Happy Thursday to all. It is a warmer morning here, but much rain in the forecast and cooler temps a coming!
Today I would like to mention a little tip to help save your money for posterity! We are in times (and have been), that a lot of people keep cash on hand at home. It may be for emergencies, monthly allowance, or just whatever. No one needs to know WHY, but many of us do keep cash on hand for various reasons.
My point I am going to make is - you may be alone or there may be two of you in your home - but what IF something disastrous happened? I don't like to talk about this point - but someday, someone will be clearing out our homes. LET someone else KNOW that there is cash in your home, and an approximate place to look (you don't have to tell exact location). Those people cleaning out a home - may just toss everything (cringe), others go through things. Someone needs to know where abouts cash may be, important papers, account information, wills, etc.
I know none of us like thinking about these things - but you don't want your cash thrown out to the trash or SURPRISING someone at Goodwill!!!!!!!!
I am in the process of making some lists of information for my executors/kin. Things they will need to know. I sure don't want to see all that Glen and I worked for, not go where we want it to, or to be forgotten.
**You all know who you can trust - so that is just good sense.
OK - that is my PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT of the week! Just prepare!
That is OK - we all do it!!!!! I know I do. I still color my hair some, I do wear make-up when going out, I like to look nice. It is just human nature.
What we need to remember is that - no matter what we do - we are still a creation of God and that is beautiful!!!!!!
Never let others make you feel less of yourself (I think that has happened to most of us too). We are good and capable, and we are worthy!
Look around at nature - so diverse and unique. Everything!!!!!!! God is a wonderful artist and creator. It all has a beauty and essence and reason. God didn't just dilly dally with things for no reason - there is a reason. You are part of the reason.
So I just wanted you to know - you ARE loved, you ARE appreciated, you ARE enough.
Never give up, just keep moving forward - no matter how hard it is. It gets better.
Have a wonderfully blessed remainder of your week MY FRIENDS!
Such an important message. We have lost a number of friends recently and it has made me put getting all of this done at the top of my list. I have a binder with all of our account numbers, passwords and I'm adding all of the other important information.
ReplyDeleteSorry for your losses - yet I am glad it has been a learning situation. We all need to be prepared for whatever and make things easier for those left behind.
DeleteAbsolutely important. I spent much of the past winter making such a booklet for my family so it might be easier on them when The Big Cleanout comes.
ReplyDeleteI worked once for a man who did estate cleanouts for a living and one day we heard that the local charity shop had found $500 in a shoe. Hmm. That was *our* mistake, we were sure of it. Hadn't checked close enough, although I'm not sure where the money "should" have gone, as the original owner had broken badly with family years before...
My brother noticed a hundred dollar bill tucked behind a big piece of peeling wallpaper in our mom's house. You never know where someone squirrelled away an emergency fund unless they leave a hint.
So get your Will, Living Will, Healthcare POA, financial POA stuff lined up. So much is online now - at least you can *look* at what it all means and save up money for an attorney to make it valid.
MaryB
WOW - you just never know. I know I have things tucked in some unconventional places - someone needs to know.
DeleteI have heard so many stories about folks buying things at thrift stores and finding money. I doubt that happens much today - as the stories made stores start checking!!!
It is just smart to be on top of things.
This is a very important post. Some folks shy away from putting their house in order but it is necessary. My oldest sister-in-law's mom had cash in all sorts of odd places. They didn't dare just go in and trash everything. My mom had some cash in her big freezer but I don't remember any other odd places. The Urban Farmer and I witnessed our 94 year old neighbor's paperwork concerning his health care. We joke and say that Bob will outlive the rest of us. We keep things in the gun safe and will make sure the girls know how to get into it.
ReplyDeleteGloomy day and my got up and go has got up and went (as they say). ha!
It IS important and everyone needs to be on top of this subject - it doesn't matter the age. Accidents happen to all ages.
DeleteSo many places could be 'hiding' places - so people need to pay attention.
It is gloomy for sure today. Warmer, which is great for the moment - windows open!
Great tip! I thought I had told my kids everything. Just texted DD. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteFrom angela
DeleteExcellent advice, as always.
