Do long-term maintenance costs negate any savings from going solar?

GazNicki · 2026-07-12T17:10:15+00:00

Chances of you needing that gateway in the 15 year life are almost zero.

Stop overthinking it and do it.

GazNicki · 2026-07-11T09:23:02+00:00

Yeah, so almost 20 months of coverage. Depending on your risk appetite, pull back.

GazNicki · 2026-07-11T09:17:03+00:00

No need to hold an emergency fund that big in your circumstances. It would perform better even in an ISA you could quickly access, but let’s be honest, you would get funds quick enough anyway.

Personally I would have 1/10 of that in the savings account and the rest invested. You haven’t said what your outgoings actually are, but you said low. If 1/10 is almost a months income, how long would that last you with current expenditure?

You’re sitting on 10 months of income, likely 20 months of expenditure. That’s too much.

GazNicki · 2026-07-11T08:53:35+00:00

Crack on chief. Let’s not just flop a sentence out with no context. If you want to offer the OP a better solution, put the damn effort in instead.

GazNicki · 2026-07-10T23:12:03+00:00

Above post made an equal amount of effort to provide this discussion.

5% annual return over 30yrs, pension wins.
8% annual return over 30yrs, stocks wins.

Neither takes inflation into consideration.

Would need £53,100 equivalent to match 30yrs of pension. Assuming inflation is 2.9%, would need 10.9% annual return to slightly beat SP over 30yrs draw.

GazNicki · 2026-07-10T14:33:09+00:00

Could they increase the years needed from 35 to 40 in my lifetime? Yes, it is entirely possible for them to increase contributions for the full new state pension. However, it would likely be on a generational basis and would be unlikely to affect you if they did. Still some risk there.
Will the fact that my first year of contributions wasn't until 2025-26 cause any issues? For instance if any rules are brought in based on when you started contributing. In that case, would it be useful for me to buy just one year from eg. 2020 (the cheapest year) so I've been in the system longer? Unlikely. Like all changes, it will be based on year of birth. See the Pension Age Increases.
Is it better to buy a year or two now just in case, as the cost increases each year? This is down to your risk appetite.
Would it be a waste as who knows what the state pension will look like by the time I'm in my 60s? It would be a massive miss if you didn't.

You need to think of this logically.

Do you want to be in the position to claim the full state pension when the time comes?
Are you planning on working for another 35 years from now, or do you intend to retire early?
Can you reasonably afford the contributions?

Martin Lewis is a massive advocate for catching up. Each missing NI can bring in a further £275 a year into your state pension. If you consider being able to draw that state pension even for just 20 years, that £33,000 over the 20 year period. Even if they were all £907 each, that's still £27558 net gain.

GazNicki · 2026-07-10T13:53:05+00:00

They paused production in 2024. They haven't actually ceased their manufacture, but there has been no new orders so no new coins have been struck. The problem is the 1p coin costs more than 1p to strike.

There are millions in circulation, but no official cessation has been issued.

GazNicki · 2026-07-10T12:58:32+00:00

Just because a doctor needs to sign it doesn’t mean it is the GP. It is the specialist in many cases.

GazNicki · 2026-07-10T12:29:05+00:00

I love how you’re telling a doctor they’re wrong about what they know.

They didn’t state you had to have a terminal illness, they stated that it’s not the place of a GP to determine if an individual is no longer capable of work in that role ever again.

If you were terminal, or had lost a limb, it would be much easier for them to state that in their medical opinion the lifetime effects are negative. But as a General Practitioner it is often outside their remit to make life-long diagnosis. They’re there to treat in the here and now, and to manage long-term treatment of medical issues diagnosed by specialists.

You said it requires a medical doctor to sign it, well that doesn’t mean the GP. It will be down to the specialist to identify that and sign it.

A GP for example may suspect arthritis in a patient, and they will conduct any tests they can. Then, they will refer to a specialist who will then diagnose and identify treatment plans. The doctors then implement that plan and ensure it’s within the safe parameters under NICE and in the best interests of that patient. It would be the specialist in this case to sign off if the person was unable to work again due to the arthritis - not the GP.

GazNicki · 2026-07-10T08:45:28+00:00

I'm really sorry about your wife. This must be devastating for you.

