to ask what I can buy to make my life easier

[cadburyegg]

I've come into a bit of money and have been racking my brains trying to work out how to spend it sensibly. I am a single parent and my life is messy and chaotic and really tiring. One obvious thing is to pay down the mortgage I know but I have just fixed for another 5 years. I have a few things that need to be done round the house.

Please give me your ideas 🙏 big or small.

Do you work full time?
If it's a sizeable amount of money, negotiate one shorter day each week; 3 undisturbed hours at home could be a 2 hour house blitz and an hour long bath every week. That would have been life changing for me when I was a single parent.

Why do you need to spend it now? Save it and generate some interest for when you know what you want to spend it on.

Obviously depends how much money. I'd replace any appliances that are old, then get someone in to decorate the rooms I haven't done yet, probably replace some carpet. Anything left over I'd use for a cleaner to come once a month and do the house top to bottom.

If you do mint know what to spend it on, then don’t spend it. Save it until you know. to help get you sorted a one off house deep clean and the handyman for a day are good suggestions and would only take up small amounts of the money.

Love that idea @ODFOx I think that would solve the chaos issue.

If there's nothing else around the house, id look at my children's future depending on how much you have been given. Pay forward to an insurance company for life and critical illness cover, pay a huge chunk into a pension so you can enjoy your retirement at a reasonable age rather than working until your late 70s. Set up a fund or investment portfolio for their university years, first home deposits.

Use some for fun too, take a trip you'll all remember forever. The memories will last a lifetime.

A reliable car.
A robot hoover.

If you are a single parent. I agree with this. You need a fighting fund for emergencies.

Paying off high interest debts and diverting some of the money saved into regular savings would free up your general income anyway.

A new car with a long warranty that won't need loads of repairs?

Investing for your children's future so they can go to uni or have the cash for a medical emergency...Dental Braces etc.

This is a brilliant chance to make yourself secure in a way that will give you much greater peace of mind. Get a will etc.

But I do agree... also spend some on something fun and memorable like a lovely holiday.

Meal box subscription- I’ve just done this and it’s take the thinking out of dinner time.

Are you me and I'd forgotten I'd posted.
Cleaner 2 hours once a fortnight.

M and S healthy convenience food shopping occasionally.

Robot hoover and/or Shark vacuum.

Oscillating floor mop.

Car clean once every 6 weeks.

New address book/birthday book.
Christmas planner.

New socks all the same style and throw away any randoms.
Rigby and Peller (still pretty good) bra fitting for 2 new ones around £70 each, hand wash only.

New clothes mainly luxury basics plus fantastic boots and a beautiful take you anywhere wool coat.

Separate cupboard for handbags.

Blow dry every so often/dyson airwrap.

Decorator to touch up the paint around the house.

Handyman likewise for annoying little jobs.

Fountain pen.

Stacking set of glass "Tupperware"
Invest in your children's interests.

BUPA for our family is £260 a month.
Some premium bonds for fun.

Donate to a few worthy charities.

Send flowers to a friend, hell get some for yourself too.

Talk to a good financial advisor.

• Bean to cup coffee machine
• Ninja max 15in 1 airfryer, cooks everything from stews to crispy bacon in no time and a cinch to clean.
• Dishwasher

My life was worse off without these 3 things

• DH would say the sebo vacuum cleaner, he loves it. It is really effective but quite heavy.

You can normally over pay by 10% each year without penalty. Give your mortgage company a ring and ask them.

A weekly cleaner?
Robot hoover
Food processor
slow cooker
Tumble drier

What are the things around your house that need doing? Are all your appliances in good nick? Is your car decent condition? Do you have decent tumble dryer, washing machine?

I’d look at those things first, as they are big chunks of money that if you have to take out a loan you’ll pay a much higher percentage than you do on your mortgage.

Oh and look at what can you do for your kids that you’ve struggled with before - what are their interest/passions? Can you get music lessons, tuition, equipment, sports clubs.

Think about what's going to help you out the most or will ease life a little. Also large goods like cooker, fridge freezer, washer etc are all quite expensive. Do any of them need replacing?

I would spend on services rather than material things that will ultimately just clutter up your house more.

So a cleaner, additional childcare, maybe 2 hours weekend babysitting so you get a proper break, someone that can declutter or help you decorate your house, posh/healthy food deliveries like Mindful Chef if you enjoy cooking, more days out with DC, take taxis instead of public transport.