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Retiring and living frugally in money from downsizing after years of stress

(30 Posts)
ElaineMcG47 Sat 13-Jun-26 19:35:10

I am 60. I am thinking of selling family home and downsizing to a 2 bed cottage on half an acre left to me by my unle. I am in Ireland. The cottage required a lot of work but vacant home grants were available for a some of it as it had been vacant for 9 years.. I have mentioned on another thread that my adult children have been emotionally abusive for many years and that hasn't changed. I also had a very stressful job working in the health setvices both in UK and Ireland for years. My adult children are 23 and 24. If I sell the family home I will have 360k. I will give my children 15k each as help for renting for the first year - it's incredibly expensive in Ireland yo rent or buy. Then I would use 300k of this money for 6 years until my Irish State pension.does this sounds like a crazy decision. I am totally burnt out from my job, have arthritis in feet and knees and am emotionally destroyed by years of heartbreak with my adult children since their mid teenage years.

Magenta8 Sat 13-Jun-26 19:45:38

Go for it. It sounds as if you have given it a great deal of
consideration and what you propose sounds feasible and sensible. You also seem to have thought carefully about what you really need and want to do.

Sorry to hear about your problems with your ACs hopefully you will eventually find some resolution.

I wish you every happiness for the future.

Bukkie Sat 13-Jun-26 19:49:17

Good luck to you. I hope everything works out well.

M0nica Sat 13-Jun-26 19:55:22

It seems a very reasonable and rational decision. M ake sure that your capital is in a safe place like building society, you cannot afford to take any risks with it.

rafichagran Sat 13-Jun-26 19:58:14

Go for it. You deserve it.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Sat 13-Jun-26 19:59:36

I’d go for it. Your mental health deserves you listen to it and act accordingly to your needs. You can’t buy peace of mind.

Good luck ElaineMcG47.

tiredoldwoman Sat 13-Jun-26 20:08:31

Don't tell your kids about the money. They will milk you.

ElaineMcG47 Sat 13-Jun-26 20:21:51

Thank you all for your kind replies. Thry are reassuring! I didn't think I would make it to 60 due to the impact of alm that happened and is still happening with my adult children. I just want to have a quiet frugal life in the countryside. I grow fruit and veg in my garden and also have a community allotment. I will be moving about 100 miles from my adult children. At the moment they are really angry that I am selling the house. They are both working and have finished university. When I say I am burnt out, that I sm in quite a bit of pain with arthritis, it's like they don't hear it, or don't care.

Delila Sat 13-Jun-26 20:38:31

Elaine, it sounds exactly what you need after all you’ve been through & 100 miles away from your children is a fairly safe distance. Do you have to give them your address? I’d be sorely tempted not to…

Wishing you peace and contentment in your little cottage🏡

sodapop Sat 13-Jun-26 20:50:06

Yes I agree with everyone else go for it ElaineMcG47 you deserve a peaceful and content life now. I wish you all the best.

Luckygirl3 Sat 13-Jun-26 20:51:37

Do it!
When my OH became unwell and had to leave his job at 42 we sold our home and downsized to wipe out our mortgage... we had 3 young children.
We never regretted it and I do not think you will if you make the leap into a new life. You have done your bit work wise and you need to have your chance to relax. Sometimes we have to be bold to improve our lives.

ElaineMcG47 Sat 13-Jun-26 21:08:28

Thanks to all of you again for all the encouraging replies. Delila - it's a cottage that has been in my family since 1932 - thry won't visit though, they hate the countryside, and think everyone there is boring - so I will have peace!

Thisismyname1953 Sat 13-Jun-26 21:11:29

You should go for it . I would also try to get advice on the best way to invest your capital to give you an income but not to be able to get cash out for your demanding children whenever they want it . Make them stand on their own two feet and get a new phone number so they can’t pester you .

silverlining48 Sat 13-Jun-26 21:15:19

Hope all goes well for you Elaine.

MT62 Sat 13-Jun-26 21:20:33

Will you get any thanks from your children for the £15k.
Personally I would give them nowt if they have been unkind to you. Let them stand on their own two feet if they are working.
If you are careful I think your money should last.
Cottage sounds lovely.
Enjoy the peace & quiet & don’t let those two live rent free in your head if you’ve had enough.

MayBee70 Sat 13-Jun-26 21:21:03

Check out The Great Irish House revival series on BBC iplayer. There are several series and it includes lots of information regarding grants etc. There do seem to be far more grants available for home restoration in Ireland.

ElaineMcG47 Sat 13-Jun-26 21:58:55

Lovely to hear all your positive comments. Yes. There are grants up to 70k for properties that have bern vacant for over two years here in Ireland.. Re my adult children appreciating the 15k each, I dont think they will but I dont want to abandon them completely by selling the family home - the 15k each is to transition them. They have been very unkind and even cruel at times, calling me warped, saying I am s shit mother, threatening to cut contact when I needed to move back into the family home, saying really hurtful things and see me cry but still continue to do it. My daughter told serious lies about me that I had beaten her up as a child, I could have list my job. She used to threaten socisl work and I would give her the contact details but she would never csll them. She still trashes my reputation to her friends. The list goes on and on. It broke me inside.

Usedtobeblonde Sat 13-Jun-26 22:04:26

Please don’t give your AC anything.
Actions must have consequences.
Look after your money, you will need it for a decent life ahead of you.
I wish you well.

Granma1 Sat 13-Jun-26 22:24:02

You must do it. I would not give your children anything. They do not deserve it and you will need the money to look after yourself in the years to come. When I retired I downsized with encouragement from my family. It’s surprising how savings go quickly because the state pension is hard to live on. All the best for the future.

Shinamae Sat 13-Jun-26 22:29:51

Usedtobeblonde

Please don’t give your AC anything.
Actions must have consequences.
Look after your money, you will need it for a decent life ahead of you.
I wish you well.

Ditto 💐

Cossy Sat 13-Jun-26 22:34:11

I think you should go for it and live the rest of your life in peace and with as little stress as possible.

Please let us all know how you decide to proceed and very best of luck x

Cossy Sat 13-Jun-26 22:35:04

Shinamae

Usedtobeblonde

Please don’t give your AC anything.
Actions must have consequences.
Look after your money, you will need it for a decent life ahead of you.
I wish you well.

Ditto 💐

Ditto too x

CocoPops Sat 13-Jun-26 22:35:35

100 miles away and in the countryside too sounds good. If you gift 15K each will you have to pay tax on it I wonder?
If you give them the money I think it best to make it very clear that it's a one-off and no more will be forthcoming. If either of them can't manage their financial affairs in the future can you harden your heart and leave them to their own devices?

MissAdventure Sat 13-Jun-26 22:37:43

Have you a plan for if your arthritis worsens?
Will you be able to still shop, drive, and do what you need to?

J52 Sat 13-Jun-26 22:45:56

Sounds like a great idea to me. I’m sure you’ll be very happy putting the plan into action and enjoying doing up your new home.
I also would not be giving anything to your ACs. This time is your time to enjoy life. Good luck for your future.