Followers

Wednesday 26 August 2009

A necessary task....




Now what you are about to read may seem strange to some of you but I spent yesterday morning taking photographs of all my 'good' jewellery (of which I have quite a lot). The reason for this was two-fold


a)  I want a record of what I've got in case we get burgled and it is stolen.
b)  I want photographs and details of it so I can bequeath it when I snuff it.

Does that sound wierd to you?


Anyway I now have photographs of it all, with descriptions, which MWM is going to save onto a disc which will go in the 'insurance tin', with a list of which pieces are bequeathed to whom. That way there will be no arguing or squabbling about who gets what and I can be sure that heirloom pieces go to my granddaughter i.e. my mother's gold watch and engagement ring etc., and my wedding, engagement and eternity ring.


It's something I've been meaning to do for ages but it's one of those things you keep putting off, you know? Well yesterday morning I was in the mood and had nothing better to do so I did it and I can tell you I feel better now it's done!


Just out of interest, do you have an 'insurance tin'?


It's where we keep all the important papers, receipts and valuations for jewellery, the wills etc. Oh and that reminds me we have to write new wills, ours are too out of date. Oh well that's anothing thing on the list of things to do when I retire.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

You planning on going some where my friend? LOL. Just kidding. That's a great idea and everyone should do it. I've got everything I own photographed and stored. I keep updating it as well. :)

Flowerpot said...

sounds v sensible to me! As does an insurance tin which I dont have but should do!

Caron said...

We have a safe for that stuff. I have been planning on doing exactly the same thing because I don't want my stepchildren to get confused about my stuff (which will revert back to my nieces) if we both die in the same fiery crash. Yep. I totally get that.

g-man said...

It's not weird it's SMART!!
In the States we call them Fireproof...Or Lock Boxes!

Julia Phillips Smith said...

The only things of value I once had were lost when I moved back to Nova Scotia from Toronto. So I don't have an insurance tin - nothing to put in it.

I love these two phrases:

'in case we get burgled'

'when I snuff it' - LOL!!

Jaye said...

just had to say 'hi' to a fellow Strictly and Harry Potter fan! Found you on 'Trav's thoughts' - how excited is he re the dance shows! (and us!)

Jaye said...

just had to say 'hi' to a fellow Strictly and Harry Potter fan! Found you on 'Trav's thoughts' - how excited is he re the dance shows! (and us!)

Dumdad said...

An insurance tin sounds like a good idea. I also ought to write a will. Thanks for reminding me!

CG said...

What a good idea! I might do something similar.

I inherited beautiful rings from my mum, nearly 20 years ago. If anyone admires them, though, I always say "Thank you, they are my mum's". I wonder why? It's like they still belong to her not me!

Daryl said...

I have a file in my little metal file cabinet labeled: Important Papers ... we keep saying we need to get a safety deposit box at the bank .. and we need to write wills .. but my procrastinator husband's bad habits have rubbed off on me .. thanks for the reminder .. I am going to bug him again ...

Susan at Stony River said...

Oh wow I've been MEANING to do this for years!

Mostly it's because my kids never knew their grandparents, and so don't know any of the stories behind all the 'stuff' I've got in all these boxes and bins and shelves and walls. So I keep promising myself that I'll photograph each thing, then make a CD of all the photos with each thing's story, and who I want to have it when something happens to me.

Ok, your posting about it is my 'sign' to really do it! LOL I'll make a date for it, maybe my birthday week which is also my Dad's. I like that idea.

Thanks! And congratulations on getting it done---hoping you NEVER get burgled!

ann said...

thank you for visiting and your lovely comments

no I don't have a tin, but I do have a cupboard full of files and my will is with my solicitor ~~~~~

however as for snuffing it, I told my children to put me on life support and not pull the plug until we have a change of government and/or change of inheritance tax laws ~~~~~ as you can guess I'm not at all morbid when it comes to death, so I'll also tell them what kind of headstone I want on my grave; I quite like light grey marble with dark grey lettering :>)

Akelamalu said...

No Thom not planning on going anywhere but you never know the day do you? Glad to hear you've already been sensible and catalogued everything already. :)

My 'insurance tin' is an old biscuit tin Flowerpot - very handy. :)

Yep you need to do it now Caron, it will save a lot of confusion. Thanks for stopping by m'dear. :)

I presume you have one then G-man? Good man!

What about your wedding ring Julia? That's valuable and who do you want it to go to after you 'snuff it'? LOL

Hi Jaye, great to meet another Strictly and HP fan! Trav gets really excited about dancing doesn't he? LOL

Don't put it off any longer Dumdad!

Yes I know what you mean CG I still refer to the gold watch as my Mum's even though I had to have a new bracelet put on it!

These are the things we constantly put off doing Daryl but they are really important. We even have plans to arrange and pay for our funerals next year so our boys don't have to worry about them. I suppose some may think that's wierd!

Hope you get it done Susan, I'm sure the kids will thank you for it. I hope we don't get burgled too! LOL

Akelamalu said...

