Do you /would you sell inherited items?

gingin_2

skintchick wrote: »

Gingin
I did read your OP. I still think a holiday is just a holiday. If you ask for opinions, don;t get upset when one is ventured that does not agree with yours. Regardless of whather you were keeping some of the jewellery, regardless of what your grandmother said, and regardless of the fact that you consider this a special holiday to spend time with your son (although IMO as someone who for ten years didn;t have a holiday of any kind you can spend special time with someone at home too) I still feel that items bequeathed to you should not be sold.

And you may not have the attitude I referred to in general, but I felt that people's comments on this thread did rather lead us to that point of view.

You are free to disagree with me and do what you want, but there is no point in having a go at me simply because I have a different opinion to you.

Can you please point out where I was "having a go"? I thanked you for your post and then pointed out where i felt you had overlooked some of the points in my OP.

Marg

Memories are not 'in' possession but in your mind.

A friend of mine spent a lot of money she couldn't really afford on a 'special' holiday and I was aghast, but she pointed out that no one can take your memories away - but they can take your money.......

Many years later, I saw the truth in this when my Dad was ill - money & luxury inherited possessions were of no use to him but he & my Mum enjoyed lots of happy time reminiscing about their holidays.

So......sell it - have a fantastic holiday & take loads of photos to remind you of the happy time & your relative who made it possible.

skintchick

Your tone was aggressive. See bold.

gingin wrote: »

Thank you for taking the time to write out your response, but I do feel you have not read my OP very well.

Firstly I was asking for opinions. I have made no decisions. Mentioned in my OP which I guess you decided not to read....

1/ I said I have a few pieces, some of which I would be saving for my daughter, along with my own items of jewellery.

2/ I was given this by my grandmother who told me to do with it as I wished, this was over 10 years ago.

3/ it's not JUST a holiday. It's a chance to have some quality time away with my son, who deserves it, create some lasting memories of our own and have a whole lot of fun, thanks to my grandparents, something I wholeheartedly think they would approve of. If it were to buy the kids a Wii, or pay off debts I had run up, I could understand your point of view. Having never run up debts, been irresponsible with money, I really do take exception to your "'live for today and sod everyone else' attitude so prevalent in today's society", that couldn't be further from the truth about myself. I have carefully considered every move I make in life, with a strong conscience, hence this post. I really do take exception to that.

Thanks for everyone's posts, I actually decided last night that I was not going to sell the item, perhaps in the future I might, but not at the moment.

Maybe you didn;t mean it aggressively, but your overall tone was somewhat @rsy.

HelzBelz

Older_but_not_wiser wrote: »

My dad passed away in September, and I'd have no problems selling the stuff he left for me.
He had a massive collection of 78 records, LP's etc, and he'd drawn up a list of the value of some of them and left it in an envelope for me next to his will with a note saying "don't sell them too cheap". I had a wee laugh to myself when I saw it, as this was in keeping with his dry sense of humour.

But what got me really doubled up laughing was one of the other notes he'd left for me - very moneysaving advice - "Don't forget to get a refund on the unused part of the TV license" :rotfl:

Parents are fabulous, my Mum's last words were "bank books and Will are in the wardrobe". She wasn't that sentimental and I have sold some bits of jewellery, but I'm still deciding what to do with the rest.

I think it's a decision that is completely personal, it's more would you feel guilty about selling the bits or not

pulliptears

Under my bed I have a drawer, in it is my nana's handbag, stuffed with bits and pieces from jewellery to her pension book. Every now and then I pull it out and open it, it still holds her smell and for those few seconds Im 9 years old again and rooting around in the bag for a sweet. She died almost 20 years ago.
I wouldnt sell that bag or any of its contents for a million pounds. The memories it evokes are priceless.

On my mantelpiece sits an old clock, its not the best looking clock in the world and it doesn't match any of my things, but it belonged to my Dad. Every time that clock chimes he is with me, it reminds me of him every hour of every day. Its priceless.

So if I reach 70 and have a housefull of inherited junk ill still be happy, because each piece reminds me of someone I have lost.