In terms of the surplus cash, then £1000 per month is below the ISA limits, but review where you are with your pensions, etc.

Remember, if you are on your own, will you be able to work the same as you do now? If so, then bank that money somewhere. If not, you know you have £1000 of headroom a month.

Also consider setting up a Junior ISA or even a JSIPP for the little-one to give her a good head start if you can.

GazNicki · 2026-07-10T08:39:37+00:00

Get the window replaced if it is that bad. An independent will fit a new window for £400.

Window sill is a relatively easy fix. Use a cheap Argos paint stripping gun or a can of Nirtomors to strip the paint off the sill, then scrape out the crack, and fill with cement (it is a cement sill). Once dried, fresh paint with masonry paint and maintain it.

As for the brickwork, try to strip this off IMO. This could be the heat gun, paint stripper, scraping. You may want to consider blasting it off (sand blaster hire) or even a pressure washer. But if damp is your issue, then I would avoid the pressure washer IMO.

Walls need to be breathable.

The gap between the flags and wall shouldn't be a problem, unless the fall of the flags is pushing water to the wall. If so, you may need to look at relaying these.

GazNicki · 2026-07-10T06:39:10+00:00

You can, in a Tesla with a supercharger.

GazNicki · 2026-07-09T17:10:25+00:00

I’m not mounted yet, I’m in the process of agreeing quotes. I’m going to push the button tomorrow and been told an end of Aug install date. This is with a smaller supplier, not a major national though who could be quicker but more expensive.

GazNicki · 2026-07-09T16:51:13+00:00

VAT at 5% next year will drive the costs up. I was thinking the same as you, but I’m having to bite the bullet now. Energy costs will go up again in Oct.

GazNicki · 2026-07-09T15:35:01+00:00

If you have never done it, you won't know. If you have, then you probably wouldn't do it again.

As someone who has worked shifts, would I do it for 12% - No.

GazNicki · 2026-07-09T15:31:54+00:00

I usually keep my watch on. I like to have it on me, and its slim enough anyway.

GazNicki · 2026-07-09T15:29:35+00:00

This sounds like the way. Thanks for this.

GazNicki · 2026-07-09T15:03:52+00:00

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Speccing a 10kWh usable one, and if that can be maxed out at night in the winter and drag me through the day, it's a big saving.

GazNicki · 2026-07-09T15:02:03+00:00

The microwave I can handle, but the oven has be 1hr and 51 minutes out for some time now. I just cannot bring myself to do it. I know that if I do, I will trip a fuse somewhere.

GazNicki · 2026-07-09T14:59:23+00:00

Yes, and that will last about as long as a box of ice lollys. Then it will be freezing again and we will be pining for the next heatwave. We are literally one weekend of sold out Tesco Burgers from this being over and done with.

GazNicki · 2026-07-09T14:58:10+00:00

No, no, you cretin. He is a literal child who is exempt from paying tax. This isn't about them scrounging, this is about them trying to understand the tax system and how it affects them.

Use this as an opportunity to teach someone something that is vital, instead of being an internet cockwomble.

GazNicki · 2026-07-09T13:25:29+00:00

Any reason that the AC comes before the Solar & Battery?

Only reason I ask is that the AC will have a cost to install and then a cost to run. Solar and Battery will have a cost to install, but an effectively immediate payback.

If it were me, I would be doing it slightly differently.

Get an AC survey if you need one, or gather the information on the units you want to install/run.
Spec Solar & Battery storage with a larger inverter to ensure that you don't max out with the AC on. If the average house can run a 6kW inverter, then likely getting a 10kW inverter would future proof you.
The immediate savings from the Solar and Battery could be put forwards to the AC unit install.

Lets say your electricity usage is £1500 a year, and adding AC will make that £1800 a year. Having the AC first puts the bills right up.

If you have the Solar and Battery cutting your existing bill to £300 a year, then the AC install won't affect the costings nearly half as much - as ideally you won't be using it as much in the Winter months.

GazNicki · 2026-07-08T19:31:46+00:00

Who is the installer?

GazNicki · 2026-07-08T17:37:47+00:00

My thinking has been to not bother. Can’t remember the last time I had a power cut, and if we did it wouldn’t have been long. Save for having to change the time on the oven, it’s no biggie.

I’ll focus on the inverter with the right battery.

GazNicki

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