We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.

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

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?
«1

Comments

  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 13,504 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    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 McClung
  • anotheruser
    anotheruser Posts: 3,485 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper I've been Money Tipped!
    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.
  • T.T.D
    T.T.D Posts: 260 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 12 August 2021 pm31 6:42PM
    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. 
  • TBagpuss
    TBagpuss Posts: 11,236 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    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!)
  • pollypenny
    pollypenny Posts: 29,416 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    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!)
  • Jude57
    Jude57 Posts: 652 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    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.
  • 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.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 241K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.7K Life & Family
  • 254.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.