Mother-In-Law refuses to get life insurance

mountainofdebt

Is it an Inset Day or has half term started early???

Seriously you have to admit that trolls are becoming very creative these days - perhaps they've been on a creative writing course

GobbledyGook

Reams wrote: »

I was just about to say thanks to the mods of MSE for getting rid of this thread, only to see it's still here.

Why?

Have you ever had a relative die and face the absolute nightmare of being expected to bury them - not in a fancy way, but just a basic funeral - and have sleepless nights over what was going to happen?

I seen my grandparents go through that when my mother died and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. They had insurance for themselves and for the two of us, but not for her. When she was diagnosed as terminally ill the financial aspect didn't even occur to any of us (we were only 14 so it wouldn't).

The day after their daughter died I witnessed my grandfather crying his eyes out looking at the estimate for a basic basic funeral and wondering how on earth they were going to pay for it. They earned hardly anything, but it was over the amount where they could claim any help.

It made the entire experience so much worse because on top of grieving for their loss they were looking around their home wondering what they could sell to fund it. They had to take a loan that they could ill afford (and cost considerably more to pay back) to fund it.

This is a real issue for people. Especially because the undertaker wants disbursements paid right away and they can amount to hundreds of pounds that people simply don't have. It'll be an increasing issue as the cost of funerals keeps rising.

BigYin

meritaten wrote: »

you say your wife has siblings who are on benefits? couldn't one of them arrange the funeral and claim the funeral grant?

I'd be worried that would be deemed fraudulant.

Mojisola

MrsE wrote: »

But its a fixed sum? Which may od may not cover a funeral?

Wouldn't it be better if you could pick your funeral & pay it off in installments.

It does cover the funeral - you pay the cost at whatever today's price is and it covers your funeral when you die.

You select what you want - church, burial, cremation, no service - and can specify your selection of music and reading, flowers/no flowers, etc.

My parents didn't go into minute detail so we made the decisions about the hymns and readings but I found that quite therapeutic.

GobbledyGook

Mojisola wrote: »

It does cover the funeral - you pay the cost at whatever today's price is and it covers your funeral when you die.

You select what you want - church, burial, cremation, no service - and can specify your selection of music and reading, flowers/no flowers, etc.

My parents didn't go into minute detail so we made the decisions about the hymns and readings but I found that quite therapeutic.

That's what I have. It covers set 'things' rather than a set value.

Pippylan

I agree with the OP, this IS a worry. I love my mother to bits, but she refuses to get life insurance as she thinks it's a waste of money, and won't save for a funeral, saying it'll come out of her estate. I don't even know what's in her will!

I often worry that I'm going to be hit with a huge funeral bill when she dies (let's hope it's not for a long time), that I have no hope of paying, and no siblings to share it with. I couldn't possibly afford that kind of money at this moment in time, and as I remember from my FIL when he died, the funeral people often want their money asap.

I don't think it's uncaring at all to think in this way, just pragmatic.

Emmylou_2

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

Why not just bury her in your garden?

Would save a huge amount of expense.

Just make sure her head doesn't flop out of the bag for life...

Kynthia

I think the OP's post came across as desperately worried rather than heartless. It's a real issue that makes a difficult and emotional time so much worse.

OP, unfortunately I don't have any suggestions. The only thing I can think is that your MIL might have enough in her bank account and possessions that can be sold to pay for things. Is there a will, as then the named executer would deal with this?

POPPYOSCAR

Emmylou wrote: »

Just make sure her head doesn't flop out of the bag for life...

I remember it well!!

Hilarious thread:rotfl:

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Anything she's likely to die of will be excluded from a life assurance policy. So it would be a complete waste of money, as the odds of being hit by a bus are significantly lower.


I'd suggest you suck up the funeral expenses and keep your loving son in law approach to insisting she wears clean underwear just on the off chance. It would probably be a bit more tactful than what she's heard already.