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Original poster

What did you do with your inheritance, if you ever got one?

71 replies

ShouldHaveMarriedTimDowling · 19/06/2014 07:30

Did you consider it a family asset or yours only as the labour of a lifetime the dps left specifically to you?
Did you share it with your spouse?
Did you blow some of it on something fancy that's just yours? Did you put it towards the mortgage?

Curious.

OP posts:
BreeVDKamp · 21/06/2014 17:35

Yes Snotty Santander 123 is the one we've got! 3% interest woohoo!

Northumberlandlass · 21/06/2014 17:38

I got a relatively small amount last year. Did some house improvements which my Aunt would NOT approve of (too sensible) & I got a tattoo (see other thread) & expensive perfume, which my Aunt would approve of Smile

Original poster
ShouldHaveMarriedTimDowling · 21/06/2014 17:57

Interesting.

Most of you said "I inherited..., we did..."

Most of you seem to think money were a family asset and used them to ease debt, make your family life nicer and invest for the dc (either in education or property).

Only those tha did not see themselves in a good relationship kept it or wish they did keep it.

I am glad.

OP posts:
lljkk · 21/06/2014 18:01

About US $200k, 11 yrs ago. Maybe 2/3 bought a nicer house & am slowly spending the rest when I go back to visit relatives.

DH got £10k. We bought a bread maker & most rest went into the house. Not very ambitious us lot.

Small chance that I might inherit in 5-25 yrs another big chunk, and that will go towards DC education or similar types of boring needs. Unless my step-mum gives it all to the cat home.

PhoneSexWithMalcolmTucker · 21/06/2014 18:07

Paid for our wedding, bought a family car, frittered a bit and put the rest down as deposit on a house.

Lilymaid · 21/06/2014 18:13

Mine was quite sizeable as a small house in a favoured commuter area for London now reaches daft prices. As I don't have much pension provision it is my pension but I have used a little to pay off the mortgage, buy the relatively modest car I have always wanted - now used as our main car and to buy a fab bed. Next academic year it will be paying for an MSc course for DC.

ssd · 21/06/2014 18:19

never had any inheritance and we both have no parents now

BreeVDKamp · 21/06/2014 18:25

Well for us it was my DH's relative that died but we inherited jointly in our eyes as all our money is shared.

ssd · 21/06/2014 18:26

if we had got anything it would be shared, wouldnt think of anything else

whattheseithakasmean · 21/06/2014 18:35

I've inherited a bit recently. We've paid off some of the mortgage, bought a car for DD, bought a family holiday, put some in trust for the children. I plan to have laser surgery on my eyes. The rest is in savings for now.

I see it as mainly family money - when DH inherited a bit he spent it on all of us. DH is laid back & doesn't care what I do - I could spend it all on myself & he would be cool with it, but sharing it with the family makes me happy.

Antiopa12 · 21/06/2014 18:35

Used it to allow me to give up work to care for my severely disabled son, I would have started the slide into poverty without it as I would have been a lone parent on income support and not be able to work. A second inheritance I used to change the layout of the house to accommodate wheelchair use and also to pave over the garden. It has made my life easier given my circumstances.

CPtart · 21/06/2014 19:41

A great aunt (spinster) left me and DB about £3000 each twenty years ago when we were in our teens. It should have been for my dad (her nephew) but as he was deceased it found its way down to us. Not a massive amount of money, but it went towards a deposit on my first house. I'd rather my dad had been around to spend it himself.

Preciousbane · 21/06/2014 23:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

irregularegular · 21/06/2014 23:31

If I received an inheritance I would treat it as entirely shared household money, just like any other money. I would expect DH to do the same.

The only exception would be if the person who left me the money wanted me to do something specific with it.

HexBramble · 22/06/2014 06:53

I was left £15,000 by my lovely Grandad and I bought myself a really nice bike that will last and last (think tan leather seat and wicker basket). The rest was spent clearing debt and home improvements and was placed in our joint account.

That said, it didn't feel right so have told my parents to spend spend spend now, while they can.

The bike I can use and look at with love and gratitude and remember my Pops, the rest I feel odd about. Don't know why.

BellaVita · 22/06/2014 07:13

When my grandad died a couple of years ago all of his grandchildren and great grandchildren received the same amount.

DH and I opened ISA's for our DS's and I used mine to buy myself a lovely watch and I bought DH a new wedding ring so that we both had something to remember my grandad by. DH had known my grandad for 30 years, so I thought it would be nice for him to have something too although DH said it was my money to do as I pleased.

Polyethyl · 22/06/2014 07:28

My husband's inheritance was put into an offset mortgage savings account and my inheritance paid for a new kitchen - so both benefitted the family.

Midsummersolstice · 22/06/2014 07:48

My mother (still very much alive) moved to a smaller property and the family were given sums of cash early. As my generation are all settled with homes of our own we decided that the grandchildren should each have 50k to be used solely as deposits for properties.

mrsnec · 22/06/2014 08:10

I might be getting a little bit more soon it's currently in a legal dispute. I have decided I won't be spending any of it on property as twice before I've invested inheritance in property and its been wasted. Once when the house went into ne and the second time the ils promised they'd put our names on the deeds but never did so I spent it on a house that isn't mine. So this time I would buy something big to give us lots of fun, I'm thinking boat or campervan. I'll give dh a bit to spend on whatever he likes, and save the rest for me.

Indith · 22/06/2014 08:27

I got a nice little sum when my grandmother passed away a couple of years ago. I'm using it to pay my childcare while I'm retaining. I couldn't have afforded it otherwise.

Indith · 22/06/2014 08:30

Otherwise it would be getting stuff done to the house that is pretty desperate but we can't afford, making sure we have savings and other boring stuff.

gamescompendium · 22/06/2014 08:38

It depends how much it is. When my GM died when I was a student I bought a computer, when my GF died we put it towards the deposit when we bought this house. I recently got some more and put it toward a (desperately needed) new family car, although really we don't think of that as 'my inheritance purchase' and will buy something more lasting (art or a good piece of furniture) in a bit, when we've saved up the money again.

elastamum · 22/06/2014 08:45

I bought a huge Motorhome when my mum died. We have had loads of fun with it. We did a lot of caravan holidays with mum and dad when I was small which we I remember fondly. She would have approved. Smile

lavenderhoney · 22/06/2014 08:53

Mine bought my freedom to return the UK and leave an unhappy marriage.

My dm left my dc money which she stipulated should be used to pay for their driving lessons when they come of age, a car and the admin to go with. Its a lot. She allowed for inflation:)

Arrowfanatic · 22/06/2014 08:57

If I'm lucky I might get 1/4 of a camper van off my mum (4 kids). Dads bitch wife will take all his money.

My inlaws have a lot of money, most invested or saved as gold bullion. My husband should be seen good with any inheritance but we have a LONG time to wait as despite smoking 100+ a day each they are far too healthy GrinGrin