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Would you consider selling a long-held family heirloom if the price was right?

MSE_Laura_F
Posts: 1,610 MSE Staff

It's a very open question, but how does sentimentality weight up against money? Where's the tipping point? What factors make a difference?
Would you consider selling a long-held family heirloom if the price was right?
Would you consider selling a long-held family heirloom if the price was right?
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I would sell if I did not actually like the thing, if I needed the money or no one wanted it after I had gone.6
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Def sell. At some point I would expect that I would need the ££ and possibly I might get to the point where I wouldn't know why I had the thing at all. I might get a quote from somewhere and ask family if they wanted it at a discount. But I'm cheap and very unsentimental.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
"Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.” Nellie McClung1 -
If I didn't like something I'd be well rid. Same if it was kept in a cupboard.
My husband moved in with a box of his late dad's stuff. I said if it was still in the loft unlooked at in 2 years what was the point. In 2 years (or so) we went through it. I put some stuff as 'flower pots' in the garden (his diving helmet is now in our rockery 😂) the rest we sold.
When we cleared my mams stuff, she had her mother's wedding ring. For what reason I have no idea. Nope I didn't want, or my mother's either. I'd never wear them.
I do think I have 'some sentimental' side though, dad's retirement gift is on show, their poppy from the Tower of London is in my garden, their horseshoe is in my conservatory, as is a weather 'thing' my dad used to knock every single day to see what the weather was going to be. My sweet peas are currently climbing up my dad's walking stick....
Forty and fabulous, well that's what my cards say....5 -
I inherited my mother’s jewellery. There was nothing I would have ever worn. It was kept safely for about 5 or 6 years and then I decided to sell. I used the money to buy a very pretty diamond ring which I wear happily in memory of my mum. There was money left over so I shared with my grandchildren. I’m sure my mum would have approved!6
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Completely depends what it is and whether I have an attachment to it.
Some things, no. I would rather sell a lot more than those items.
Other things, would have no problems selling. But they are not likely to be worth very much.1 -
Yes I would, In my mind a family heirloom is something you put away to increase in value, the longer it’s passed down the blood line in the hopes that one day a family member will either pass on or cash in when it’s desperately needed.
In cashing the item in for money one would hope that they would then perhaps purchase another item of some appreciating value and then gift it in a will to be passed down the bloodline once again paying it forward.1 -
It would depend what it was and how much I cared for it, and how personal it was to the family - or to anyone I new - for instance, I would be much less likely to sell something like (say) a valuable rig which was an heirloom and which my mother/grandmother had always worn, than a rig or other jewelry of similar value that had bee in the family just as long but had mostly been kept locked away.
If it wasn't something I cared for as an object then I would consider selling it, although I would talk to other family members first to ensure that I was not planning to dispose of something which someone else loved or would treasure.All posts are my personal opinion, not formal advice Always get proper, professional advice (particularly about anything legal!)1 -
Grrrr! This has reminded me that we meant to take a number of things, inherited from my uncle, to be valued today! Got stuck in to clearing the garage and waiting for some onto call re leak, so forgot! 😳Member #14 of SKI-ers club
Words, words, they're all we have to go by!.
(Pity they are mangled by this autocorrect!)1 -
A friend of mine was left lots of unattractive and in some cases broken, jewellery by her mother, none of which my friend would have worn herself. After a while, she took it to a local artisan jewellers who took a couple of the better stones and made a new piece to my friend's taste which she enjoys wearing. I think the cost was minimal as there was far more gold than needed for the new piece, which the jeweller kept as part of the deal.1
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I have recently taken a couple of my mother’s rings to a jewellers. One was very worn and with tiny stones and not worth anything, so it is back in a drawer. The other was pretty, 18 ct gold with diamonds, but the central blue stone was glass, so i paid to have it replaced with a sapphire and i will wear it.
if i can re- use a family heirloom, i will. If not, might as well sell.2
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