[twoaussies]

Another item to think about is who will inherit what. I have photographed my most valuable and important possessions, put them on 4 x 6 cards together with the story of that item and who, of my three children, should inherit it.
They will be grateful for that when we die. Jean

[MariJ]

Well that's a wonderful idea and very organized. I would imagine that will save much confusion and possible dissent when the possessions need to be distributed. Good for you for doing it.

[Ro]

Now, that is a great idea!!

[PBarnes]

This is an excellent idea! My parents didn't go so far as to make an album, but they did put our names on things we had indicated we were interested in. An album is an even better idea.

[SarahBat]

So smart! I never would have thought of that. Great idea. Loved your muse Ro. Thanks for getting us thinking about these things.

[LibGrrl]

One of my grandmother's friends had a journal where she wrote down everything in her house, who gave it to her, for what occassion, and who should get it when she passed away. A good portion of my friends and family think she was crazy - a bit OCD if you will... but it's something I've batted around in the back of my mind since getting married (almost 13 years). So, two years ago I started my own OCD project. I'm a "librarian" by trade so books are important to me... and I have quite a few old and rare books. Insurance wouldn't insure them unless I had a record of them. I found LibraryThing - a free online service (they do ask for donations) that allows you to catalog your books like a library does. I have 2825 books in the house (trashy romance novels are not catalogued)... some new, some old. All listed. It was easier than using Excel. My friends still think I'm nuts, and protest that its too hard to catalog - I tell them - "Honey if you can type the numbers off the back of the book (the ISBN) into a box and hit search - you can do it." The system automatically searches for books in a number of locations so you don't have to catalog them because its already done... Ok, with the exception of some things from the early 1800s, but the instructions on how to catalog are so simple - if you can type in a form, you can do it. Insurance is happy - its hosted on a secure server. I can access it via my mobile so if I'm out and I'm not sure if I have a specific book in a series I can look it up. Now, anytime a new book comes into the house, it's added to the catalog. There's a section for notes - both public and private - I use that to keep track of which books are signed by authors and the inscriptions and also to note if it was a gift and from whom. I'm working on the silver, china and crystal now - in a database my dh built - which I'm constantly requesting changes to - i.e. picture upload. I'm looking for an online version (if anyone sees one, let me know). I'll need it for insurance, just like I'll need something for the jewelry, but I have a friend that will appraise it for free, so the insurance company can have that to start. My DH has his coin collection in an online DB. Now, I just need to get pictures of everything, and consolidate where to find everything. Thanks for the inspiration Ro - its nice to know that I'm not nuts (or OCD) for wanting to catalog my home.

[sanot]

my grandparents had a low tech way to let everyone know what belonged to whom when they passed away....a piece of masking tape with the initials of the person who would get it.

[Becster]

sanot, on 03 February 2012 - 07:40 PM, said:

my grandparents had a low tech way to let everyone know what belonged to whom when they passed away....a piece of masking tape with the initials of the person who would get it.

My Granny used white adhesive (bandage!) tape and wrote our names on the bottoms of things. *g*

My mother kept an extensive handwritten list of the china cabinet items IN the china cabinet! It listed what was on each shelf, when and where she got it, and which of us should get it when she died. She also listed what was junk and said to pitch it when she was gone. *g*

[candyK]

wow. I thought I was getting organized, but there's much work to do. I use book droid on my phone, but haven't kept an inventory of everything. we also have an extensive book collection.
thanks for the link up.
candyK

[mbechtloff]

my grandparents use post-its or masking tape ... although recently they've been giving us stuff to take now. i just hope i can get my grandma's baking board. my aunt took the one from my great-grandma even though she never baked with her, nor does she bake on her own. what a waste, oh well.