OS Singlies - We Do It Our Way!

greenbee

I didn't post on the original thread, although I did lurk... I'm currently single, and was for some time before my last relationship. And TBH even during that I was effectively single for a lot of the time, and had to make most decisions alone. It's nice to find other people who understand, and to be able to talk ideas through with.

LavenderBees wrote: »

On the original thread, Moneyistooshorttomention asked for advice on how to get through all her building work without going mad...I'm paraphrasing..

My first thought was "drink!"

My second thought, but probably too late for Moneyistooshorttomention, was some advice my lovely dad gave me years and years ago. Start with your bedroom - make that as cosy and warm as possible, and then, when it all gets too much, you can close the door on the turmoil outside, tuck up safe and sound in a warm bed, and leave the world to sort itself out for a few hours.

Over the years, this has proven to be sound advice not just for practical problems like building work, but also for emotional problems, too. It's maybe why I'm so attached to my PJs...my comfort blanket

I did this when I moved in September - chose the bedroom that needed least doing to it which could easily be made cosy, and set up camp in that. Whatever is going on elsewhere, usually the bedroom is shut off and dust free. It did have the radiator valves changed when the new boiler and hot water system went in, and has had curtain poles put up, but otherwise, since I moved it, it has been left alone (I ripped out the carpets before I moved my stuff in). I'm currently between projects (i.e. looking for someone reliable to do the next big project - electrics and a bathroom) so everything other than the kitchen (all ripped out and with the random furniture I'm using for the foreseeable future in the middle while I deal with the filth that was behind the old units) is pretty much OK. The decor isn't up to much, but I've had friends over, people to stay and hosted Christmas, so it works.

iammumtoone wrote: »

I love my PJs one of the great things about being single I can wear my warm and cosy flannelette ones with no one to have to make an effort for

I love my flannelette PJs too

springdreams wrote: »

He sounds just the sort of person I need around my house.

What a fortunate find for you :j

I've been very lucky - although finding the major trades is a PITA at the moment (like moneyistoshorttomention I've moved area) I do have a lovely cousin who is self-employed and comes over to do odd jobs for me when he has a free day or two. He's put up curtain poles, fitted out the airing cupboard, sorted out overflowing toilet cisterns and fitted a new sink in the utility room amongst other things. My brother has put up shelves and done bits and pieces when I've been baby sitting for him, and anyone who has been to stay has helped out too (no one gets over the threshold without contributing!).

Re. wills - I did mine some time ago. Apparently it's best not to put too much detail in as HMRC then start looking at the detail. For individual bequests (particularly of 'things' rather than money) you might want to give someone a letter of intent instead. Although if you start getting to the stage of dropping and breaking things, or not using them anymore, its worth giving them away while you're alive. I was given some jewellery while the giver was alive, because she said she'd rather see me wear it now than wait until she died.

springdreams

iammumtoone wrote: »

That was my first thought, ideally I would like that to happen too however I have no one to facilitate this (I don't think his father would do it) would a solicitor take something like that on (obviously they would take a fee out of the rent and depending on that fee I am not sure if it would be worth it).

You ask for the house to be paid off and put in trust, and the solicitor would be one of the trustees, and perhaps your son's father could also be a trustee.

Discuss fees with the solicitor. An executor is also entitled to a fee, so even if the solicitor did not do it, but someone else you nominate, they would also be paid from your estate.

Also, bear in mind that house repairs and maintenance will need to be provided for from the rental income, so provision needs to be made for that.

lostinrates

Re wills, it really helps to have them sorted.


Our first concern has been animals.

We've kept them very simple as regards bits and bobs. Although I'd like to give all my friends something I think over complicating leads to bad feeling and frankly.......I think its a bit ego centric of me to think they'd care much. Few of them share my taste.

My funeral requests are 'cheapest box, soonest done, get back to work within six weeks, be on a date within six months' to DH. I find the idea of people pretending I was sweet a bit uncomfortable, so I'd rather they just get an email, she went...her own way...have a drink....if you want!

