Leaving Money in Your Will

by Sheila
(Cambridge, Ontario Canada)

Honeymoon 1946

Early in our marriage, my husband Geoff and I realized we shared the unhappy experience of being part of families involved in legal battles due to money left after death. And we decided that whatever children we had would be treated equally in our wills, so there would be no such conflict.

Also, as we both dreaded ever being without cash, we decided from Day One, to be careful with our money. We made budgets and stuck to them most of the time. Oh, we did fall occasionally, but we jumped right back on the wagon and made up for cash lost.

Now that Geoff has gone, died 18 months ago, I find myself, while not affluent, at least in charge of a sum that far exceeds my current needs. I could keep it "just in case" but instead of fearing the worst, I have decided to be positive about my future. The worst just won't happen! Money is to be used, not hoarded.

We all know that Dame Fortune does not always shine where she should. While our son has a very good income, our two 60-ish girls need money now. One has had health problems for at least half of her life. The other made poor choices, both of partner and employment, and while she's always been a good and loyal worker, she's facing a bleak retirement.

Therefore it is my pleasure to occasionally help them out with cheques that ease the pain. And I make sure each one has a note attached: With love from Mom and Dad.

I can almost hear Geoff applauding!

Comments for Leaving Money in Your Will

Click here to add your own comments

A secure present in old age ....
by: Retd. Prof. Durgesh Kumar Srivastava, New Delhi India

He was quite old .... with no regular income. He was dependent upon his four sons, who lived in different portions of a large house that he had built in his youth. As each son grew up and got married, he allotted portions of his huge house for his residence and use. When all the sons were married, the house had been fully occupied and the old man was made to live in a single room at the back of the house. His wife had died long back.
The sons gave him simple food and nothing else. On some days he had to remain hungry when no son or daughter-in-law remembered him. There was a small park near his home. He would often go to the park and sit on a bench, brooding about hs existence. One day, he got talking to a stranger sitting on the bench. The stranger heard his sad story and suggested a way out of his troubles .... go, get an old steel box, chain and lock. Place the box under your bed, a chained tied to the box and to the leg of the bed. Put some small stones inside the box and rattle the box once or twice a week.

The sons and daughters-in-law looked at the box in curiosity. Things began improving. He began to get better food in a regular way. He also got special treats occasionally. His troubles were over. Days passed in peace and joy. And then, one day, he was no more. Finding him dead, his four sons ruched to his room and started quarreling over the locked box. They opened the box only to find some small stones and trinkets in it. They now understood the old man's trick.

This is not a true story .... It is a popular folk tale that is told and retold in India to high light the problems of the aged.

DKS,17 June, 2013

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Wills.