Feeling a little sad and guilty about inheritance -- what to do

I agree with the others that have suggested applying the inheritance towards your mortgage. The fact that your uncle had to sell his own home makes it seem only fitting that the money he probably saved by being thrifty should not be used on anything frivolous. Now, if you choose to use some of your own money on new computer equipment...well, that's entirely up to you. ;)
 
I was shocked and surprised to learn after my step-father died that he had left me and my sibs a small inheritance. We loved Dave very much--he treated my mother like a Queen! But none of us had any idea that he had set aside a little piece for us. After thinking about it and talking it over with my mother, we decided to buy a small pop-up camper. We love to camp and had often been camping with Mother & Dave in their pop-up so it seemed like the perfect way to spend that money.Three years later, the camper is going strong. DH's health has greatly declined, but the one thing he can still do easily is go camping :confused3 We have been very grateful to my step-dad for his final gift to us, our pop-up.

If you aren't sure what to do with the money, put is away for awhile until you are. Something will present itself and you'll know it's right.
 
BirdsOfPreyDave said:
Spend it on something you know would have brought a smile to his face were you to have told him about it. Would he have been happier knowing he helped to fulfil a need in your life (like a mortgage or car payment), or for giving you a special treat (like your new computer or a Disney vacation).

Don't feel guilty about the gift. It probably warmed and comforted him in his last days to think of what he was able to leave behind for those he loved.


I agree with this post. You're in the wonderful position that you don't "need" the money to pay off debt, etc. Buy yourself something that you never thought you would!
My DH is in the same boat as you, his father passed away and left him with a small sum of money. He's fulfilling his dream of buying an old muscle car, :confused3 but we know it's something his father would be happy about.

Best of luck in your decision.........
 
What a kind and wonderful heart your Uncle was to have thought of you in his will. Five grand isn't a huge sum of money like, say, $50K, so choose carefully. I think he would have been tickled pink if you did something special for you, his chosen beneficiary.

Can you and hubby take a 3 day weekend to a lovely resort in the mountains and have a special time, and lift a glass to your Uncle?

Maybe get something special for yourself, that watch you have always had an eye on, and think of your dear Uncle every time you put it on.

Go to the dollar store and fill up a few dozen care bags for the homeless, comb, toothbrush/paste, water, crackers, canned meat, socks, paper/pen, deodorant, soap, cloth, gum, flashlight. Pass them out as you see the need and thank your Uncle for the legacy.

Seek out an organization in a developing nation that is rescuing under age girls (some younger than 8) out of sex trafficking, and teaching them a craft, and buy all the bracelets the girls are making and take them to a local nursing home and pass them out and love on the elderly.

All of this is so much more fun than applying it towards your mortgage!

Bless your uncle!
 




My grandmother always gave us money for birthdays, holidays and she always told us its not to spend on bills, its a gift to buy yourself something with it, or do something fun with it. She lived on a farm as a girl then lived through the depression, where such things as vacations, or buying something new would never have been thought of... She always said she was glad when we told her what we got with the money. On Sunday morning at church, Look at the new dress and shoes you bought me for my birthday, or we went to the beach for the weekend on with our birthday money... She truly enjoyed knowing that it was for something that we wanted or wanted to do.. It brought her happiness to give us some a little extras. When she passed away I did get some money... My mom said Granny would want you to spend it on you and your family on something fun. So we did, I put it towards a family vacation.
 
My husband (unexpectedly) inherited money from a grandmother from whom he was estranged. I've been married to this man for almost three decades, and I'd never met the grandmother. She did not come to our wedding, and she has never seen our children. Apparently she sort of "dumped" her daughter after she married, and she had basically no relationship with her daughter's children. So it was a big surprise when someone handed him an envelope containing cash and a hand-written note at the funeral. In the note she said she regretted that she hadn't been closer to him /his sister, but she'd always loved them.

My husband didn't feel good about keeping money from a woman who'd basically ignored him all his life. He kicked the idea around a while, and then he split the money into his own envelopes ... and those envelopes became gifts for our own children's college graduations.
 
My husband and I have no children so anything we have left when we go will be split between our nieces and nephews. I hope they take the money and enjoy it.
 
I’m practical.

I’d spend it on a new hot water heater.

I’d buy a nice, engraved Christmas ornament that will be his every year on your tree.

Does your local high school have a scholarship fund? I’d consider donating some there. A college bound student would APPRECIATE any assistance at all!!
 
Don't forget to find out if it is a taxable inheritance or not. (It is taxable if it came from a tax-deferred account such as a 401K or IRA).
It should be non taxable under the annual gift level regardless of the source of the original money.
 

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