When you retire, you don't get a break on having to replace your things .

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

SF VIP
Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I found a part time job, working for myself. And that job is replacing everything I own. I'm 75, and I should be enjoying the stuff that's bought and paid for. But it seems like all I'm doing is buying stuff to replace the stuff I have. Lately I have had to buy a new car, the old one died after 13 years. The same for my clothes washer, dish washer, furnace, water heater, microwave, TV, alarm clock, towels, sheets, phone, on and on. Some how you figured you wouldn't have to keep buying stuff when you retired?
 
It happens. After we bought our retirement home, which was a very nice manufactured home, we started upgrading it.
Plantation shutters
New appliances to replace the contractor grade stove, microwave and dishwasher
Replaced the tile kitchen counters with granite and a large sink
Replaced carpet with hardwood floors
Replaced wood decking with manufactured wood
Added ceiling fan in 2nd bedroom
Resurfaced kitchen cabinets and had new drawers built
Upgraded 2 ceiling lights
Repainted interior and exterior
WHEW!!
 
That is probably the least thought about when NOT preparing for retirement. Expecting things to deteriorate & need to be replaced financial planning for needs not wants after retiring helps make retirement a lot less stressful.

Remembering what failed over the years can help in anticipating what will fail. The part that sucks is the cost to replace has risen quite a bit
 
Knight said:
That is probably the least thought about when NOT preparing for retirement. Expecting things to deteriorate & need to be replaced financial planning for needs not wants after retiring helps make retirement a lot less stressful.

Remembering what failed over the years can help in anticipating what will fail. The part that sucks is the cost to replace has risen quite a bit
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Along with rising prices, is the anticipation of how long the new items will last. They don't make appliances of the same quality as in years past. I guess we all know that by now.

I'm pondering when I need to replace my washer & dryer AGAIN.... had a Maytag set that lasted many years back in the 70's-80's, and got used daily with a family of five. Now, by myself, things poo out way too soon
 
fuzzybuddy said:
it seems like all I'm doing is buying stuff to replace the stuff I have
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Oh gee, I'm retiring in three and a half months and I just splurged and got a new hot water heater so I wouldn't have to worry about spending the money in retirement, but now you've made me realize I will (if I'm lucky enough to live that long) need to eventually replace it (maybe even twice!). boo hoo hoo, I don't feel financially secure but I don't want to work forever.
 
Devi said:
Ditto here with renting (husband tired of repairs around the house). What @Bonnie said — plus the very large clothes washer and dryer are in the apartment.
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I the Uk our washer and dryers are always IN the house, and the majority of the tme they're in the kitchen..washer & Dryer seperately are in the kitchen..... it's something that surprises a lot of Americans for some reason..

In Spain we all have Utility rooms regardless of whether you live in an apartment or a House... some people in old apartment buildings have their dryer on the balcony
 
The last couple of years..

New Barn...and new fitments including a large wall to wall workbench
New Laid lawn

New Bathroom Vanity and new electric shower fitted...
New office room for me fitted out from top to bottom including furniture and new lighting..

All new furniture in O/H office room

New cooker/Chimney Hood in the kitchen
New wall fitted ventilator fan..kitchen

New Venetian style blinds all upstairs..

there's probably more that I can't think of right now
 
Could be when we spend more time in our homes we get tired of looking at the same old stuff? With winter approaching we will spend even more time in the home. I love grabbing my coffee and just stand out on my balcony for the first cup. Everything changes with colder weather and it is all bad.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I found a part time job, working for myself. And that job is replacing everything I own. I'm 75, and I should be enjoying the stuff that's bought and paid for. But it seems like all I'm doing is buying stuff to replace the stuff I have. Lately I have had to buy a new car, the old one died after 13 years. The same for my clothes washer, dish washer, furnace, water heater, microwave, TV, alarm clock, towels, sheets, phone, on and on. Some how you figured you wouldn't have to keep buying stuff when you retired?
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The frugal side of my mind tells me "don't waste money" on buying new things, but my "you can't take it with you" voice(in my head) says: "get what you want, you worked hard for your money". Just last night my wife and I decided to replace the appliances in the kitchen, as they are reaching the end of their life expectancy, but also desire better features. Might replace wife's Subaru as well, 10 years old, has oil leak, body damage, cracked windshield, and want up to date safety features.
 
Our house was new when we retired. Several walls have been repainted. Flooring changed. One of the three toilets is acting up. Hot water replaced; didn’t wait until it failed. Servicing of A/C, furnace, etc is done regularly. Had to replace three fridges that failed. Lots of little things replaced if they couldn’t be repaired; things like taps, garage door opener, etc.

Watching HGTV and people commenting on the dated look of interiors has made me try to choose neutral styles. I’m not too bad with that, wish I didn’t have quality furniture that I hate. Practice what I say, not what I do.
 
I need a new top on my car. It still goes up and down, doesn't leak, but is is worn and heavy duty ugly.

I still enjoy it on nice days like yesterday when the temperature was 85 and I put it down. The car is a 2012, but only has 34000 miles on it.
 
Just remembered the roof will need redoing in about 5 years.

I can see the merits in renting if prices are reasonable and stable. They definitely aren’t here.
 
A person is lucky if most appliances last much beyond the warranty, today. We've replaced virtually all our appliances in the past 5 or 6 years, and I suppose we were lucky that most of them lasted 12 to 15 years. But then, that's part of home ownership...a person needs to put replacing items in their budgets. Renting absolves the renter from such charges, but you can bet the landlord prices those expenses into the rent.

We've got an ancient Montgomery Wards freezer in the basement....bought in the early '70's, and still works good....try finding something that lasts that long, today....good luck.
 
I just purchased a new cooktop and washer and dryer this week, they will be delivered next Tuesday. They could probably limp along for another year or two but hey as someone said you can't take it with you and besides I love nice shiny and new.
 
We replaced our windows, our washing machine, 2 water heaters, an air conditioning unit and our refrigerator before I retired. All except the windows typically last 10 years, so I am just hoping we will have the funds to do it all over again.

From a cosmetic standpoint, we replaced our flooring, completely remodeled the guest bathroom and replaced our marble countertops in the kitchen with quartz. Now I am just stuck with a 90's master bathroom with brown marble and black fixtures and have no desire to remodel it. Contractors are so busy and so expensive these days. Anyone who decides to buy our house will have to do it. It is dated but functional.
 
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Jules said:
Just remembered the roof will need redoing in about 5 years.

I can see the merits in renting if prices are reasonable and stable. They definitely aren’t here.
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Not here, either. Rent has gone straight up. I own my home, but every once in a while I get sick of worrying about maintenance and repairs, etc., and check into the rental market. It has really gone up here, so I guess I'm stuck where I am.
 
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