To have planted this idea in my mums head?

[mosschops30]

My father died 2 years ago, it turned out that after years of scrimping and spouting about how he wanted her to be ok when he was gone, he actually left her with virtually nothing and an £80k mortgage left on their house.

So now shes sold it and will have £175k to do with whatever she likes.

She has been looking to buy somewhere but asked me what id do in her situation and i half jokingly said 'well at your age (67) i think id just bloody enjoy it, rent somewhere and spend your money going wherever youve wanted to go and doing whatever youve wanted to do'.

Shes worked all her life, its been comfortable but never well off. Shes never been further than cyprus and a part of me thinks that she should just go mad and enjoy the twighlight years. I probably dont help by telling her what i see in work and how you should enjoy life.
In fact if she did buy a house, it would only be passed to me, she has no dependents, no responsibilities and can do what she wants, i dont want her to buy somewhere just so i get some money after shes gone

tbh I think as you get older renting is a good idea. Many elderly people struggle to deal with organising repairs and maintenance and dealing with builders. If she is renting and has a good landlord she won't have to worry about this.

I also think life is short and sometimes much shorter than you think. She is still healthy at the moment so now is the time when she can still do things and go places that she may not be able to do when she is older.

I know it may mean she is poor in her very old age, but I have known too many people die with money that they were "saving" until they needed it when they were very elderly.

are over 65s properties not wildly cheaper where you live? they are where I do, about half the normal price of properties that size (but sometimes with higher maintenance charges for staff etc)

YANBU - that sounds like a right bloody laugh. Hope she has a ball!

lesley you have hit the nail on the head! Thats exactly what i mean

It sounds great, but needs to be planned before any commitments are made to rent or buy. My aunt sold her house, and rents a one bedroom apt. in a nice building. Her old age pension pays for the rent and she does not have the burden of caring for a house on her own. She has no money worries, and in great health even though in her mid 80's.

If your mum has a pension she should be set. It would be wise to have a financial adviser help her plan this out, and if she doesn't have a pension, she definitely should have a financial adviser help her plan her money. She will run out of money, and instead of a 3 bedroom for guests, maybe a 2 bedroom, bunk beds and a fold out couch!

The state pay if you don't have enough money for care, I used to work in a bupa care home and they took people who were government funded so you get a choice of where you go.