To think it’s unfair that some people get inheritance while others start with nothing?

Yes it's extremely unfair because it allows already privileged people an even bigger step up early in life. Inherit a big sum in your 40s and you can use it to buy assets and build even more wealth, meanwhile someone who only inherits a tiny amount or nothing when parents die (often due to care home fees) will continue to struggle all their life.

I have never and will never inherit anything in my lifetime, I’ll never be “rich” but I do okay.
I have a friend who is married and both of them will inherit millions. Both were brought into the fold of their respective family’s business and promoted up the ranks because of their surname.
Because of their indulgent parents, they own a stunning house, expensive cars, expensive luxury holidays, but they’re no happier than I am unfortunately.
He treats her like a maid, she stays with him for the “family image”.
I wouldn’t swap their wealth for my life (I’d probably have one of their cars though) 😂

or stop working much earlier.

In my social and professional circles nearly all 50+ retired/ are about to retire/reduce hours way much earlier than planned thanks to Labour IHT on pensions. Their plans were to continue working and maximising pensions with the aim of passing this on. These are all higher earners means higher tax payers who have other investments as well. Now with IHT on pensions and double taxation it just doesn't make sense to work anymore.

Of course it's unfair.

Me and my DH won't get a penny, both our families are skint. We on the other hand have worked extremely hard and should have a substantial amount to leave to our children and our nieces and nephews to inherit. That's just life I'm afraid.

My friend lives in a gorgeous house, a period property with 5 bedrooms.
She lost both parents before she was 20.
Is that fair.

My parents are in their 70s, they have just received an inheritance as my grandparents died in their very late 90s. Luckily one set avoided a care home. The other set died after all their money was spent on care.

I set myself up by studying hard and working my way up the career ladder. I was ETE over £100k PA. DH didn't have a career as such, just a job. I became disabled. We are now "poor" in relative terms.

My DC was born disabled.

My cousin died age 40, a friends child died age 4.

Life's a fuck up. Not fair.

Does nobody think a post as well, stupid as this is likely from a journalist (and a lazy one at that)?

I think when envy gets you like this op it is best to take a step back and think carefully.

I was born under communism so forgive me but you have no idea what you are talking about. Also what do you mean "start with nothing"? By the time I get my inheritance, I will probably (and hopefully!) be in my 70s.

Yeah of course it is. When and where did you get the impression life was fair?

Tough.

I guess make your own money.

'In an inheritocracy, certain advantages really matter: those whose parents are together, those who live in the south-east, those who are only children, those whose parents are able to “gift” an early inheritance and, to be blunt, those whose parents do not live too long or have complex expensive caring needs'

'I set out to explore the source and dynamics of our inheritocracy and what I discovered was that parental wealth was the story behind the story, the economic thread that explains widening wealth inequality, rising disillusionment with higher education, the stunted pathways into adulthood, changing gender dynamics, the complexities of milestone culture, a dysfunctional housing market and the complications of an ageing society.'

OP you should emigrate - you'd get on a treat with Mr Putin 🤣

You seriously need to give your head a wobble . 16 years ago my DH lost his mum when she was only in her 50s, he was devastated. But she left him a few 1000s in her will. He started a business and now we employ 7 people in very secure jobs. Are you seriously saying he shouldn't have had that money....so where should it have gone ?

You are right that it's unfair, but abolition cannot be enforced. That would cause people to hide assets or find some other way to pass it on.

If I work hard for my money I want my children to benefit.

I have already paid tax on everything and then they might have to pay tax on it all again. What's the point in working then. I should just give up, get a council house and live of the system.

What a ridiculous post.

This post is a joke post aimed to wind people up and it has worked. I've never had any inheritance yet but once they go there's 6 of us to share it between so it'll be thinly spread, when we go there's only 3 and we have managed to save a bit so our kids will travel first class because we travelled economy.

Would you prefer it if your Dad died a long, lingering death at the age of 61, your 39 yr old brother dropped dead in the street four months later and your mum was crushed underneath a white van?

That's what isn't fair in this world and I know many other people could tell you a similar story.

I think it can seem unfair, I won't get a penny but it's nobody else's fault except my parents that they've got nothing to leave me.

Yep, totally unfair.

There's a book about it called Inheritocracy. This article talks about it:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/nov/17/bank-of-mum-and-dad-why-we-all-now-live-in-an-inheritocracy

'In recent years, we have rightly widened the conversation about privilege in society. And yet how honest are we about one of the most obvious forces shaping anyone under 45: the presence or absence of a parental safety net? The truth is that we live in an inheritocracy. If you’ve grown up in the 21st century, your opportunities are increasingly determined by your access to the Bank of Mum and Dad, rather than by what you earn or learn. The economic roots of this story go back to the 1980s, but it accelerated after the 2008 financial crisis, as private wealth soared and wage growth stalled. In the 2020s, rather than a meritocracy – where hard work pays off – we have evolved into an inheritocracy, based on family wealth'

Of course it's unfair, but life is unfair. I had planned to use all my mum's money to give her a comfortable old age in a care home (her choice) but covid got her in 2020 and, to my surprise, I got an inheritance. But I'd still rather have my mum.

It’s already heavily taxed! My parents started with nothing and worked damn hard for everything they have. Why should they not be allowed to decide where their hard earned money goes just because everyone else doesn’t get the same?

Don't worry, this is MN where everyone ends up in a luxury care home spending all their kids' hundreds of thousands inheritance and you should be damned thankful if you are left 20p in the will.

Being born is a lottery. Some win big time, others end up on the hard road to nowhere, often compounded by things beyond their control. All you can do is to try and make the most of yourself, work hard when you need to, grab opportunities as they arise, and think deeply about life changing aspects such as education, a career, forming good relationships, having children. Inheriting something, be it large or small comes under opportunity, and does need careful thought, having a lot of wealth can still go badly wrong. Conversely, a lot of people from poorer backgrounds work very hard to give their offspring a good start in life, so why shouldn’t that be passed on? As I said life can be a lottery, good and bad at all stages.

Don't be so ridiculous.

I’d love to know why the recipients of inheritances should pay further tax on money that the giver has already been taxed on? Any thoughts?