Real life MMD: Should she sell a family heirloom?

Wsb5tails

I wear my grandmothers engagement ring every day but it isnt old fashioned. My family would be very annoyed if I sold it so I would ask them first.
If I had 3 rings that I had never worn and needed the money, I think, after asking of course, I'd think about having 1 ring made out of all 3 and using the left overs for my bills.

skylight

I guess it depends on the extent that the money would actually help the situation. If they are going to get just a few pounds then its really not worth selling them. If the debt/repairs and her situation is managable, then don't bother selling them.

The OP mentions "help the repairs" - if selling the rings wont cover these repairs outright (and they are essential), then whats the point in selling them? Once they are gone, they are gone so its only worth selling them if they are really worth some money and if they are really going to deal with the situation.

And you may find they are paste anyway! "Heirlooms" sometimes have had precious stones removed in the past anyway to help towards ancestors debts!

Emperor_Nero

Sell them. We are all just part time keepers of material items. After I lost my dad, My Mum had the same battle with her conscious when it came to deciding whether or not to keep/sell his vintage cars (He had three!). We decided to sell two, including the most recent and one which needed a lot work, but kept the 'Family' car we've had for 25+ years. Basically with the thought that our dad would prefer us to have money to spend on what we wanted and keeping one car going, rather than keep a car 'in his memory' which was his hobby and not ours. It was a great decision and the guilt was long gone when we sold the cars to a family who were so excited to take the car on and start enjoying it and creating new memories with thier family. Basically, if I were in your friends situation, I would sell the Wedding and Engagement ring and perhaps keep hold of the 'Eternity' ring for sentimental reasons. Let someone else 'Enjoy' the rings.

mcsplodget

My sister and I were left a number of rings when my paternal granmother passed away. After talking to my father about it we desided to sell the vast majority and break one down and put the stones in a new more modern setting, with the left over money we have got some money towards a house deposit. Every member of my fathers side of the family has said it was a brilliant idea as now we wear the newly designed rings daily and Nan has helped us toward getting on the property ladder. A parting gift that has really helped us both.

pennypinchUK

It all depends on what her grandmother would think if she were still alive. If her grandmother would truly support using the money to repair the house and improve your friend's welfare she should go ahead guilt free.

tgroom57

If your friend was in danger of losing her home or the children going hungry then I'd say yes- sell the rings. But things are not that desperate. imho this is 'the message of the rings' - that your friend will get through this and achieve her goals.

The rings will not make much difference either way, and she feels some attachment or she would have sold them already.

Keep the rings.
PS I'm a grandma.

warychick

Ditch the sentimentality and get rid of the rings. It's nothing to do with family, friends, dead granny or anyone else. If she's short of money for her kids and herself and has the means to get it by selling the rings then there is no dilemma!

luxor4t

Get them valued, then decide.
Even with the current sky-high gold prices and the best buyer, the money might be surprisingly low. She'll only get 'scrap' prices for the wedding ring as there is not much of a market for second hand wedding/engagement rings. Great if you're buying though

cotsvale

I sold a gold ring that my grandad was given for rescuing someone from a house fire, along with a ring my mother gave me before she died which was much too big for me. I have regretted it ever since

redglass_2

When my mother gave me my grandmother's rings, she said, 'Do what you want with them, hock them if you want.' I was thinking of doing it about a year ago, then got some unexpected money so the rings are still with me. It's nice to know I can sell them without reproach and that they were given with love, but not as a burden I have to keep no matter what.
It's up to you if you sell or not. Whichever choice you make, don't allow yourself to be persuaded into regret by others.