Ah, you're organised already Ann and have a great attitude towards snuffing it! Thanks for visiting me and taking the time to comment. :)

buffalodick said...

If my wife died, I know where the jewelry is, but the important papers and such would be an in the house treasure hunt!

Ron said...

No...I don't think this sounds weird at all. In fact, I think it sounds like a wise idea!

I'm not very good about things like this, so you gave me some food for thought.

My mother has a safety deposit box at her bank where she stores her jewelry, insurance papers, and will.

Thanks for sharing, m'dear!

I needed this.

Have a great day!

X

Connie T. said...

That is a good ideal. I got rid of most of my jewelry. I sold it to buy a camera. I never wear it and I didn't want someone to steal it when I get old. I only kept the stuff that my son really wants. I used to love to get jewelry, but now I don't even wear it.

Akelamalu said...

Oh you need to sort it out now Buff :)

I think this sort of thing is easier to do when you're fit and well Ron rather than wait until maybe it's a necessity don't you? :)

I wear mostly costume jewellery now Connie and certainly wouldn't buy any 'good stuff' now, but I do have some nice pieces which I want certain people to have. It's a great idea to cash it in though to buy something you really want. :)

Unknown said...

Taking pics of your jewelry is not wierd -- it's an excellent idea. I gave away most of my pieces (from old boyfriends and husbands).

The tin is also a great idea -- I was thinking of getting one of those lock boxes for our important papers.

Sue

Elaine Denning said...

My will says that in the event of my death, my son is to live with his grandmother.

I'm not sure he'd appreciate that at almost 21 years old!

Thanks for the reminder!

Jaye said...

hiya - yes, I do also watch X-factor (blogging about that on unreality tv!) well - I'll record it and watch it later is what I mean! Be nice to catch up on both with you.

Spiky Zora Jones said...

akelamalu: Oh yes dear you need to document it all. I have things on video to show it and the value of it all.

i think I have to do that...do the will thingy. I do have to see about my life insurance again too and change some things...

thanks sweetie, you just remeinded me that I should move my arse on it and get it done.

ciao honey. xxx

Maude Lynn said...

Insurance tin? Oh, yeah. I married a lawyer.

And, no, not weird at all. Very, very smart.

storyteller said...

Seems like a good idea for all of us to do. I suppose I'll add it to the ever growing list of 'to dos' as time permits ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Dr.John said...

We have an important paper box but right now we can't find it.

Quilly said...

You mean the coffee can buried in the back yard?

I most so much I live a very spartan existence -- by choice. There is nothing to bequeath. Anything I had of lasting value I already passed on. Nobody is going to fight over my TV set or my old car. They'll spend what there is of my money to bury me.

Akelamalu said...

I'm glad you don't think it's wierd Susan, it was something I felt I needed to do. :)

LOL I think you need to revise your will Laney ;)

I really like the X factor Jaye. I know it's cringeworthy at times but it's fun :)

It usually just takes a reminder to make us get things done Spiky. Great idea to video your jewellery, you can leave a personal message to who is going to receive it too! :)

I imagine all your 'affairs' are in order then Mama Zen :)

My list of things to do is still huge Storyteller but at least I've crossed one thing off! :)

Oh you've put it somewhere safe Dr. John LOL

Ah well you've solved the problem already Quilly :)

Valerie said...

Thanks. You've reminded me that I haven't photographed the latest jewellery. All else is done and recorded for insurance purposes.

Cheffie-Mom said...

Wow! I wish I was that organized! LOL!

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

what a great idea! as i only have one daughter she gets it all though and has already gotten some of it. lala too.

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Maggie May said...

I have a special place where I keep all that kind of stuff.
I hope you are not going any place soon!

This Guy said...

WOW! That is SUCH a great idea!! I wish my mom would have done something like this before her passing, sure as hell would have made life alot easier!!

I do have something like this, more of a letter kept in my trunk, all my bank information, e-mail passwords, and a list of items and who i'd like to leave them too... Im 28, but I think its good, just in case the unthinkable were to happen...

Blessings :)
Bret

bindhiya said...

Dear Akelamalu,
what a great idea.
for me I lost all my jewelry and things i got from my grandma.
have a beautiful day.
♥ & ((hugs))
bindi

Akelamalu said...

Ah you're already organised Valerie :)

It's taken me a while but I got there Cheffie Mom! :)

It's easier when you have a daughter I think Bee. I have two boys, as you know, so my stuff will go to my granddaughter and my DIL's with token pieces to my sons and grandsons.

A safe special place is a good idea Maggie and no I don't intend going anywhere soon :)

Ah that's exactly why I've don't it This Guy to make things easier for my hubby/my children in the event. You sound well organised, well done to you. :)

Oh what a shame Bindi to lose things with such sentimental value is heartbreaking. :(

Travis Cody said...

That's not weird. It's quite responsible. People also sometimes take pictures of valuable items for insurance companies as well.