Power of Attorney mother spending lots of cash

elsien

I read that out at my grandmother’s funeral - One of her favourite poems. 

Answering the previous question from someone about whether the OPs  mother has capacity or not as the LPA was used previously, the it may well have been set up to be used with the person’s consent in the way that they direct while they still have capacity.

My grandmother did that while she still had all her marbles because she was physically unwell and couldn’t get out the house to get to the bank and quite honestly couldn’t be bothered with setting up insurance etc any more. Didn’t  even have a cheque-book, she was firmly a cash and counter-cheque woman. But she knew exactly how much money she got and where it was going, and the LPA supported her on that basis. 

magicmoneyportaloo

Keep an eye on it, but it is good that she is active (including socially!) while she can be. Hopefully will help slow down any cognitive issues she does have from getting worse.

You can't use an LPA to stop financial decisions merely on them being unwise (and from what you've said I'm not sure her actions are unwise anyway).

kimwp

Might be worth writing down the things she spends her money on, (or better still, what she values doing) so if she does lose capacity, you've got a reminder so can continue to spend her money in line with her wishes.

sheramber

Let your mother enjoy her life as she wants for as long as she can.

Be happy that she is still able to do what she wants. Many do not have that privilege at 94. 

HillStreetBlues

Classic signs of loneliness,  going out to get shopping they don't really need, hairdressers much more often than needed.
Clearly she wants out the house and some company with it.

KxMx

My Nan died in 2020 aged 92, she was firmly in the weekly hairdresser camp, it's old fashioned IMO but can be typical among that generation. 

tooldle

Sounds okay unless she is buying multiples of things that are not needed or could not be used. My parent whilst in early stage dementia, would repeatedly purchase milk, wool, fabric, toiletries etc. cupboards bursting at the seams. Just something to be aware of.

MankyVegSoup

I'm in a similar position. I have LPA and manage mum's finances at her request as she can no longer cope with banking and bill paying. She is showing signs of dementia (she's late 80s) but not diagnosed. She spends an absolute fortune on taxis - she has a driver she uses regularly for shopping and longer trips. It gives her independence - she can't manage public transport any more - and stops her asking me! I don't have a problem with this, but have persuaded her to stop paying cash. She was regularly withdrawing £300 at a time from the cash machine at her local shopping centre.

I'm also re-organising her accounts so there is a decent buffer in her current account for her monthly spends but no excess as I feel she is vulnerable to scammers and charity requests (she got into a mess with multiple direct debits to charities and setting up monthly donations when she meant one-off).

BungalowBel

GDB2222 said:

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

I'm 75 and wear purple
And bright yellow.

But then I always have!

LightFlare

My mum is in her 80s

I regularly encourage her to spend her money and do things she enjoys. After all,it’s HER money to do with as she wishes.

Obviously keep an eye on cold calling and/or scams - but otherwise live and let live