A Lasting Inheritance

I remember a bumper sticker on the back of an RV in the 1980s that read, “We’re spending our children’s inheritance.” My kids were young at the time, but the thought of hitting the road in an RV appealed to me.

I’m older now. How old? Let’s just say I got over the shock of seeing Paul McCartney on the cover of AARP Magazine long ago. And I’m revisiting the question, Should I blow my children’s inheritance on a new motor home, hit the road and enjoy the fruit of my labor? But here’s the real question: What inheritance?

I checked the bank account and there’s no inheritance to leave them. What’s a baby boomer to do?

I’m part of the Me Generation, taught from birth that we’re entitled to the best. We grew up watching our parents slave away and sacrifice to give us everything they never had.

I’ve been working hard, too, but with a live-for-today mind-set. I learned from TV (which was invented just for us, as was fast food): “See it? Want it? Get it!” I’ve seen. I’ve wanted. I’ve gotten.

But I sense the time approaching — no, the time is here — to reconsider my spending habits. The experts say that those of us who hit 60 in good health can expect to see 90. Yikes! I need to eat for 30 more years. It is time to rethink my strategy . . . or lack thereof.

The party’s over?

So what do most boomers do with their money? Some have unwisely played the lottery or the slots hoping to hit the jackpot. Some give no thought to tomorrow and blow their dough on flashy cars, bigger houses and exotic vacations. And some of us — petrified of the future — hoard what we’ve got left.

Speaking of the future, I saw a commercial for insurance to cover “final expenses.” At first I got all excited to think that, after 90 years of paying bills, I’ll finally get to stop! Who knew “final expenses” could sound so good? But then the woman in the commercial said she was buying the insurance because “the last thing I want to do is leave a burden for my children.”

We’ve got to do some serious thinking. What will the next generation inherit from us? A legacy of self-indulgence?

A boomer’s lament

What am I doing with my moola? Mostly I’m buying over-the-counter drugs and age-defying beauty products. With a cart loaded with potions, I swing over to the cosmetics counter for some anti-aging lotion, spot remover (for my face, not my clothes) and wrinkle remover in a 55-gallon drum.

I don’t spend all my money on drugs and beauty, though. There’s the house to redecorate with the little cash that’s left after all those years of sneakers and school supplies, music lessons and college expenses, weddings and emergency car repairs for the kids. (Yes, I’m still spending money on the children.) Then there are the gifts for the grandchildren, who are on this earth to be spoiled by us.

Life is an all-around high-ticket item these days. Add in the fickleness of the career market and aging parents who need help, boomers are pretty well tapped out.

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Here’s my conclusion: I pray that my progeny will know that earthly fortunes wax and wane — no matter how carefully I manage my resources — but the most important things in life are unchanging. I pray that I’m able to leave my children’s children a little money in the bank and the far more valuable legacy of faith, prayer and trust in the Savior — what Peter describes as “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). It’s the only inheritance of inestimable value in this world and for eternity.