Becoming an empty nester is often a cathartic yet bittersweet experience. Finally, the kids that you have spent two decades raising have grown up and are building their own lives away from home. You will likely miss all the hustle and bustle in the house after each of them has moved out, but the serenity is not so bad either.
More than that, you now get to keep all of your income to yourself since you no longer have a financial obligation to your children. You can even downsize to produce even more disposable income. Whatever the case may be, now may be the perfect time to purchase some investments for your home.
Here are some of the best ones you can consider:
1. A massage chair
In the past, you’ve probably caught yourself looking at full-body massage chairs online, wishing that you had the disposable income and space to put one in the living room. But now that you are an empty nester, why not turn that dream into a reality?
A massage chair can help relieve aches and pains as well as a real massage can. And while you are aging, it is incredibly helpful to have something at home to relieve your pain other than medication. The best part? No one else can hog the chair—well, except for your spouse, of course.
2. Adjustments for aging in place
Even if you are still strong and healthy, now is a great time to start planning home adjustments if you want to live out the rest of your life in your current home. This way, you won’t have to worry about it when you actually start to need them.
Some examples of home adjustments for aging in place include:
- Handlebars and railings. Installing these in showers, near the toilets, and along sloped areas of the house can help you maintain your balance once your knees start to get weaker.
- Taller toilets. Having a toilet that is taller than usual reduces the strain on your knees whenever you have to squat.
- Better lighting. Eyesight tends to deteriorate as we age. Ensure that all hallways, stairwells, and bathrooms have good illumination to avoid any accidents.
3. Jacuzzi
A Jacuzzi is expensive—both to purchase and to run. But now that you have more disposable income, why not splurge on something that you’ve always wanted?
Obviously, we don’t need to highlight the benefits of having a Jacuzzi at home. Everyone knows how relaxing it is to sit in a Jacuzzi, possibly with your partner, while having your favorite drink. And since you are already an empty nester, you won’t have to worry about raising your water bill too much since you won’t have to change the water too often—except for when your kids come to visit!
4. Studio/hobby room
Now that the kids have left, you can turn one of their bedrooms into a studio or a hobby room where you can work on your passion in peace. Perhaps you can even turn it into a home gym to increase your fitness level as you age. Or if you are still in the workforce, maybe you can convert that old bedroom into a home office. The possibilities are endless.
5. Upgraded security system
Some burglars target older folks that live alone, which means that as an empty nester, you might seem like an easy target for criminals. That said, a wise home investment to make at this time is an upgraded home security system.
If you don’t already have one, install a smart home security system that comes with alarms and contacts emergency personnel if someone breaks into your home. Security cameras are also crucial, and so are doorbell cameras.
While you are upgrading your home’s security system, it is also a good idea to invest in these additional security measures:
- Motion-detecting lights. These turn on automatically upon detecting motion and serve as a great deterrent for criminals.
- Heavy-duty locks. Install heavy-duty locks for all doors and windows, including the ones on exterior structures (e.g., sheds)
- Perimeter alarms. A laser trip-wire alarm can alert you in case someone trespasses on your property.
- Higher fences. A higher fence can help protect your privacy while serving as a deterrent for burglars (since higher fences are harder to climb over).
Some of these investments are practical, while some are purely for recreation. Either way, they can offer you significant benefits now that you live alone (or with your partner)—so why not splurge? You’ve earned it after raising all of your children to adulthood, after all.