ReplyDeleteI did oversee our Church thrift store for seven years and in that time found numerous amounts of money in very strange places. The best one was 12 pairs of impeccably rolled socks were donated by a woman whose father had passed and each contained a $100 bill.
She had no idea, and suspected that her father didn’t either. Her thoughts were it was her mother, who had passed eleven years earlier that had hidden the money.
So great advice, make a list, write it down, tell someone you trust.
Enjoy the remainder of your week, Louise
Words from the mouth....thank you! A good example of what could happen.
DeleteI do believe a lot of people (me included) use odd/strange locations - as it is figured safe. Who would think????? Right?
We need to trust someone. And we also need a list for ourselves - memories problems can happen!
I could give you a million examples over the years, but that was the one with the happiest ending.
DeleteYou make a very good point about failing memories. I have put a set of keys in “ a safe place” but now for the life of me can’t remember where that place is. I know I’ll come across it one day, but who knows when that day will be???
Glad to see I am not the only one. I put things away for safety and have no idea where I put them later. I then do THE HUNT!!!!!
DeleteExcellent advice. We had a younger family member pass away shortly after my hubs did. She inherited her mom's "good" jewelry and had plenty of her own "good" stuff. In cleaning out her pantry, everything either went into the trash or into boxes for the local food pantry. And when they were finished, they started thinking about where the jewelry was. They ended up going through all of the trash in the dumpster and found it all in a Pringles can that had been tossed.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh!!!! How disastrous that could have been.
DeleteThank you too for sharing as well. It is good for people to tell the stories!!!! It sure may light a fire under someone to get busy!
Hi Cheryl~ What a beautiful way to start my morning . . . remembering that I am a child of God, and He has created me to be wonderful, thank you! Hugs, Barb
ReplyDeleteYou sure are Barb! One of a kind and special!!!!!
DeleteYou are welcome
Good words. Have you read The Art of Swedish Death Cleaning? I love that book. Very much a journal-style book. Just adored it.
ReplyDeleteNo I have not - may have to look that up. Thanks
DeleteHave already set up accounts as POD upon my death. I do not keep cash in the house except for a lot of coins. When I have a need to pay cash I just go to the bank. I prefer not to give checks as anyone can take your account information. I pay for everything either on my cash back credit card or through auto pay.
ReplyDeleteI do need to do an inventory of things in the house that can be sold for a good price. Kids these days just do not know what the value of some items. What they may see as pots and pans, knifes, china can be valuable. What they see as "old" stuff is worth much more than they think. I have things, old singer sewing machine in original case, movie camera and screen from the 60s, rocking chair still with the original covered seat from Sears purchased in the 40's. Tell City kitchen set, table, leaf and four chairs. I paid $75 for it at an estate sale because I liked it. Looked it up online and this furniture is quite sought after, my set can go for $1000.00. Just goes to show that some people do not know the value of things in their or their grandparents homes.
Thanks for the reminder I must get this done.
Another great reminder. Values of things! My niece and I talked at Christmas, that odds are they will not know which items may be family heirlooms. I know - but they won't. Gives good credence to why mom used to put little labels under things, so we would know!!!! Yes she did!!!!!
DeleteThat is a really good idea and reminder.
Sorry I’m going to butt in again, but this is a very good point. At the same thrift store we had paintings done on wooden sheets that were donated. While they didn’t have $$$ value they had huge significance to out local area and now live in our local museum. It was only by chance that a parishioner was helping carry boxes in and spotted them sticking out of a box and recognised the landscapes.
DeleteThis is a great reminder that if you have stuff that you think is valuable to leave some kind of notation about it’s value, be it monetary, historical or just sentimental to your family.
Sorry, just feeling chatty today. Louise
No - thank you so much for your input today. You make some great points. I have a painting in an antique frame that I bought for $2 at a yard sale. I couldn't see the pic - it was so dirty - I just liked the frame. Came home and found a wonderful signed painting - which I still think is original - just haven't found an expert that I trust yet to appraise. The lady is in many museums across the country and this could be worth thousands. May not be - but it might be.
