Retiring and living frugally in money from downsizing after years of stress

Thd 15k will be a one off payment. I have made that very clear, though I dont think they deserve it. Re if my mobility worsens ' yes, Miss Adventure - I have made plans - I have one surgery for arthritis in July and two more over the next 18 months, so that hopefully will help with my mobility long term. I put in a walk in shower in my cottage- the Council helped with some of the exoenses for this due to my arthritis. Tesco and the Irish supermarket, Supervalu, deliver groceries to the village I live in, and there is an hourly bus into the local town which also stops outside the hospital, so I think I will retire easily here..

I'm so sad for you and for the treatment you have suffered at the hands of your own Daughters. Not sure that a 'shit mother' and 'warped' child beater should be rewarding each of them with £15,000 of your very hard-earned money! Isn't it time that you lived up to your 'reputation?' They're adults and more than capable of organising their lives well away from you. Your moving on with plans for a new life might even, eventually, make them reflect on how they've treated you.....and one gift of money (however you assure them there'll be no more) will only lead them to expect more when it suits!

I wish you peace and a happy life in a new place. The countryside works wonders for the soul. Try to focus on your own plans and don't be a victim any longer.

Wishing you so much luck, and better health x

ElaineMcG47
Ah, that's good to know.
Happy, happy retirement, then
P.S why not give your adult "children" a lesser amount?

Wishing you well. X

Sorry I don't normally do kisses. It seemed natural given how hurt you have been.

I hope you have a long and lovely retirement.

I retired at 60 with a small work pension. I suddenly realised the things I enjoyed most cost nothing ie long walks in nature, reading library books, keeping fit, healthy cooking, talking with friends etc. You deserve it.

Please put your money into a safe and decent interest earing product with easy withdrawals.

Good luck.
I hope you will be trulh happy.

Thank you to all of you for all your supportive replies. I ferl inspired to take the plunge! Silvergirl, I think I will find I spend very little when I retire, the allotment, the library, a book club, snd having friends around for coffee - I like to bake - no work clothes which I hate buying and no commuting. It's sad though the way things have turned out. As I'm moving I was putting lots of photos in frames and loose photos in a fire proof bags tonight - my cousin's family photos got destroyed in a house fire, so I am cautious - into my sideboard. We had such lovely times the three of us, celebrations, holidays birthday parties, communion celebrations, visiting family, having friends around - all lovely photos from these times. That sll changed when they were around 14. I don't recognise now from the teenagers they were and the adults they are today, those gorgeous young children. As teenagers they caused a lot of damage to our home, which I struggled to pay to fix and this happened up until they were 20/21 - no remorse about it at all.

ElaineMcG47

Thanks to all of you again for all the encouraging replies. Delila - it's a cottage that has been in my family since 1932 - thry won't visit though, they hate the countryside, and think everyone there is boring - so I will have peace!

I think you really need to consider access to essential services as you get older, especially if you have leg/knee or mobility problems. You may find you can't get out and about as easily, so living in a quiet location is not such a good idea,

Even when you lose your car you will need access to shops, pharmacy, hospital, doctor, dentist, eye testing. Some may deliver but not all. Just something to consider.

Thanks. Chestnut. My cottage is at the edge of a village. There is a pharmacy, a convenience store, three restaurants, a pub and a library which is open three afternoons a week - it's a satellite of the larger library in the nearest town. I hope I won't have to move again , though one never kniws what is around the corner. as I love my little cottage and it's 0.5 acre garden - more of a firld still though.

Cossy

Shinamae

Usedtobeblonde

Please don’t give your AC anything.
Actions must have consequences.
Look after your money, you will need it for a decent life ahead of you.
I wish you well.

Ditto 💐

Ditto too x

Ditto from me.
I wouldn't give out your address either.
I wish you a happy and peaceful future. Go for it!

Sounds an excellent idea your health and wellbeing come first. Your capital should be more than adequate I would suggest getting sound financial advice this is a large amount of money and you want it to work for you in the future.