Any

Originally Posted by jamstar.uk
ive never been left anything full stop but would not hesitate to sell something if left something of value unless of course i liked or got use out of item,if its sold it will be going to someone who appreciates it more than you could and im sure in most cases the person that left you it expected it to be sold to help you financially

nothing can take away memories

skintchick wrote: »

I don;t think that's true at all. Otherwise they would sell it and leave you money. People bequeath items because they specifically want to give you that piece, and I am sure that in fact they expect you to keep it, not sell it.

That is not true. In my husband's family jewellery is passed on for many generations. In the old times they were big cotton factory owners and mainly bought jewellery as an investment because they keep the value.
I know and I have already been told by my husband's mother that the jewellery will be devided between me and my sister-in-law. I personally wear ring that was passed to my husband by his grandmother - it was made up into engagement ring for me (originaly was earings and my husband couldn't afford to buy me diamonds as he wanted). And I would sell it would it mean better life for us (if we lost job or something). And I also know, that my mother in law would have sold up some pieces would they not be fairly well off (as I also know that his grandmother would have approved having the earings changed into ring-I would say the same to my children). And I know she is expecting me to do the same. If my children couldn't go to university, what use would it be that they are wearing diamonds on their fingers???? While cleaning public toilets?

Any

Originally Posted by gingin
Thank you for taking the time to write out your response, but I do feel you have not read my OP very well.

Firstly I was asking for opinions. I have made no decisions. Mentioned in my OP which I guess you decided not to read....

1/ I said I have a few pieces, some of which I would be saving for my daughter, along with my own items of jewellery.

2/ I was given this by my grandmother who told me to do with it as I wished, this was over 10 years ago.

3/ it's not JUST a holiday. It's a chance to have some quality time away with my son, who deserves it, create some lasting memories of our own and have a whole lot of fun, thanks to my grandparents, something I wholeheartedly think they would approve of. If it were to buy the kids a Wii, or pay off debts I had run up, I could understand your point of view. Having never run up debts, been irresponsible with money, I really do take exception to your "'live for today and sod everyone else' attitude so prevalent in today's society", that couldn't be further from the truth about myself. I have carefully considered every move I make in life, with a strong conscience, hence this post. I really do take exception to that.

Thanks for everyone's posts, I actually decided last night that I was

skintchick wrote: »

Your tone was aggressive. See bold.



Maybe you didn;t mean it aggressively, but your overall tone was somewhat @rsy.

Actually I think the only @rsy person here is you.
I also think the OP is right - it's very nice to have a piece of memory of a person YOU MAYBE NEVER EVEN MET OR DON'T REMEMBER, but if you don't have a nice memories of your OWN mother (just like a weekend trip to the sea side), WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING IT?

Sailor_Sam

I had my grandads medals from the first war, they were only in a drawer, but i would never have thought of selling them. During the summer, a cousin came home from Australia on holiday, she was doing a family tree, she asked could she have one of them. I'd have rather have kept them, but they were only sitting there, so told her rather than take one, she should take them all, to keep them together.
I know my grandad wanted me to have them, but thought it was better they were not split, and knew she was going to take care and not sell them.

fay144

I know you have already made your decision, but thought I'd add something. IMO, the wishes of the rest of the family are far more important than the wishes of the original owner.

I have things my gran left me, and while she decided to leave them to me, they also have sentimental value to my mum and her sisters. My aunt would be heartbroken to think that I'd sold certain items, so if I didn't want them I would always offer them to her first.

If there is no one else with an interest, then I think it's entirely fair to sell, though I personally couldn't. I'm sentimental though.

the_rottweiler

my aunt died when i was 18, she had nothing to leave but a diamond ring which she left to me, i never wore the ring, but when times were hard, i thought about selling but never did.
then when i was 34 i had a really hard time (divorce, debt, eviction, benefits etc) i sold the ring and paid for a holiday for myself and the kids.
i have never regretted it. we needed the holiday and my aunt helped us, i still think of her with affection and would do even if she hadnt left me the ring