15 Items You Shouldn’t Leave Your Kids As Inheritance

Ah, the eternal quest of parents to guide their children through life’s twists and turns. While we strive to leave a legacy of love and wisdom, a few things are best left out of the inheritance mix. Take a look at this fun and vital list of what not to leave your offspring when you bid farewell.

The Dreaded Debt Debacle

Imagine this scenario: your children are saddled with a massive debt that dwarfs Mount Everest. This could weigh heavily on them, both financially and emotionally. It’s essential to handle your debts wisely while you’re alive to prevent passing on financial strain to your family.

Disorganized Estate Affairs

Don’t turn your family legacy into a saga of sibling rivalries and legal battles. Failing to organize your estate affairs can lead to confusion and frustration for your kin, making it challenging for them to navigate through the complexities of asset distribution and legal responsibilities during a difficult time.

Unsettled Tax Debts

Unpaid taxes can create significant legal and financial repercussions for your descendants, potentially subjecting them to penalties and legal actions that could deplete their inheritance and disrupt their money-related plans.

Ambiguous Funeral Wishes

Neglecting to specify your funeral and burial preferences can leave your kin grappling with difficult decisions and uncertainties during an already emotional and stressful time, potentially causing rifts and disagreements among family members.

Old Clothing

While your collection of vintage band t-shirts may hold sentimental value, your heir might find themselves buried under a mountain of nostalgia, unable to make room for their sense of style.

Antiquated Electronics

We know your vintage electronics collection held sentimental value to you, but it’s important to consider how your kin might receive it. Antiquated electronics, such as VHS players, cassette tapes, and even old flip phones, may seem charmingly nostalgic to you, but to your kids, they could be perceived as relics from a distant era.

Expired or Unused Toiletries

Your stockpile of hotel toiletries may have seemed like a clever hoard at the time, but let’s accept it—they’re more likely to collect dust than to be used. Expired cosmetics, half-empty shampoo bottles, and ancient toothpaste tubes lurking in your bathroom cabinets may not be the most appealing inheritance for your heir.

Collections of Old Magazines and Newspapers

A collection of old magazines and newspapers may make your family responsible for sorting through and disposing of them. Instead of burdening them with this task, consider digitizing important articles or selecting a few meaningful pieces to preserve. Encourage your children to create memories rather than being weighed down by your past collections.

Unwanted Furniture and Decor

Such items, though well-intentioned, can often pose challenges for people left to deal with them after a parent’s passing. Bulky and outdated furniture pieces may not align with their tastes or needs, creating a logistical and aesthetic dilemma. Additionally, mismatched or worn-out decor items may not fit into their living spaces or personal styles.

Neglected Houseplants

Your overgrown fern might have been a symbol of your green thumb, but to your kin, it’s a reminder of neglected responsibilities and impending plant care. Rather than leaving neglected houseplants, parents can consider finding new homes for them or reviving and maintaining them before passing them on to the next generation. This ensures that the plants continue to thrive and bring joy rather than becoming burdensome responsibilities.

Obsolete Kitchen Appliances

Obsolete kitchen appliances, while they may have been cutting-edge in their prime, can be more of a burden than a blessing for inheritors. Visualize the horror on a child’s face when they encounter a dusty, avocado-green blender from the 1970s that resembles a relic from a bygone era. Not only are these appliances eyesores in modern kitchens, but they also lack the efficiency and functionality of their contemporary counterparts.

Outgrown Children’s Toys

Imagine the bewilderment on a child’s face when they stumble upon a bin filled with a mishmash of Barbie heads, toy cars, missing wheels, and puzzle pieces that seem to belong to another dimension. These childhood relics may evoke nostalgic sighs from parents but are more likely to induce eye rolls from the next generation.

Pet Responsibilities

Leaving behind pet responsibilities for your kids is akin to passing on a never-ending game of fetch without the ball. Imagine inheriting the role of chief pooper-scooper or designated cat hair remover without prior consent. It’s like being handed the leash to a hyperactive puppy without an instruction manual on managing its zoomies.

Incomplete or Unfulfilled Projects

That DIY project you started with grand intentions may be seen as a burden rather than a legacy, leaving your family feeling obligated to finish what you started. Your kids may find themselves knee-deep in a sea of unfinished business, attempting to decipher cryptic notes and the master plan behind a half-painted wall or a half-knitted sweater.

Unorganized Financial Records

These disorganized records can complicate matters during tax season or when handling estate affairs. Your heirs may encounter delays and difficulties settling your estate, potentially leading to unnecessary stress and legal complications. Without a clear roadmap, they face challenges in understanding their finances, leading to confusion and frustration.