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Post by HenryJ on Sept 22, 2020 11:34:25 GMT -5
Gentlemen of Moe's 2--Does your wife know everything she needs to know about living her life and running the household in case you died?
Does she know the household passwords? And where to find them? Can she fix computer problems? Can she pay the bills? Does she know which bills are paid automatically and which ones have to be manually paid?
Does she know how to fix computer problems?
If you use Quicken or Microsoft Money to balance the checkbook, can she do this?
Is she sophisticated enough to know the difference between a scam and what is legit?
The reason I ask, is that my wife’s sister, who was widowed three years ago, is driving my wife and myself crazy needing our help with first one thing and then another. She’s 84. She's often needing us to drive out to her house to see and fix something.
For example, she was paying AOL for their service even after she got a new internet service provider. She thought the fee was for having her AOL email address, which she wants to keep.
After much prodding and persuading, she finally dropped her AOL service. And surprise, surprise, surprise, she got to keep her AOL email address.
There have been many other problems that she has relied on us--mainly me--to solve.
She’s somewhat like a character in an old Twilight Zone episode, a little old lady who will not let anyone into her house. In this episode, the little old lady relented and let a handsome young blond-haired man in, and he happened to be the death angel (played by Robert Redford, before he was really famous).
I just wish the brother-in-law had taught her a few things before he died.
So glad my wife took an interest in doing some things in our lives.
And knows how to do them.
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Post by Mfitz804 on Sept 22, 2020 11:52:53 GMT -5
Years ago I wrote out a whole list for my wife of exactly what to do if I were to suddenly die. It’s probably completely out of date as far as passwords go.
I will take this thread as a reminder to update that list, so thanks!!
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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 22, 2020 12:09:19 GMT -5
Yeah, she's got it. At 1st she got a bit testy when I would make her pay a bill but she's ready..I am looking over my shoulder some.
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Post by NoSoapRadio on Sept 22, 2020 12:32:04 GMT -5
Yeah, good plan -- take away her only motivation to keep me alive.
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Post by ninworks on Sept 22, 2020 14:05:27 GMT -5
My wife used to pay the bills and such for many years early in our marriage. Then she drove us into bankruptcy. I have been taking care of the finances for the last 20 or so years. I took away all her credit cards except one which doesn't have a high enough limit to get us into trouble again.
Yes, she could handle it if I were gone. Hopefully the bankruptcy ordeal taught her some things about spending money.
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Post by Taildragger on Sept 22, 2020 14:30:52 GMT -5
My wife can't do the heavy, physical stuff such as carpentry, plumbing, etc. which home ownership/maintenance entails (and I mostly take care of) but she's quite capable when it comes to any of the paperwork/bills etc. and is very frugal when it comes to money. She also pretty cynical/skeptical when it comes to anyone approaching her with unsolicited business propositions. She actually enjoys doing light yard work: trimming the shrubbery and such. I think she could manage without me just fine and am pretty sure our adult children would keep an eye on her and notice "the signs" should her capabilities diminish to the point that she would require their assistance/oversight.
Our dogs might be the only (if minimal: they're both small) problem as she's a real softy with them. They might try to have their own way a bit too much if I wasn't around to "play Alpha" and remind them that they're not in charge. They'd be good company and a distraction if she suddenly found herself otherwise living alone.
Besides, they know more tricks than I do, are much better at playing "fetch" and will eat just about anything she feels like putting in their bowls.
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Post by rok-a-bill-e on Sept 22, 2020 14:51:43 GMT -5
My highly competent accountant wife will have no problem at all in practical matters when I am gone. She pays the bills, does the taxes, and keeps us legal and insured, etc. Me, on the other hand, would have my hands full as she is way smarter and more organized than I am.
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Post by HenryJ on Sept 22, 2020 15:20:42 GMT -5
Believe it or not, I was actually formulating this thread before the "Wimmins and Cars" and the "For the Old timers among us" threads appeared in Moe's 2. They just influenced the title of this thread.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Sept 22, 2020 15:24:02 GMT -5
Her biggest dilemma will be what to do with all my gear. And lawn mowing equipment, I don't think she'll be cutting the grass.
She used to handle the bills, I took them over about 7 years ago. All are on autopay, so short of having to change any of them she'll be allright.
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Post by Ricketi on Sept 22, 2020 16:39:24 GMT -5
We have been married 40 years and she has been doing all the bill paying and money handling. When her father was in Europe during Korean war he met her mom in Germany and married her and brought her back to the states. He died when my wife was young. My wife did a lot things to help out mom and learning how to pay bills and running the household was some of them. So I let her do it. I think I would be in trouble if she goes first.
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Post by Leftee on Sept 22, 2020 17:27:15 GMT -5
We’ve only been married 5 years. We still run separate finances - and probably always will. I have all my essentials written out in case she whacks me over the head with a Tele.
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Post by satele on Sept 22, 2020 17:42:12 GMT -5
Other way round, in our house.....I'm ok with that!
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BillytheKidder
Wholenote
You can’t do this with a guitar.
Posts: 105
Formerly Known As: Billy the Kidder
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Post by BillytheKidder on Sept 22, 2020 20:04:22 GMT -5
She will never be able to get television turned on.
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Post by LTB on Sept 23, 2020 0:26:04 GMT -5
She can do the TV and if she punches the correct button on the Roku it will automatically go to Roku but don't think she will ever learn to step the TV Input Button until it gets back to the Cable TV. I tried to teach her but she complains Technology bores her. I have given info to my daughter in event something happens to me on how to get on Windows PC, Ipad Pro, and my Iphone but my daughter will probably have to do it. Paying bills she can deal with.
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swampyankee
Wholenote
Fakin' it 'til I'm makin' it since 1956
Posts: 713
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Post by swampyankee on Sept 23, 2020 8:28:58 GMT -5
Yes, my wife watches over our finances like a hawk. She'll have no trouble taking care of business when I'm gone.
I'm not sure why she even keeps me around, aside from the income...
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GmanNJ
Wholenote
somewhere deep in the swamps of Joisey
Posts: 315
Formerly Known As: Your Friendly Neighborhood Gman
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Post by GmanNJ on Sept 23, 2020 11:20:37 GMT -5
Mine does all the bills. She is a retired paralegal so I defer to her for all contractual things. I do the tech and keep things running. She is awesome with money so i never have to worry about getting into money trouble. We both do the chores (lawn mowing, gardening). I do the more involved repairs (plumbing, carpentry etc) but she can hire that out if need be
she will be fine without me
I will be fine as long as I am worth more alive then dead HA!
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