DeleteI have found things at yard sales that I liked - and then later sold because they were antiques and worth money!
You never know.
Thanks again - jump in whenever you want!!!!!!!
Dad had $1000 spread out through the house and weekly moved all of it to different spots. He did tell Brother every week where he moved it. A friend's mother in law never said a word... they had a company come in to deal with the house as she was a hoarder and the company turned over over $5,000 that they had found amongst the trash ... actual trash in trash sacks.
ReplyDeleteI don't move mine - but it is in weird places. Probably not a bad idea to move it though.
DeleteOh my goodness. In with trash!!! Makes you wonder what they didn't find. Goodness sakes. What a loss that would have been.
My eccentric grandfather always kept his cash on himself. Under the insoles in his shoes, a money belt , etc. All I ever thought was that those bills in his shoes would be sweaty and stinky!
ReplyDeleteMoney belt OK - under soles - ick!! I agree - that is almost worst than bo*b money!!!!!!! LOL!!!!
DeleteSome people make you shake your head in wonder.
One of our salvage grocery stores has signs at the register saying that they do not accept payment taken from undergarments!
DeleteGood for them!!!!!
DeleteTax day (for us) today. ARGH. Good tips, Cheryl, and very timely!
ReplyDelete--Elise
Oh my - sorry to hear. Thanks
DeleteWe should find out more today; a complicated 2022 (with state to state move) made for very complicated taxes and I'm not confident with this accountant, who blew right past a sizable fed/state tax rebate for the solar. Saying prayers.
DeleteAs for money and valuables stashed, after a robbery, my mom started putting things in very odd places... jewelry and cash in skin care product boxes, etc. Now that her dementia is accelerating, no one knows where her diamonds are (including her). Who knows if/where any cash is. So YES. None of us knows what may be ahead. Write it down or put it in a safe deposit box at the bank.
--Elise, who woke up to more snow this morning.
Good luck!!!! that is kind of worrisome they passed over something so big!
DeleteYikes - I sure hope things are found. EVERYTHING will need to be checked!
Yuck on snow!
GOOD news, fingers crossed, the tax bill(s) should be fine. Egads! They get you coming and going. Literally.
DeleteThe sun came out, the snow melted, and we'll take a drive today. Call me happy! --Elise
YAY!!!! Enjoy your day!
DeleteI dealt with my mom and dad's property a few years before he died, and after he'd moved to a nursing home. Luckily there wasn't much cash, but even so dealing with all the stuff (except for mom's clothing everything else was still in the house), was exhausting and I eventually turned it over to my cousin who dealt with taking what hadn't sold or been taken by family to the dump. It was sad but no one wanted most of it.
ReplyDeleteI have for several years maintained a document - I used to call it, "if I were to die today", but I've since renamed it as personal info. I update it every month to 6 weeks (and always print out a hard copy before I leave on a trip) with detailed information that will be needed when I pass. Both adult children know where the info is kept on my computer and have the password. It is important that those who will be dealing with the estate know where to find those important documents/paperwork.
You bring up some very important topics - this one is one that many people shy away from. Thanks for this post.
It is awful having to go through all that when parents pass. A lifetime of stuff.
DeleteYou are quite wise. Very smart to have that info available for your children and them to be able to access.
Thanks. I think it is something we should all deal with and no one really wants to!
Such great advice, Cheryl. Mom had cash stored I. Her room too and I found it in various places after she passed. You just never know.
ReplyDeleteYou really don't. I hope you found everything! We all need to let someone know.
DeleteWe have a binder in our safe that lists all the accounts, SS, pension info, etc along with our wills . We named 3 of our 11 children as co-executors and gave them each a key to safe with info. We also have a key and ever 2 weeks, Hubs airs it out and every 4 months we review the info, including passwords. We also keep an amount of cash in it in case of emergency. We have another place in the house we keep a smaller amount of cash in small bills for those things that might come up (buying something on Marketplace or yard sale, paying one one to shovel our snow or do an odd job for us, etc. That way we don’t have to make a separate trip to bank. Also, in case power went out or bank electronics were on the fritz, we would still have some cash just in case.