I think if you invested £300k you could generate £1,000 or £1,500 a month without risk - this is a guess based on keeping a chunk of it (say £30k) immediate access and an ISA, and the rest in 30-day or 90-day Notice Accounts...
I don't know if this is the best bet in Ireland but £300k is not as much as it sounds and over £1,000 of savings interest per year also attracts tax.

If the house needs work don't forget that is coming out of your pot too.

I second Rosie regarding getting some advice.

We did this. Sold family home and gifted a sizeable chunk to the children to help set them up, though our relationships are excellent and with dad’s health declining after many years of working so hard, often through considerable pain, they’ve
been nothing but supportive of our decision.
We haven’t looked back! It’s been everything we hoped for so far.
With that very decent chunk of equity, if you invest wisely you should still have the bulk left after 6 years.
Go for it.

Elaine
Please forgive me if you are already aware of some of the restrictions on these grants.
There is an awful lot of paperwork that needs a solicitor.
You have to pay for the work before you receive the grant.
Not everything is covered by the grant. Insulation isnt covered. I find that bizarre.
The most important clause to be aware of, is: if you for whatever reason you have to sell the property within 10 ( I think) years you pay back 75% of the grant.
In this link scroll down to the post from BobbWomble who posted the above information.

www.reddit.com/r/AskIreland/comments/1cx1w3f/has_anyone_applied_for_the_vacant_property/

Elaine, you have achieved that rare thing on GN, pretty much total agreement.
I would second the posters in suggesting that you ensure that this is possible, by checking grants, returns on investments, and so on, but, assuming all is well - absolutely retire if that is what you want.

I would delay giving money to your children until you reach retirement age. Giving them £15k each, means a loss of interest payments when you need it most. Perhaps a month or two of rent, but no more.

Look after number 1 for once. I love Ireland and your plan sounds idyllic. Life is short. Don't waste another second on others. All good wishes for your future in that beautiful place.

My heart goes out to you. I hope you get a happy ending to all your sadness.

Silvergirl

I hope you have a long and lovely retirement.

I retired at 60 with a small work pension. I suddenly realised the things I enjoyed most cost nothing ie long walks in nature, reading library books, keeping fit, healthy cooking, talking with friends etc. You deserve it.

👏👏👏👏👏

ElaineMcG47

Lovely to hear all your positive comments. Yes. There are grants up to 70k for properties that have bern vacant for over two years here in Ireland.. Re my adult children appreciating the 15k each, I dont think they will but I dont want to abandon them completely by selling the family home - the 15k each is to transition them. They have been very unkind and even cruel at times, calling me warped, saying I am s shit mother, threatening to cut contact when I needed to move back into the family home, saying really hurtful things and see me cry but still continue to do it. My daughter told serious lies about me that I had beaten her up as a child, I could have list my job. She used to threaten socisl work and I would give her the contact details but she would never csll them. She still trashes my reputation to her friends. The list goes on and on. It broke me inside.

😳I’d definitely give them nowt, ( for now at least) it’s not your problem.
Do you think you owe them? Do you think they are going to be around in your twilight years?
I think you will give them that money, it won’t ever be enough, & you might regret it.
Put on the back burner, if they step up give it them down the line when they have learnt to appreciate you.
Wishing you well.

If it were me, I will be telling the ACs that the 15K is a one off and subject to them not doing anything to sabotage the sale of the family home.

If they do any damage to the property to sabotage the sale, the cost to fix the damage will be taken out of the £15k and they will get the balance.

I would gift them the order of the boot, but if you must give them cash for your own peace of mind, make it £5,000 each not £15,000.
You don’t know at this stage how much you will need for your future.

I wouldn’t gift your children anything, it seems to be rewarding bad behaviour, as others have said, bide your time.

However, I wish you well, your new life sounds great!

I'm assuming your adult children live with you.

I would try to get them on board if you can as you don't want a messy sale situation where they won't leave!