Unexpected inheritance - views ?

Albermarle

diveunderthebonnet said:

Cobbler_tone said:

Moonwolf said:

Albermarle said:

33scott said:

Treat yourselves, this windfall is over and above what you saved and planned for.
Take the Queen Mary 2 to New York and fly back first class, or something like that.
You are in de-accumulation phase so don't feel guilty about spending it, I dare say the person who left it you would have wanted you to have fun and create some fantastic memories.

Although I am not disagreeing with your general sentiment, but some people would actively dislike being in First Class, or equivalent, and would probably be choking on the £25 glasses of champagne etc, even if they could afford it.

That is potentially true of any of the suggestions.

in the end isn’t the recommendation - spend it on something that will make you happy.

OK, it can be very difficult to switch to a spending mindset and turn off that voice that says this is a waste of money. 

One method is to have a real reason for the upgrade.

I do like first class in trains because of the leg room, room to work and free coffee and I can imagine flying to Australia without the seat in front reclined so far back that your knees are crushed and you can’t watch the film must be nice.

The other is just to buy something that you really want and just wasn’t practical or affordable in the past: Art, a first edition, a classic car, a neolithic sculpture or a charity gift.

100%.
Some people could never bring themselves to part with £10k for a sketch. Some couldn't pay £25 for a drink (have you never been to a nice place in London?!), pay £40k for a car, or even £4 for a coffee. Some people will probably die pretty wealthy but we all have a different relationship with money. It is probably true that those who grow up with nothing are more careful with it. It's not either/or though and my mindset has totally changed as I get older and my plans are set.
I guess it is a mindset but money doesn't bring happiness, far from it. For most it alleviates worries. Certainly with people who I know that are relatively wealthy, who are most definitely not the happiest people I know! 

True but i would rather be un-happy in a rolls Royce rather than a bicycle 

Or as Spike Milligan said -

 "Money can't buy you happiness, but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery"

MEM62

Daffodil1234 said:

I wondered if anyone has had a similar situation when unexpected money turned up

I am sure that many people have but that's not really relevant to you.

Daffodil1234 said:

and whether there are any smart ideas about what people might do with it ?

You are comfortable and you retirement is as you planned.  This is an unexpected windfall.  Why not enjoy it?  New car (or, in my case, motorcycle), some nice holidays, weekends away etc etc etc..............

Daffodil1234

Thank you everyone - some really useful thought provoking comments here.

I am taking my time to consider.  One thing I came across is the idea of an "upgrade" list - over 3 - 6 months, notice what is there in house / life  etc which could do with an upgrade and consider that.  I'm also considering what would be worth it to me in relation to personal health.

However we are definitely planning a couple of days away in a nice part of the world, not massively far away from us, but in a hotel which is several notches above what we'd normally do.  I'm looking forward to feeling celebratory while at the same time acknowledging the closing of a chapter.