ReplyDeleteGardenpat in Ohio
Pat you have a great plan there. My folks had myself (youngest) and my oldest sis as executors. Good to have more than one - checks and balances.
DeleteYou have a real good plan. I know lots of people say they don't keep cash on hand - but you made good points. The bank or stores even my not always be available - if power is out for extended time. It makes sense to have funds on hand for emergencies.
You are a smart lady!!!
You reminded me that I will need to make a list up for the boys. I do have a few things that I want to go to certain people.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I am most certainly glad it was a good reminder for you!
DeleteVERY good reminder! My dad had cash in a special place in some furniture....Unfortunately the woman and her family got that furniture because they took my almost blind dad in their car to deed the house over to them by undue influence. (You know the tragic story). I wonder if this wolf in sheeps clothing family knew money was in that furniture! I have to shake my head remembering how many times I begged my dad to move closer to us.
ReplyDeleteIt's so true Cheryl, God's Handiwork is everywhere! He don't make no junk. Haha....I wish I could go without makeup, my skin is white as tissue and even freckles but I can tan too, dark circles show up major for me. Our eldest daughter is just like me...It would be a sin for us to go without makeup! LOL (At least a little cover-up, eyeliner and blush!) I think it's great if people can look okay without it. : )
With all the internet cacka it really makes people so focused on not being perfect! Plastic surgery seems the rule of the day too! Just look at the old stars like Barbara Stanwyck and others...They were not these huge busted women! Most were not. Everything is all so beguiling now. Everyone wants everything *perfect* and *now*, I guess that's why young couples are going into all the debt for a house that maybe an oil executive would buy in their later years.
Thanks Cheryl for the beautiful post and very good reminder!
Sadly, yours is the horror story that we all try to defend against with your dad. So sad. Sorry, I hate wasted money - but I hope she never found it!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteYes, God made us all and everything on this earth. We should be happy with what we are - but alas we are not always.
The grand ladies back in the day - were such natural beauties and had what seemed so much grace. Not seen a lot today - in natural form. The behavior is just mind boggling to me, and the augmentation that young women do to themselves is horrible. They have popularity, fame and money and no CLUE what beauty really is. It is inside.
Sorry to hear about that with your Dad, Amelia. :-(
DeleteWhen I was younger, I was also very pale. My folks used to tease, "If the barn needs paint, you paint it!" As I got older, and much more into gardening, I started getting more sunshine (aka color), and in my mid 40s, rosacea arrived; it's mild, but lets just say I no longer need blush. LOL! Until our move last year, I always wore light makeup in public. Then I forgot to pack it, and went 4 months w/o. Now I just look tired, but healthy. The nearly all white hair seems to help brighten my face a bit.
My mom spent a small fortune, beginning in her 40s, with eye lifts, collagen injections, a face lift... she spent thousands on varicose vein treatments, skin care, self-tanners, you name it. She'll be 90 in a few weeks. I learned early it's a battle you can't win. I also learned to see the beauty that comes with age. Hub's grandma lived to be 100. Her creases and wrinkles were (to me) beautiful and she had the softest all white hair.. like a baby's. Grandma Griff dressed nice and had good grooming habits; she only wore a smidge of "rouge" and light brown eyebrow pencil.
I think for the younger set today it's all about sexuality. Think about it. A whole generation was raised with Madonna, then Brittany Spears, etc. as role models for looks. Conditioned to believe that was/is beauty. Never considering how damaging it is for self-worth. Know what I mean? Hugs! --Elise
Cheryl, it really is kind of funny, he had made the piece of furniture and had a secret panel. I doubt they found it! LOL My dad's stockbroker let me know she was calling him thinking she would get that. It's just all unbelievable...And my dad met this woman when she worked at the bank. (take note everyone). She was also a pastor's wife. I say that delicately because I know not all pastor's wives are like that, my second born is married to a wonderful pastor a couple of counties away in a farming town and she is the real deal but unfortunately? Some people aren't the real deal as you all know. As you had written Cheryl and I agree: Title means nothing.
