Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

By 35 is it normal to have inherited money?

135 replies

bebeboeuf · 07/05/2019 20:47

It’s never been something I’ve ever received or expected as I have a very small family and no grandparents but all around me family members (non blood related) and friends are inheriting money from relatives (not parents).

Is this typical of most mid 30’s person?

My DH inherited £10k from a distant aunt I had never even heard him mention or ever met.

Sometimes when we discuss future plans he talks about moving to a certain area. An area that to me we could never afford to live in without something drastic happening to our finances.
His response is always that you never know and it’s almost like because he has a much larger family he just knows that some day he will inherit money where as that’s never been anything I have considered

OP posts:
BrokenWing · 07/05/2019 21:17

I have inherited nothing, I'm 50.

Grandparents had very little (one set had 5 the other 9 children) and the few pounds left after funeral costs went to their children, probably

Figgygal · 07/05/2019 21:17

I'm 38 I inherited £2k when my last grandparent died 10 years ago

Dh inherited £100k from his last grandparent died when he was 40. That was 4 years ago.

All of our parents are alive and hopefully will be for some time.

jellyfish70 · 07/05/2019 21:18

Late 40s, one parent has died. I have inherited nothing.

Purpleartichoke · 07/05/2019 21:19

I’m 45. It will probably be another 20 years before I might inherit anything, and that is only if our parents don’t use all their money in retirement.

Grandparents who passed have given money to children (ie my parents), but not grandchildren (ie me)

DianaBlythe · 07/05/2019 21:20

I’ve several friends who’ve inherited from grandparents and a couple sadly from parents.

It depends a bit how things are set up in your family. My grandparents left money to their children. This seems fairer if there are different numbers of children from each of their offspring and particularly if there are childless aunts and uncles. I do get the argument though that generally money is much more useful in your 30s with mortgage, young family etc. I’d really prefer not to inherit from my parents any time soon though!

My Grandmother is still alive and did give all her GCs some money as we “might as well have it now” and my DM did pass on some of her inheritance from her DM to us for a house deposit.

jellyfish70 · 07/05/2019 21:21

All of my GPs have died, they didn't own property so no inheritance part from sentimental items. It's not something I expect think about.

HoneysuckIejasmine · 07/05/2019 21:21

I inherited in my early 20s, but I'd have rather my grandfather was (a) still alive and (b) spent his own money on himself.

ScottishBadger · 07/05/2019 21:23

I'm 36. Had inheritance from several relatives including a parent. Much prefer to still have them around rather than money if that helps

Fraxion · 07/05/2019 21:24

My daughter is in her 20's and inherited a large sum from her paternal grandmother. Thankfully she is sensible with money and invested it.

justasking111 · 07/05/2019 21:24

Yes several times, it can be hellish sorting things out, going through personal stuff, organising funerals, winding up property etc. The grieving is dreadful whilst trying to do all this..

GlamGiraffe · 07/05/2019 21:25

I'm early 40s and inherited 1000 when my GF died unexpectedly. DH mid sixties inherited a few pounds although parents and siblings all died. We have everything from our own efforts.

SciFiScream · 07/05/2019 21:25

I had but only through horrible situations. Not much either. My mum died when I was 8 (she died intestate but didn't have anything to leave anyway) when her last surviving parent died I inherited the legal minimum from their estate (Scottish law) because you can disinherit your children in Scotland.

That was shared with my sister. So I only inherited because my Mum was already dead. My cousins from that side of the family didn't inherit anything (their parents did...and much more than my sister and I did, as we only got the legal minimum).

Swishyswash · 07/05/2019 21:25

I'm 58, my mother died in January. I am about to inherit a substantial, life changing amount of money. We're just waiting for the tax man to decide how much of it he wants.
I'm not sure I would have known what to do with the money at 35.

I would rather have had a few more years with my mum.

HomeMadeMadness · 07/05/2019 21:26

Not unheard of but definitely not the norm in my experience.

iamthere123 · 07/05/2019 21:26

I often fantasise that along lost aunt or uncle will bestow a life changing amount on me when they die ... Jane Eyre style ... I just assumed that was because I had read too many books! Certainly not expecting anything from anyone!

Constance1234 · 07/05/2019 21:27

I have sadly inherited as my last remaining parent recently died. I am 41 though and pretty much the only one of my friends who has lost both parents, so I'd say definitely yes, 35 is very young to have inherited.

AJPTaylor · 07/05/2019 21:28

No it's not in my circle at all. Now we are in our 50s parents are falling off perches and some are inheriting. My mum and dad shared everything and whilst he died youngish my mum probably has another 10 years minimum!

ritatherockfairy · 07/05/2019 21:30

iamthere123 - happened to a friend of mine. She inherited a large house in Holland Park from a great aunt she'd visited a few times on trips to London. She was probably only 35 too.....

TheresWaldo · 07/05/2019 21:30

I'm 50 and lost both parents and all my GPs in the last 5 years. I inherited a small amount from my Grandfather and there isn't anyone else left. I'm glad to have had them all around for so long. A friend of mine is independently wealthy but lost her parents in her early 20s.

Pascha · 07/05/2019 21:31

It's about 50/50 in my aquaintance. I know more than a handful who have been able to pay down significant amounts off mortgages or buy second properties through relatives leaving money. Equally many who haven't a bean to run together.

Any inheritance I receive in the next 10-20 years will be split five ways so even if there is a bit it won't be life-changing. There just isn't enough to go round.

MadAboutWands · 07/05/2019 21:31

Not sure how common it but both myself and DH have had some inheritance around that age from our grand parents.

Whatthefoxgoingon · 07/05/2019 21:32

Haven’t inherited a single penny yet. No bother, we make more than enough money. Smile

Doje · 07/05/2019 21:32

I don't think it's normal, but having said that, I have. My grandparents left some, to all of their grandchildren.

I don't expect anything from my parents though, as if there is anything left (and they are spending it, quite rightly, very well) I suspect it will go to their grandchildren.

SunshineCake · 07/05/2019 21:32

13 years ago I inherited a couple of thousand from my grandmother. She was in her 70's and I was in my 30's. I know that will be the only inheritance I will get unless my PIL leave me anything. Dh will get stuff from them for sure, as will my kids.

FairylightsAndMoonbeams · 07/05/2019 21:33

No and I won't.

My dad died and left a token amount to my brother and me - the vast majority (and sizeable amount) was left to his wife and children. They'll never want for anything (except him).

My mother disinherited us long before she went, so nothing from her.

There are no grandparents and both of my parents were only children.

So nope, I haven't and I never will.

I'm 45.