has anyone bought one of those 'i'm dead now what' books?

[DecisionTime123]

single parent, in 60s ,to 2 young adult DDs no other family other than ex, their dad. I keep starting to write down instructions for the worst case scenario on bits of paper or in note books but I have quite limiting ADHD so I feel one of these books would focus my mind but are they all very American? I think the idea is that the book prompts you on what to include so if it's a non UK one i'd assume a lot would be irrelevant or confusing. any thoughts/recommendations?

Yes I have one and it is quite American. I find the trick is to just spend 10 minutes on it per day for the first week. There's a lot going on so it can feel overwhelming. One bite at a time works best. Don't try to get it 100 percent accurate on the first go around. Complete what you can then move on. Take regular breaks from it then revisit and add some more details. After a few months you will probably find you are feeling more organised and less anxious.

What sort of sections are there?

I’ve started writing things you should know - like my accounts and where the stop cock is!

What sort of things are in there? Surely Google can sort out most things? A couple weeks ago I rebuilt a washing machine via YouTube

I’d be interested as it’ll give me prompts hopefully and it’ll keep everything in one place.

My stupid brain thought this was a book telling you what to do if you die and I was confused for a lot longer than I should probably admit

Never heard of them. But they sound like a good idea. Off to google them.

What to Do When Someone Dies: From Funeral Planning to Probate and Finance ("Which?" Essential Guides): Amazon.co.uk: Harris, Paul: 9781844900282: Books

I have one.. mine has lots of different sections..

Acc numbers/passwords
/funeral plan/prepaid details?

Instructions on end of life/DNR/ where/how you would like to die.. home/hospital/hospice

Wishes for funeral /music/flowers/burial/cremation/where to bury/scatter ashes.

Section for instructions about finding the Will/who you'd like your jewellery/ornaments etc to go too.

And a lovely section for special messages.

I got mine off Temu. I haven't started filling it in yet.

Yeah, I thought it was going to be a more slangy, 21st c Tibetan Book of the Dead or something.

Anything you do to plan ahead will be helpful.

MoneySavingExpert have a check list which maybe more UK focused. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/death-plan/

I bought one. It was very comprehensive and I got bored. Ended up gathering dust in the desk drawer.
Just type out instructions and send them to your kids.

My mums friend bought one of these two days before he unexpectedly died leaving his husband without access to passwords for computers bank accounts etc.
it would have made his life far easier if his husband had had time to do it 😔

I've got this book..

it's a very good book, I've added a SS of the contents pages.

The author is a English council funeral planning officer who ties up the ends of someones life in the absence of family. Her book about that is called Ashes to Admin.

Get Ahead of Being Dead: Your Handy Planner for the End of Life https://amzn.eu/d/0iiSIqUE

Age UK do one:
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/end-of-life-planning/lifebook/

I had cancer last year at 44 ( fine now) but for a few months we literally thought I had weeks/months. I obviously got targeted ads for these books but I’m now seriously thinking of doing one whilst in a happy mindset rather than a rushed one last minute? I have 2 young children

This one is meant to be very good.

https://thedeathbook.co.uk/

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/end-of-life-planning/lifebook/

I made my own with an indexed notebook.

Yes I have one.

My family have MH disorders and nothing could be found when any of them died and the same will be for those still living now.

As a single parent, I really wanted to have everything in one place for my DC and take a bit of the stress out of my death.

Finishing filling it out is another issue!!

I did, but I haven’t filled it out yet. I probably should at some point. If I was single i definitely would.

My DM always told me where her Will was, etc. so when she did dir I knew what to do, this was just before the internet really came in to its own, and she wasn’t online anyway.

That one certainly used to be in the reference section of my local library.
I dare say there were copies to borrow, too.

I just have a spiral bound notebook. Each page is dedicated to one topic e.g Santander Bank Accounts, another for Halifax Bank accounts, another for Home Insurance etc.

That way I can easily rip the page out if the information becomes out of date so e.g each year I add a new page for my latest car insurance details as I tend to switch it annually.

The book is kept in my filing box along with my Will and copies of house deeds etc.

I’ve been tempted to buy the one that goes, ‘Fuck, I’m dead!’ on the cover.

Aside from all the usual stuff, one thing I’ve already done is to make a list of anything valuable, so not to be given to charity shops.

A sister who was clearing an aunt’s house after she had to move to a care home, had thought there was nothing really valuable, but still got a house clearance firm in, to ease the load.
Only she then saw them taking more than a passing interest in a painting that had been wrapped in brown paper and stored behind a chest of drawers - she vaguely remembered it from a GM’s house.

It turned out to be by quite a well known Victorian artist and sold at auction for £9.5k.