Very good, I agree with most of it. I read it to
, not so long ago she'd have been happy to see us penniless whilst giving everything to her sons (my step-sons), thankfully she's realised recently that it doesn't help them, they're not really grateful and it just made them expect it.
I never inherited anything from my parents when they died, but they worked hard all of their lives and dedicated themselves to making sure my sister, brother and I had what we needed (not what we wanted!) and were happy.
I was told at about 11 years old that if I wanted pocket money I'd have to earn it, cleaning the car, doing chores etc. When I was about 13 I started to work in the furniture shop that my Dad managed, on Saturdays and school holidays.
I am eternally grateful to them for instilling the value of money and teaching me that you appreciate things that you work for more than things you are given.
I was delighted to be fortunate enough to be able to buy a house near me for them to live in when they got older, they'd always lived in rented properties. The only way I could get them to agree was to say that I was buying it as an investment and they'd be doing me a favour by taking care of it, they'd never borrowed a penny in their lives and wouldn't accept "charity". Old fashioned values maybe but they felt secure and proud.
We do help out my sons and step-sons when they need it, but we plan to enjoy the time we have left and make the most of what we have.
