David Beck: Why I don't want or expect an inheritance

A big inheritance would be nice but I don't think anyone should expect it. Photo / Getty Images

OPINION

To me, hanging out for inheritance is like looking forward to your parents dying.

You often hear about loved ones arguing about what they will inherit, who gets what, and whether it will be a fair deal.

This sort of behaviour can start even before their parents or grandparents have died. It's amazing the toxic effect money can have on a family.

It's just not something I would ever get worked up about. Perhaps because I'm one of five children so whatever I got would split five ways anyway, but I think if a key part of your future money-making plans depend on the death of a family member, you're going about it wrong.

My parents worked themselves into the ground for a great majority of their lives, raising five children. I can't even imagine how much money they spent on food, schooling, sports registrations, clothes, and utilities during that time.

I would hate to think that leaving us an inheritance had any effect at all on what they do during the rest of their lives, now that us kids have all moved out.

I say, enjoy what you have worked so hard for. Go on holiday, enjoy a comfortable retirement when the time comes, you deserve it, you've done enough.

I think my siblings would feel the same way. Long may our parents live but death is inevitable and when that time does come, I'd rather celebrate their lives and all the happy memories than worry about how I might benefit.

If we opened up the will and it said "We've donated everything to the SPCA", I'd be thrilled. It's going somewhere worthwhile and we can worry about more important things.

They say money makes the world go round, and I suppose that's true, but it's not the be-all and end-all.

It's the same sort of attitude I have towards work. I'm never going to be a millionaire as a reporter but to me, it doesn't matter.

Waking up and going to a job I enjoy is so much more important to me than money, as is knowing that my parents and other loved ones are living their lives to the fullest.