technophobe granny savings account

nikonpro

My wife and I are both approaching our 'sell by' date ...  I deal with all finances and have a couple of different accounts that all require smart phone ot computer , which is simple for me ... 
I want to plan for the eventuality of me going first ,  in which case my wife would have big trouble managing our money....   She Cannot use a Smartphone and her computer skills are less than basic ...   I need to find a savings account that I can set up for her and that she can manage with no phones or computers ....  Is such a thing possible or do I just stick everything in her current account and let her draw what she needs with her card ??...  

lr1277

Not the best rate, but you can open and manage NS&I income bonds by post, phone or the internet. At this moment anyway. I don't think this applies to other NS&I products. I looked at some other NS&I products and all these communication methods are not available.

lr1277

This might be better on the Savings boards but I don't know how to get it moved other than contact a moderator. Unfortunately I don't know how to do that. Sorry.

p00hsticks

lr1277 said:

This might be better on the Savings boards but I don't know how to get it moved other than contact a moderator. Unfortunately I don't know how to do that. Sorry.

@lr1277 For future reference,  you click on 'report' at the bottom of the post and then one of the radio button options is to ask for the post to be moved, split or merged - I've just done it for this thread. 

TimeLord1

Check some of the Post Office accounts, seeing as it looks like they will be available on the high street in most towns. You probably need something that will be around in the future as banks are rapidly closing down.  Access is the priority not traveling miles to deal with a bank pushing online banking.

JGB1955

Do you both have a Power of Attorney set up?  The appointee should be able to assist your wife, without her losing overall control of her finances.

elsien

So how is she planning to manage all her direct debits and paying a utility bills and sorting out insurance and car tax, pensions et cetera, not only if you go first but if you become ill and lose capacity?
Simply setting up a savings account is not going to cut it in the longer term. She needs to learn how finances properly work in today’s world, however hard that is to do. It’s not doing her any favours otherwise.
Using a smart phone is not so hard that someone older can’t learn if they put their mind to it. I have taught my 86-year-old mother to safely  use online banking and accounts. She would have much preferred me to do it for her at the time but now she’s pleased she’s maintained that independence.  Although she still uses the phone to contact people where she can. 
as an example, her gardener and cleaner both only accept online payments they were going to accept cash - however much we made not like it, it's the way a lot of services are going.

wmb194

In experience 'technophobes' often find iPads quite easy to use - have you tried one of these?

BrilliantButScary

I don't know what  'barriers' your wife has to using technology, but sometimes your spouse is not the 'best' person to be teaching you new skills. Would she benefit from the following:

https://abilitynet.org.uk/free-tech-support-and-info

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/in-your-area/it-training/

kimwp

elsien said:

So how is she planning to manage all her direct debits and paying a utility bills and sorting out insurance and car tax, pensions et cetera, not only if you go first but if you become ill and lose capacity?
Simply setting up a savings account is not going to cut it in the longer term. She needs to learn how finances properly work in today’s world, however hard that is to do. It’s not doing her any favours otherwise.
Using a smart phone is not so hard that someone older can’t learn if they put their mind to it. I have taught my 86-year-old mother to safely  use online banking and accounts. She would have much preferred me to do it for her at the time but now she’s pleased she’s maintained that independence.
as an example, her gardener and cleaner both only accept online payments they were going to accept cash - however much we made not like it, it's the way a lot of services are going.

I agree with this. If your wife is genuinely unable to learn these things, then this plan should include moving into assisted living before you pass on.

TimeLord1

I have aunts and uncles who have never used anything online and are approaching their 90s and do not wish to start, and you wouldn't make them. The system has basically forgotten them and moved into requirements they refuse to use or understand or can cope with. Not to mention failing eyesight. So I feel for older people, and the government needs to have a policy to protect older people.