I Put Solar On My House. Was It Worth It? (Numbers Breakdown)

Free Power Forever? The Real Cost, Payback Time, and Battery Truth on Solar in NZ 18 months ago, I spent $89,000 on home solar and an electric car. I told you about it, and was flooded with questions on how this could work for other people. Watch the previous video here    • I Spent $89,000 on Solar and Electric Car ...   This episode is the follow-up, answering every question from the practical (does my roof even work?) to the financial (do I actually need a $10,000 battery?). I’ll break down: Would solar work on your house, and what it takes to make solar power work How to run the numbers to find out how long solar would take to pay itself off. I’ve got a three-figure back-of-envelope calculation anyone can do with last year's power bills Do you need a battery to make solar power worthwhile? What to do if money's tight, or you rent Where solar power is heading next, including balcony solar and virtual power plants Follow me everywhere! Facebook /   / francescooknz   Instagram /   / francescooknz   TikTok /   / francescooknz   Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe Become a confident sharemarket investor by signing up to the Market Memo newsletter https://www.francescook.co.nz/invest #MakingCents #FrancesCook #MakingCentsPodcast #InvestingPodcast #MoneyPodcast #FinancialFreedom Production and video editing by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Filmed by Fanaticals 00:00 Introduction: Can Solar Power Really Give You Free Electricity? 04:10 My $89,000 Solar Power & EV Setup Recap 06:34 Would Solar Power Work for Your House? 07:00 Best Roof Direction for Solar Panels in New Zealand 10:43 Ground-Mounted Solar Panels: When Your Roof Isn’t Right 12:55 The Lifestyle Test: Who Gets the Most Value from Solar? 14:38 Do You Need a Solar Battery? 17:30 Why Selling Solar Back to the Grid Doesn’t Pay Much 17:59 When a Solar Battery Is Worth the Money 19:20 The Off-Peak Power Battery Hack That Cuts Costs 21:24 When You Should Skip the Solar Battery 22:48 How to Choose the Right Battery Size 24:21 Battery-Ready Solar Systems 25:51 Hot Water Diverters: The Cheaper Alternative to a Battery 27:22 Solar Battery Bottom Line: Should You Buy One? 29:41 Simple Solar Payback Formula 32:50 What If Solar Feels Too Expensive? 34:49 Green Loans 35:43 Can Renters Get Solar Power? 37:34 The Future of Solar Power in New Zealand 38:05 Balcony Solar: Could Renters and Apartments Use Solar Soon? 40:25 Queenstown EV Battery Trial 42:23 Is Solar Worth It for Your Home and Budget?