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Spend or save?

(120 Posts)
dollydaydream68 Sun 12-Apr-26 12:14:17

My DH has kindly suggested that a new kitchen would be nice and we have looked at a company that would replace doors , appliances etc. .Got v good reviews
The estimate will be £6000 to £10,000
It's v tempting
We are in our 70s and don't have expensive holidays and extravagant lifestyle.
Having saved all our lives it's difficult.
We have no mortgage and a good amount in savings.
I'm conscious we won't live forever and our money could be used if we ever needed care.
Should I just spend and enjoy?

Grandmabatty Sun 12-Apr-26 12:20:43

Spend and enjoy.

crazyH Sun 12-Apr-26 12:24:50

Oh for goodness sake - go on, spend it . I had a new kitchen a couple of years ago - I love it . I am always aghast at people in their 70s and 80s wanting to save. For what ?
You can cross the bridge of care costs , if and when you come to it.
Enjoy your money now.
Only yesterday, my sis-in-law were discussing Airfryers. I love mine. But she was not inclined to buy one.
To each his own…..

ferry23 Sun 12-Apr-26 12:38:33

A new kitchen is not a fleeting moment of enjoyment - you'll get pleasure from it for a long, long time. And would probably make your life easier - all good!

You just have to grit your teeth whilst it's being done - or of course you could splash the cash and take yourselves on holiday and come back to a new kitchen grin

Calendargirl Sun 12-Apr-26 12:41:18

I’ve always saved, but realise that we are not going to live forever!

I’m quite happy with my 20 year old kitchen, and we don’t have heaps of holidays, but flying business class on long haul is something we now do.

And jobs such as decorating, gutter and fascia cleaning and similar, we intend to pay for it to be done.

Fallingstar Sun 12-Apr-26 12:42:15

Go for it. If you have the funds with enough money leftover then is a no brainer.
As I always say ‘enjoy yourself it’s later than you think.’

Cabbie21 Sun 12-Apr-26 12:45:49

Go for it, but incorporate things that will make your lives easier: better storage, less bending, easy taps, smooth running drawers, pull out shelves etc.

Charleygirl5 Sun 12-Apr-26 12:49:13

Rightly or wrongly if I want something I buy it. I bought myself a beautiful Magic kitchen 2 yesars ago and think it is beautiful every day.

I have spent a fortune on new hearing aids and I pick them up tomorrow.
I have a friend who is very well off finacially and doesn't even buy herself deent food.

I couldn't live like that/ Why otherwise did I work and save for so long?

dollydaydream68 Sun 12-Apr-26 12:50:06

Thanks for your encouragement. My head says spend, may heart's not so sure. I know if it all goes on care home later I'll be mad.
I know we can afford it, just scare about what it's?
We have good savings but also conscious that it can't be replaced.

Usedtobeblonde Sun 12-Apr-26 13:04:07

I am in your situation ddd68 but a lot older.
I have savings but was brought up to always think before spending.
I do live well, don’t go without anything, good food, clothes but not so many now and until recently meals out with my friend but not on major purchases.
My kitchen needs work doing as does my shower room but I feel it is not worth the capital expenditure at my age.
Last year I did turn my redundant dining room into a small sitting room just for me with everything new in it but I think that will be it.
You are younger so do spend on things you want and not always need.

Jaxjacky Sun 12-Apr-26 13:12:29

I would go ahead, but get another two quotes first.

Aveline Sun 12-Apr-26 13:17:29

That's a suspiciously cheap quote. Get others

Norah Sun 12-Apr-26 14:25:07

dollydaydream68

Thanks for your encouragement. My head says spend, may heart's not so sure. I know if it all goes on care home later I'll be mad.
I know we can afford it, just scare about what it's?
We have good savings but also conscious that it can't be replaced.

I assume your kitchen is fit for purpose?

If so, continue saving. I've no need for a new 'nice' kitchen.

Opinions vary.

lixy Sun 12-Apr-26 14:36:07

Would you be able to make practical changes if you update the kitchen?

I was looking at ours the other day thinking that it’s fine for me now but I won’t always want to be climbing on a step stool to reach a tin of tomatoes from the top shelf or scrabbling on the bottom shelf to get the casserole dish out! I would also like to change where the microwave is - currently built in above the oven, but just a couple of inches too high for me to be comfortable.

As suggested by others, get a few different quotes, and set about making your kitchen do its best for you.

ClicketyClick Sun 12-Apr-26 14:42:44

Do it, you can't take it with you and probably worked hard for it. Why save and then not enjoy some of it. Whoever you leave it to will spend spend spend and not save it for a rainy day.

Visgir1 Sun 12-Apr-26 14:43:05

Your money, spend it. You're only in your 70's enjoy your kitchen don't worry about the future it will sort it self out.

Allira Sun 12-Apr-26 14:48:08

We decided to have a new kitchen rather than replacement doors and we're older than you!
I'd recommend deep drawers rather than all cupboards, so much easier to access everything.

M0nica Sun 12-Apr-26 14:48:27

Calendargirl

I’ve always saved, but realise that we are not going to live forever!

I’m quite happy with my 20 year old kitchen, and we don’t have heaps of holidays, but flying business class on long haul is something we now do.

And jobs such as decorating, gutter and fascia cleaning and similar, we intend to pay for it to be done.

Do not go on that holiday - at least not while the kitchen is being installed.

Any building work, you need to be on hand to confirm where you do - or do not - want the light switches, lights, door handles, which way up the tiles go up etc etc.

Go n the holiday to recover once the work is complete to your satisfaction.

Allira Sun 12-Apr-26 14:50:06

I'd recommend getting in a firm to do a deep clean after the renovations too.
We didn't and the cleaning was extremely hard work!

MartavTaurus Sun 12-Apr-26 14:55:35

How many appliances are you getting? That price seems very cheap, I think we spent that much on our appliances alone.
Ours was a new kitchen, so it made sense to go the whole hog.

Primrose53 Sun 12-Apr-26 15:08:51

Spend it. Round here people say “who wants to be the richest person in the graveyard.”

Allira Sun 12-Apr-26 15:13:10

MartavTaurus

How many appliances are you getting? That price seems very cheap, I think we spent that much on our appliances alone.
Ours was a new kitchen, so it made sense to go the whole hog.

We could have gone further and spent double, making structural changes; if we'd been 60 or even 70 I would have done, however, at 60 we had other commitments.

We were told that even just fitting new doors and drawer fronts meant emptying everything out. That was another deciding factor.

JaneJudge Sun 12-Apr-26 15:17:31

DO IT

Norah Sun 12-Apr-26 16:41:12

Perhaps fit the kitchen yourselves?

We diy most home projects, but I suppose some may not.

Savings would be large, I'd imagine.

Youngerthanspringtime Sun 12-Apr-26 16:57:39

Just go for it. You will gain pleasure from it but I'd get one or two more quotes.