It should be no surprise to you by now that Barry and I are fans of Dave Ramsey. We’ve taken his class repeatedly, Barry teaches it occasionally, and I listen to Dave almost every day on the radio. We believe in what he teaches. It’s common sense. Now, it also should be no surprise to you that you’re gonna die. Yes. It’s true. You are going to die. Kick the bucket, push up daisies, meet your Maker, fall eternally asleep, visit Beulah Land. It’s something you cannot avoid, so why not make it easier on those you leave behind? You might have heard Dave Ramsey talk about “The Love Drawer”, or “The Legacy Drawer.” That’s what we’re going to discuss today. I don’t want to make light of a serious situation, but that’s my nature…..I’ll joke around. Or else we might all end up at the corner bar. |
The Legacy Drawer is a place where you keep all the important information people will need when you’re gone. It can be a drawer, a box, or even a safe. It just needs to be somewhere instead of nonexistent. Barry and I chose the drawer in the quilt rack that hangs between our closets. It also houses breath mints. Legal documents and breath mints…..sounds about right. Wherever you put your stuff, make sure you tell someone. Tell a parent, a sibling, or a best friend. They need to know so that when you’re in Beulah Land they don’t have to tear apart your house looking for stuff. We put all our information on a little USB flash drive instead of having the actual documents there. There are also copies of this on our computer and a printed version in our safety deposit box. My computer is backed up with Carbonite because we felt it was a wise purchase to insure all our important files were safe. You can use actual paper documents if you like. By the way, if you want to sign up for Carbonite, let me “invite” you and we’ll both get some free months of service out of it. Contact me at stacy at stacymakescents dot com and I’ll send you an invite. Dave says the drawer needs to be organized so that anyone in your family can find what they need within 30 seconds. Make it easy, not complicated. People don’t want to deal with that. They just want to eat ham and apple pie to mourn you. |
 The first thing in your drawer should be a cover letter. Barry and I didn’t do one of those. It felt sorta silly. But, you can do one if you like. The second thing you need is a will. Yes, a will. It’s not morbid to have a will. In fact, it’s morbid to NOT have a will. It’s like saying “Hey, I’m never gonna die, so who gives a fat rat about my stuff?” Well, let me tell you. Your cousin Billy Bob from West Virginia is gonna care, and come to get HIS share of your stuff after you’re gone. Don’t make your kids deal with that. Make a will. It’s really not hard or expensive. Barry and I had a will drawn up for us both after we got married. It also has amendments in it about Annie and her care. Dave recommends US Legal Forms where you can do it all online for around $20, state specific. Really, how can you not spend that? If you can go to Starbucks, you can do a will. |
You need to put an account of all your finances in there. That includes your checking and savings information. Anywhere that you have money stored should be there. If your money is in a mayonnaise jar in the back yard, you might want to leave a note to that affect. It should also include passwords and PIN numbers. Don’t forget your safe deposit box information and where you put the key….if you remember. I hate that dumb key. Don’t leave anything out – retirement, investments, etc. Couch cushion money counts too. Put a copy of your monthly budget in there along with copies of the tax returns….or instructions about where your tax returns are. Ours are located in the attic……I hate going to the attic. |
Whew. Coffins give me the heebie jeebies. I just wanted to give you the heebie jeebies with me. Thanks. You should include your funeral plans. That way your family won’t fight over what’s what. Just for “fun” I’ve put mine here so you can get an idea.
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| Also include your insurance policy information – car, house, life, etc. It’s also good to have any other important documents that you can think of. This includes deeds, birth certificates, Social Security cards and titles.It should take you about 30 days to put all this together. Don’t rush, do it right. You won’t want everything thinking you were sloppy when you’re no longer around to defend yourself – or to blame it on your spouse.
Everyone should have a legacy drawer…..those with children, those without children, and those who are single. Do it for your family. Whew, don’t look directly at the casket photo. *This post is linked at Amy’s Finer Things. |
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I love your funeral plan!!! I’m so with you on the no open casket thing! Question: we have sat down to make a will many times, but can never come up with who to take care of the kids if something happens to both of us. Do you have suggestions for someone who has no family, no outside friends, parents and grandparents gone, and at the time do not have a church family. (Yes, it really is that bad…. we are both introverts and keep to ourselves.)
You need to get serious with God – ask Him. He’ll reveal it to you. Also, remember that the Word tells us not to give up the habit of meeting together. It’s really important. I know it’s hard – and that the church can hurt us. Been there. But, I also know that there is a church family out there for you who will love and support you.
This is a great article, thank you. I have a few of these things together but not most
Of it. I’m also going to add health care wishes like life support, etc. and the names of the videos we made for the kids… Nothing morbid, just us talking to them. Similar to this: http://www.titus2.com/corners/dads-corner/daddy-tape.html
I don’t think it’s morbid – I think it’s sweet. 🙂
Love it, Stacy! We’ll make that our goal for next month!! Thanks so much for keeping it real and keeping it light. You’re rockin’ awesome, my friend!! 😉
🙂 Well I think the same of you!
Thank you so much for compiling this. I was just thinking today about writing up some sort of document about where the children would go but didn’t know how or even about everything else. Very helpful, indeed. And I was chuckling throughout, especially your funeral plans. 🙂
Yep! I try to maintain my sense of humor no matter what. 🙂
Stacy,great info and its a good idea to always be prepared. Depressing subject but hey someones gotta bring it up, right?
It is sorta a downer…but better to get it done and be finished than to tarry on it later. 🙂
Just inspired me to do mine, wouldn’t have thought about specifing the cake and pie and ice cream (my add), thanks for the ideas. Now it is done!
Good for you! 🙂
Great info, thanks. Reading this post on an iPhone, the caskets look like they are floating in mid-air and it’s creepy. But great info otherwise!
LOL
Really enjoyed this post… except for the whole dying part of course… 😉 No, seriously, some very good info in this, thank you! 🙂
Thank you for the lovely compliment. 🙂
I love the plan you have and I really need to do the same thing. It’s great that you can find the humor in all of this; too many people take it all too seriously. My daughter already knows that I want a man wearing a kilt to play Amazing Grace at my graveside service, and I want him to stand at the head of my coffin. I’ve always wondered what men wear under their kilts.
Underwear. LOL
Very good ideas, I am currently trying to talk Andrae into doing a will.
Question though, why is pre-paying for your funeral a bad idea?
Jessi, I’ll let Barry answer this one. 🙂
Here’s why Dave says pre-paying a funeral is a bad idea – makes GOOD sense to me!
Lots of good tips. Don’t forget how people go to viewings and talk about how “natural” or “peaceful” the deceased looks, as if there is anything natural about embalming chemicals.