Gransnet forums

House and home

You have received a windfall ...

(88 Posts)
DaisyAnneReturns Mon 19-Oct-26 15:14:50

... not huge but let's say several thousand.

You have decided to spend it on future proofing your old, or even older age. What would you spend it on? It can be on you (eyes, teeth, hearing, mobility), your home etc., but it should be something/s that helps you protect your physical mobility, mental well-being, personal autonomy and independence going forward.

AuntieE Tue 20-Oct-26 14:56:46

I would put some of it aside for replacing things like the washing-machine and fridge when the current ones wear out,

Then I would find a firm of gardeners that would plough up the front lawn and flowerbeds, leaving the existing shubbery and put down flagstones where the grass and flowerbeds had been.
Add some big tubs for flowers, and leave one or two spaces were flowering trees, cherry, almond etc could be planted.

A new fence along the front garden, and a proper bannister put up on either side of the two front steps.

The rest I would bank and use for taxis when needed.

Susieq62 Tue 20-Oct-26 15:57:30

Definitely change our downstairs cloakroom into a wet room then we would have a shower on each floor. Or convert the garage into a bedroom / sitting room so we could stay on the level if necessary . The car never uses the garage anyway .

Anrol Tue 20-Oct-26 16:03:13

A stair lift
A cleaner & gardener

singingnutty Tue 20-Oct-26 16:12:17

We have an area which we call the 'back hall' which has a toilet and washbasin cubicle already so I would make a shower room to take those in. We could live downstairs if necessary because we have a room at the front of the house we don't use much now we have an extension and that could be made into a bedroom. I am hoping that we can cope without moving as we get (even) older.

Maria59 Tue 20-Oct-26 16:23:08

grandMattie check your home insurance as some cover accidental damage to fixed glass. This covers ceramic hobs

HMWALES Tue 20-Oct-26 16:50:12

The best private healthcare

BrandyGran Tue 20-Oct-26 16:59:56

This thread reminds me of what George Best said when asked what he did with his money.
His answer was that he spent it on wine, women and song and the rest he wasted! (Words to that effect )

MollyNew Tue 20-Oct-26 17:04:03

A personal trainer. I have a few aches and pains and I need someone who knows what they're talking about to motivate me to take proper care of myself.

Jules777 Tue 20-Oct-26 17:09:47

Teeth (no NHS appointments available) and house repairs not covered by my insurance policy.

Esmay Tue 20-Oct-26 17:22:28

An art room .
If enough -I'd love to move away from my area .
It's becoming violent .

Thisismyname1953 Tue 20-Oct-26 17:27:11

I intend to buy an electric adjustable bed before much longer . Will help me to sit up easily and so that will help me to get in and out of bed independently for longer than otherwise. I will be able to sit up to watch tv or to read as well.

granbabies123 Tue 20-Oct-26 18:43:55

I have wooden floors, I love them for their look but in winter it is cold underfoot and you do still have to vac or sweep and wash them. Think you would find it harder.

granbabies123 Tue 20-Oct-26 18:45:32

Sorry not very good at this, I thought I was replying about the replacing carpet with wood

Rocketstop2 Tue 20-Oct-26 18:48:01

To have my home completely decorated and kitchen and bathroom replaced so that I never have to think of doing any of that ever again !! I'd feel so comfortable knowing decorating and updates are always 'pending' !!

WithNobsOnIt Tue 20-Oct-26 18:55:31

It would depend on how much the windfall was.

sparkle1234 Tue 20-Oct-26 18:57:14

I would tuck it away in the highest interest cash isa available and use it to pay a cleaner and Gardener.

OoohLaLa Tue 20-Oct-26 18:57:29

2 more raised beds in the garden so that I can continue to grow vegetables even when my knees completely pack up. And a permanent 8x8 greenhouse so that I don't have to struggle putting on/taking off the outer cover of my plastic greenhouse every Spring/Autumn.

Estrellita Tue 20-Oct-26 19:24:59

I would get superior hearing aids to the ones I have now which I can't put in and have to ask my DH to do it, and then they keep falling out. I would also get new glasses as I am using an old and out of date prescription. Also: I would get a new denture which doesn't impede my speech and eating and doesn't feel uncomfortable at the end of the day.

Juneandarchie1 Tue 20-Oct-26 19:36:15

I’m in my 70s now so all my home improvements that I’ve had done in the last 10 years have all been with impending old age in mind. So spreading the cost over that period of time hasn’t been so bad to manage.
Walk in shower, flat resin bound driveway with no trip hazards, followed by a flat anti slip rear patio of porcelain tiles. Earlier on this year I had air con put in downstairs, I’m now saving up to have it put in upstairs before next summer.
I’m so glad I had the forethought years ago to have all of this work done over a long period of time.

Azalea99 Tue 20-Oct-26 19:46:06

I would probably only need aircon upstairs so, if I install a stairlift the two would go together. On the other hand my sons think I should convert part of the (unused, attached) garage plus another small room into a shower room and bedroom so I can live downstairs. The second option would allow me to have lodgers, and I’d only accept: a genuine gardener, a chef, and …….. hmmmmm

ruthiek Tue 20-Oct-26 19:55:08

Daisyannecreturns be careful of wooden floors you could slip easily , I would keep the carpets and get a cleaner in

DaisyAnneReturns Tue 20-Oct-26 20:08:16

granbabies123

I have wooden floors, I love them for their look but in winter it is cold underfoot and you do still have to vac or sweep and wash them. Think you would find it harder.

Thanks for that granbabies123. I may have to reassess wooden floors if a windfall comes my way. Hoovering is a definite problem.

OoohLaLa Tue 20-Oct-26 20:20:50

I had wooden flooring in my last house; never again. Apart from it showing every scratch and dent, even from something as simple as a dropped bunch of keys or a chair being scraped back, it was surprisingly difficult to maintain. I had it sanded back and repolished twice and it only looked good for a short time before looking dull and rather grubby again. Vacuuming didn't get all the dust or crumbs out of the grooves and I usually had to get down on my knees and physically wipe it over with a damp cloth to properly clean it. And, in areas that get bright sunlight, it darkened considerably, making it look patchy. I've got LVT wood grain effect now and that's soooo much easier and nowhere near as expensive as wooden.

StoneofDestiny Tue 20-Oct-26 20:41:54

A gardener - my husband's hobby, but he needs help to manage it all as he is so busy with other things. Shade shutters for my large south facing windows. I have portable Air Con - but not in all rooms. Heat has been a big problem the last few summers.

DaisyAnneReturns Tue 20-Oct-26 21:23:03

ruthiek

Daisyannecreturns be careful of wooden floors you could slip easily , I would keep the carpets and get a cleaner in

I'm trying to check for trip hazards currently. Thank you for telling me about the possibility of slipping.