough to live on, I think it is good to give the money to your children as long as you can trust them to use it wisely.

I inherited some money and gave my daughters £50k each which they invested in their homes. I can see the benefits they are getting from the money and it gives me pleasure.

Flossieturner Thu 20-Oct-16 14:10:19

Do you think that a certain amount in Savings is enough. For example a few thousand in the bank. A multiple of your yearly income or maybe a multiply of your outgoings.The reason I ask is this,

My brother and I recently inherited a house. He is much wealthier than me, owns properies and has large retirement income. He asked me what I was going to do with my share and I told him that I was giving it all to my children.

He said "you must be mad".

When we were younger, we were never well off, but have always been savers. We have a modest life style. We don't have holidays or run a car, because that is our choice. Anything we need we can buy. We feel we have a comfortable life style. We have what we consider a good savings pot.

Our combined retirement income is much more than our outgoings, so I could not see the point of banking this inheritance. I am not asking for opinions on whether I was right or wrong to give the money away. I am just interested in whether any one has a fixed 'that is sufficient' amount in their head.