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Original poster

Nigella Stiffs Her Kids

69 replies

expatinscotland · 29/01/2008 15:41

theyrenotgettingapenny

Nigella states taht she's not leaving her fortune to her children because she feels it's important to earn money.

There are ways to leave it to them that prevent them from coming into a big lump sum.

Oh, well, it's her money to do as she wishes.

If you had £110m, would you leave it to your children?

OP posts:
boabsmum · 29/01/2008 15:44

She can give it to me then

bundle · 29/01/2008 15:44

so who will she leave it to then?

boabsmum · 29/01/2008 15:44

Great minds bundle - I'll go halfers?

Blandmum · 29/01/2008 15:45

Not all of it, no.

I'd make sure that they were financially secure, no debts, house paid for, education funds for them and their kids. And then a shed load of the cash would go to charity.

I tend to agree with her, knowing the value of money is a massivly important thing.

ecoworrier · 29/01/2008 15:46

Yes I would, but in such a way that they wouldn't get it all at once. In staged payments if you like, so they still have to work and support themselves and appreciate the value of money and the value of working and budgeting. I would love to help them retire early and enjoy a good few decades of a comfortable life.

Gitch · 29/01/2008 15:47

i am quite sure that she'll not see them penniless, but knowing that you'll never have to work a day in your life can't be good for a growing child.

bundle · 29/01/2008 15:48

boabsmum, I'd hate it to "spoil" you

PrincessPeahead · 29/01/2008 15:48

No I wouldn't.
I think it is v bad planning to die owning £110m
I'd set up a charitable foundation before my death (well before!) to take the bulk of the money
I'd leave my children enough for a nice house each and leave it at that.
IMO it is a huge luxury not to have to worry about housing. It would give them the freedom to pursue whatever career etc they like, but not remove the need/desire to pay their own way otherwise. A sort of safety blanket if you like.

I know many many people of my age who have incredibly wealthy parents (Nigella's scale and much more) and hardly any of them have done anything with their lives because they just don't need to. Pathetic.

boabsmum · 29/01/2008 15:48
Grin
Yaddayah · 29/01/2008 15:49

Agree with PPH

Original poster
expatinscotland · 29/01/2008 15:49

i guess that's what she means when she says she doesn't want them to have no financial security?

i dunno, never having had that, i think it would be nice to give that to my kids.

but i suppose with £110m you could go over the score with it.

OP posts:
Oliveoil · 29/01/2008 15:50

you can take the 'm' off

I will leave my children £110

Original poster
expatinscotland · 29/01/2008 15:50

very wise words, PPH.

OP posts:
Original poster
expatinscotland · 29/01/2008 15:51

I've got some very cool vintage costume jewellry for mine!

OP posts:
JingleyJen · 29/01/2008 15:51

I think it is important for them to think they are not getting it.

I went to school with alot of people who were going to inherit silly amounts of money on their 18th or 21st birthdays - they had no interest in education or aspirations for later life - none of it mattered because they were going to get this money to live off.

I love the idea that she tells them they aren't getting anything and they learn to work and find something to do with their lives - then when she dies they are pleasantly surprised when she has left it to them after all.

Oliveoil · 29/01/2008 15:51

think of all the brightly coloured, tight fitting, cashmere jumpers you could buy with £110m

Original poster
expatinscotland · 29/01/2008 15:51

Leaving at 18 or 21 year old a lot of money is stupid.

OP posts:
cosima · 29/01/2008 15:51

Nigella gets a black cab to the supermarket

FAQ · 29/01/2008 15:52

are you kidding expat - you've never had £110m..........well I am surprised

MamaG · 29/01/2008 15:53

and all that mascara

Original poster
expatinscotland · 29/01/2008 15:53

I'd buy a real pashmina, OO.

Perhaps two, even! One to throw in my 'weekend bag', which would not be a rucksack or my dad's old Army duffel bag, for jaunts to 'the country'.

OP posts:
Blandmum · 29/01/2008 15:54

gates it going to give away most of his money, ism't he?

Mercy · 29/01/2008 15:54

Agree with ecoworrier.

I watched 'Who do you think you are?' with Nigella Lawson recently - iirc much of her family's wealth was passed down the generations Having said that they did set up/run their own businesses etc

marina · 29/01/2008 15:55

Maybe all the sadness in her life has influenced her views - that it really cannot buy happiness, or good health
I can see why she has said this and agree with PPH and Jingley - the basic worry of housing costs covered, but after that, it's what you make of life

PrincessPeahead · 29/01/2008 15:56

poor gates is in the tricky situation of not being able to give it away fast enough

it is actually very difficult to give away vast sums of money. who do you give it to? how do you ensure it is used wisely? can the organisation you give it to cope with the amounts etc? how can you give those sorts of sums fast enough, when the money that is left keeps making money?!

running the gates foundation is like running a country with a medium sized economy.