Re who to leave it too. I know people who have left it to friends or even long term neighbours and lives who have been transformed by it. I also know that the lack of wills has made people really upset. E.g. Dh's mother died intestate and he's never quite been able to get over the fact she didn't think about him or his siblings enough to wrote what she would want to happen, even if its the same as what did happen, her having written it would have made him feel better.

For our families.....well.....we have lots of stuff from our families and I think that probably should stay in the respective family its from. If they want it.

LavenderBees

greenbee wrote: »

I've been very lucky - although finding the major trades is a PITA at the moment (like moneyistoshorttomention I've moved area) I do have a lovely cousin who is self-employed and comes over to do odd jobs for me when he has a free day or two. He's put up curtain poles, fitted out the airing cupboard, sorted out overflowing toilet cisterns and fitted a new sink in the utility room amongst other things. My brother has put up shelves and done bits and pieces when I've been baby sitting for him, and anyone who has been to stay has helped out too (no one gets over the threshold without contributing!).

Re. wills - I did mine some time ago. Apparently it's best not to put too much detail in as HMRC then start looking at the detail. For individual bequests (particularly of 'things' rather than money) you might want to give someone a letter of intent instead. Although if you start getting to the stage of dropping and breaking things, or not using them anymore, its worth giving them away while you're alive. I was given some jewellery while the giver was alive, because she said she'd rather see me wear it now than wait until she died.

Can you send these two round to mine? How lucky are you? :T

Now there's something I hadn't thought about...HMRC and any potential impact on a beneficiary - maybe it's best to specify, half the estate rather than actual £s...? I guess a solicitor will advise on this, too. Have added it to my notes of what to ask about?

I feel I've made lots of progress tonight. Thanks to you all :T

greenbee

LavenderBees wrote: »

Can you send these two round to mine? How lucky are you? :T

Now there's something I hadn't thought about...HMRC and any potential impact on a beneficiary - maybe it's best to specify, half the estate rather than actual £s...? I guess a solicitor will advise on this, too. Have added it to my notes of what to ask about?

I feel I've made lots of progress tonight. Thanks to you all :T

Given that the size of your estate may change, if it's fairly simple, you can say 50% of residual estate after costs or something like that. But a solicitor will know more. After all, you don't want someone getting excited about the half million you've left them when actually you blew it all on the horses the week before you died

spirit

LavenderBees wrote: »

Can you send these two round to mine? How lucky are you? :T

Now there's something I hadn't thought about...HMRC and any potential impact on a beneficiary - maybe it's best to specify, half the estate rather than actual £s...? I guess a solicitor will advise on this, too. Have added it to my notes of what to ask about?

I feel I've made lots of progress tonight. Thanks to you all :T

IIRC it's when your estate totalls £250k that HMRC take an interest? Note to self to go lookie see

spirit

still looking, but found this for starters

https://www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance

lostinrates

spirit wrote: »

IIRC it's when your estate totalls £250k that HMRC take an interest? Note to self to go lookie see

Remember thresholds themselves might change, both for IHT purposes and anything else. Frankly, if people get a windfall its a benefit to them and if its large enough to cause them any issue its large enough to mean they shouldn't need help T least for a while.

Patchwork_Quilt

It's too long to leave it but November is Will Aid month, when participating solicitors will make a Will for a basic price and this gets paid to charity. We had ours done this way and it cost £120 for two that mirrored each other. Much cheaper than the hundreds of pounds we had been quoted by another firm just weeks before.

springdreams

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

It's too long to leave it but November is Will Aid month, when participating solicitors will make a Will for a basic price and this gets paid to charity. We had ours done this way and it cost £120 for two that mirrored each other. Much cheaper than the hundreds of pounds we had been quoted by another firm just weeks before.

Over 55s can also get one done for a charitable donation in March as well as November.

Plenty of info here on were to get a will for a reasonable price

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/free-cheap-wills