What should I spend this unexpected £500 on?

[LadyCroissantAuBeurre]

Have unexpectedly received £500 from my late Grandmother's will. She died several years ago but it's taken a long time for her house to be sold.

I wasn't expecting to be left anything (we weren't close) and have no idea what to spend this money on. When other relatives have left me money, I have used it to buy something meaningful that will remind me of them - but it would feel strange to do that in this case, as we didn't have a good relationship.

Then again, the thought of just putting it in my savings account feels quite strange too. I feel like I should use it for something 'special' but I have no idea what that might be.

Any suggestions?

Of course you don't "need" to add to a good savings account, however - if you can, do.
I wouldn't spend for the sake of it, you're asking for suggestions, so you obviously have nothing in mind. Add it to your savings, you may need it one day.

Premium Bonds. You may or may not win something, but if/when you do, it will make you think of her. When you find something you need/want, you can cash them in easily.

I'd spend it on a quirky piece of furniture from Homesense/TKMax, assuming you're in the UK.
A cute/quirky chair for my bedroom or to sit at the top of my stairs or a desk, I've got my eye on a desk in Homesense, it's really cute (pale green) and a nice chair to go with it.
A fake fur rug, some gold wall art 😁
I love Homesense!

Maybe you could divide it into pots - some extra-special food this Christmas / tickets to the Panto or whatever / a really nice meal out somewhere / a short break.

One nice suggestion I remember from somewhere, I think it could have been when my DM passed away, and that was to set aside some money to buy a bunch of flowers every week for a year.

A commemorative tattoo?

You got it from the sale of her house so how about using it to improve yours if you own. Do you need a new front door? Towards new radiators or a boiler if needed.

If you don't need to save it then I would book a weekend away. I would treat myself to a room upgrade or a suite as a treat. Have a few nice meals and drinks and totally indulge. 😊

I get what you're saying - I'm a big saver (always have been) and tend to be quite frugal day-to-day, particularly as I'm not massively into 'stuff'.

Any random extra money would usually go straight into savings, no question. But this money, from someone who has died, feels...different? I feel like I should do something special with it.

I appreciate this may seem irrational!

The start of a S&S ISA if you don’t already have one. Keeps it separate and special but also means it’ll grow.

Not at all! Your money, your choice.
I suppose it's just how you see the windfall. However you spend it, I hope you enjoy it 😊

Thank you! 😊

I won £400 on premium bonds last year - so I decided to buy something I would not otherwise feel able to justify (I'm frugal too). I bought a painting by an artist that I really love - who does landscapes of my home area growing up. Now that I live hundreds of miles away and am in my 70's this is really special to me.

Ooh I do love the ballet. Would actually be able to afford good seats for once!

Oh gosh, just remembered that my Grandmother took me to my first ever ballet - The Nutcracker - when I was eight. It was my first time in London and my first time ever going on a train - and that ballet was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Bless her. Feeling quite emotional now 💙

If I didn't want to just save it, I'd use it for a memorable event - weekend away or family trip to theatre plus meal. Something like that.

Oh that's lovely! Some more art would be wonderful.

Sounds like ballet it is then.

Agree with this. Invest it via MoneyFarm and track progress on their app.

Art or ballet then - perfect.

Oh gosh I hope that's a good emotion it prompted.
Your post reminded me of a similar sized inheritance that I got from a relative I didn't know at all (through an heir hunters company) that I was going to put towards 'something' and ended up just putting into savings to start with. Perhaps it's time to think about something specific for that too.

If you wear jewellery, I would probably go for something from a top jewellers, such as Tiffany's. Or a decent handbag, not an everyday one but one for special occasions.
As others have said, some artwork. Or a mirror.
If she was a cook, a Kitchen Aid or a decent set of knives or pans.
Or maybe a trip to the ballet, possibly incorporating a weekend away with a lovely dinner out and champagne to toast her memory.

Definitely not a bad emotion! Just reminded me that we did actually have some lovely times together when I was little, which is kind of bittersweet💙

Hope you are able to plan something nice for your similar inheritance. That must have been such a shock if it was someone you didn't know!

Combining art and ballet, this might hit the spot. I just bought it as a gift:

https://www.boutiquesdemusees.fr/en/product/musee-orsay/686-grande-arabesque-degas.html?r=1jImIYoQspnXL7W8at58GyijEOG0rUVY9orJXxNp8Pg7qRZt6giQ8OwSDhbu5e7wW

Oh good. I'm pleased then.
Ours was bizarre as I can't over exaggerate how tiny that side of the family is. Mostly only children having only children. We must have been a really distant relative and yet somehow still the closest.