DeleteIt's so true the younger ones have no clue. It's crazy to me! I have a very close loved one who went out and had her nose done because when she was checking someone out working at a store a rude woman commented on her nose being 'large'! The young lady had a lovely, perfectly fine European nose that complimented her face. She is still lovely of course but she now worries about her nose being slightly crooked. : (
I'm a happy "pear" myself!
You are so correct, the beauty is in the inside. ...just so true.
Elise, thank you. It was a nightmare. Now they have the Peter Faulk law in some states but not mine. It was the saddest thing ever when I kissed him goodbye at the hospital knowing what they did to him, not even feeding him properly. The nurses knew too and were crying and telling me to get an attorney. Long story but I trust God to take care of it and He already has in so many, many ways.
ReplyDeleteOh, I know exactly what you mean. I have a mil who must have her nails done, she's almost 100. She still tries to wear high heels and all of that. She went to the beauty shop with my sil when my sil was just a tot to get the baby's hair permed! What you are describing blows my mind and I just have no patience with that kind of thing I think because of my mil always worrying about looks to the extreme and don't even get me on her luxury cars... I will say though, she never had injections or any of that.
Yes, I know what ya mean. I do look better with a natural glow when I walk in the warm weather and garden. So true! : )
Your Grandma Griff, she had it right! That's great.
Sexuality probably does have a lot to do with things, especially since so many live like animals since God is not paramount in our country any longer. My husband and I were just talking about the timeline since prayer was taken out of school. I remember, I was in first grade and noticed we weren't praying anymore like Kindergarten. In Kindergarten we prayed over our juice and crackers even. "God is great, God is good, thank you for our daily food". I remember sitting at my grandma's seeing the Beatles and all of that in my grandma's Life magazine and I could feel it in my little girl's bones things were getting dark and going down.
I pray I will age gracefully, and have a blameless sweet spirit as I'm sure you would agree.
It's funny, have you noticed the ladies who have had work done in their faces, it stretches back out and they have to have their faces re-done after ten years and then there comes a point.....where it can't be done anymore.
Also, all of the augmentations...It caused lupus in a friend of mine and she had to have it removed. It's a bit scary what can happen.
Take care Elise! Hugs!
I guess with the situation that happened to your dad - the old adage - "payback is a b**ch! They will answer and it won't be nice.
DeleteCheryl, Yes Ma'am. For sure, for sure... Oh wow.
DeleteMy mother has items she wants her grandchildren to have. Sadly, she hasn't bothered to tell anyone specifically or write it down (because that would be admitting she's old and will die). So what will happen it? It will all get donated or tossed. Because no one will know that some dish was her mother's and thus an heirloom and not a thrift store find. So all those years of "saving" things will be for nothing.
ReplyDeleteMy mother in law claims she's written little notes explaining hers but I don't know if she really has. She did give my daughter something a few years ago that she knew my daughter always admired.
My daughter is a museum curator and she has mentioned that I should write this stuff down. I plan to take pictures of my special things and record the provenance so they can decide for themselves whether they want it or not as a family heirloom.
~margaret
Ps- my suggestion for future topics would be gardening especially "unconventional " ways to grow food. I stuck an onion top in water the other day because it was sprouting. First time trying.
My mom DID put little notes under things. She also wrote a letter that was in the Bible - and we were to read after her death only. She specified more things. We pretty much let the younger ones (her grands) have what they wanted and they thought was special. One wanted a tiny little copper pot - it meant something between her and daddy. One wanted the Aggravation game - because she always played it with mom & dad. One wanted the old, old footstool because he played on it so much. No one had big items they wanted - just remembrances - which was sweet to see.
DeleteYes, we need to let folks know what are heirlooms for sure and then other things as well. I have someone who I want to have my jewelry - I need to make sure it is documented.
I sure hope your mom HAS written things down - it will be nicer for everyone.
I like the idea of gifting things NOW as well - watch them enjoy it!!!!!!!
Gardening is one of my subjects I plan on. I like the unconventional idea! Thanks.
Delete