I know this isn't a topic that I normally talk about on the blog, and it is far from all the mama business, shopping deals, and
everyday life that surrounds this little space of mine, but I also
know that life insurance is a topic that we, as mothers and wives, need to bring more awareness and discussion to the table.
So first, why is it that young people dislike talking about this?
Perhaps due to the lack of
extra finances to open up a plan. Maybe the lack of knowledge of what life insurance is and what it will mean for them
. And most importantly, lack of understanding of what life after death may look like to their beloved family members. So why am I
, a 29 year old, talking about this today? Because I am wife and a mother, because we have debt, and because I have seen too many sad stories that leave families not only without a family member, but also without a means of paying off bills.
I am surrounded by both
life and
death where I work as a critical care nurse. Illnesses and tragedies do not only effect the old. Not only do I see the
old pass but also the
young.
Young men and women in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties.
Women and men with young children. Some with older ones getting ready to
head out to college. A daughter who is getting ready to walk down the
aisle. A son who's the star quarterback on his football team. A wife who
has been a stay at home mother for 10+ years. A lifestyle that they
have worked so hard to build throughout the years, and then death
happens. And it rips the family apart. It rips everything they know,
everything they do, how they function,
how they don't. And
thus, they are forced to enter this new world of being a widow, left
without their loved one, left with bills, responsibilities, and changes
that they
never thought for one second they would have to live with.
Perhaps
I have reached the core of why young people don't discuss life
insurance. Because by talking about it... it means that "it," in other
words death, can actually happen. And the thing about it, is that
it can. And it does. Car accidents happen. Heart attacks come unexpectedly.
Cancer, in which we still don't have a cure for, strikes. And the unfortunate part is that these things can surprise at
any age, any day, any moment in time.
I
was 23 years old when we opened up our first life insurance plan at my
work, which fortunately for us, a very large amount was offered both for
myself and my husband. I was surprised, and very impressed, that ours actually
offered something more than the typical 50k/100k plans that you
typically see in work environments. Therefore, we took out the maximum
amount allowed, which would far exceed a funeral, pay off our home and
student loans in full, and give myself or my husband a 5+ year cushion
to get our feet off the ground, get out of our depressed beds, and
figure out how to get ourselves back in order.
We have
maintained this plan since. Thankfully for me, it costs very little to
us, and we view it as pocket change for what could be life changing if
death did unfortunately strike. And we have further discussed opening up
a separate private plan in the next couple of months to add onto the
"cushion" of our life insurance. A cushion we do not exactly
like to discuss over the dinner table, but as our family grows, know how
important it is that we do.
When
something as unfortunate as death of a loved one occurs, the last thing
anyone would ever want is financial burden on top of the grief for
their family members.
I hope that I will be one of the
many that throws her money into an insurance plan that we will never
have to use. Because that to me? Would mean that both my husband and I
are still alive and
living life with our children. But in the unfortunate event that we do? I at least know we are covered.
So here is where I challenge you to ask yourself if life insurance, or any other voluntary insurance policy is right for you and your family. With open enrollment around the corner for many businesses out there, it is important to sit down and have this important discussion with those that you love, check out what your company has to offer, and start thinking about the future.
I
know this isn't a topic that I normally talk about on the blog. I know
that it is far from all the mama business, shopping deals, and everyday
life that surrounds this little space of mine. But what I also know is
that life insurance is a word that the young seem to steer away from, and unfortunately a topic that needs more awareness and exposure.
Why do young people not like to talk about it? Perhaps due to the lack of extra finances to open up a plan. Maybe the lack of knowledge of what life insurance is and what it will mean for them. And most importantly, lack of understanding of what life after death may look like to their beloved family members. So why am I, a 26 year old, talking about this today? Because I'm a mama now. Well, I've been one for quite some time. Not to mention that I am a wife. And also the fact that I am surrounded by both life and death where I work. Because I not only see the old pass but also the young.
Young men and women in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties.
Women and men with young children. Some with older ones getting ready to
head out to college. A daughter who is getting ready to walk down the
aisle. A son who's the star quarterback on his football team. A wife who
has been a stay at home mother for 10+ years. A lifestyle that they
have worked so hard to build throughout the years. And then death
happens. And it rips the family apart. It rips everything they know,
everything they do, how they function, how they don't. And
thus, they are forced to enter this new world of being a widow, left
without their loved one, left with bills, responsibilities, and changes
that they never thought for one second they would have to live with.
Perhaps I have reached the core of why young people don't discuss life
insurance. Because by talking about it... it means that "it," in other
words death, can actually happen. And the thing about it, is that it can. And it does. Car accidents happen. Heart attacks come unexpectedly. Cancer, in which we still don't have a cure for, strikes. And the unfortunate part is that these things can strike at any age, any time.
I was 23 years old when we opened up our first life insurance plan at my
work which fortunately for us a very large amount was offered both for
myself and my husband. I was surprised/impressed that ours actually
offered something more than the typical 50k/100k plans that you
typically see in work environments. Therefore, we took out the maximum
amount allowed, which would far exceed a funeral, pay off our home and
student loans in full, and give myself or my husband a 5+ year cushion
to get our feet off the ground, get out of our depressed beds, and
figure out how to get ourselves back in order.
We have maintained this plan since. Thankfully for me, it costs very
little to us, and we view it as pocket change for what could be life
changing if death did unfortunately strike. And we have further
discussed opening up a separate private plan in the next couple of
months to add onto the "cushion" of our life insurance. A cushion we do
not exactly like to discuss over the dinner table, but as our family grows, know how important it is that we do.
When something as unfortunate as death of a loved one occurs, the last
thing anyone would ever want is financial burden on top of the grief for
their family members.
I hope that I will be one of the many that throws her money into an
insurance plan that we will never have to use. Because that to me? Would
mean that both my husband and I are still alive and living life with our children. But in the unfortunate event that we do? I at least know we are covered.
My husband and children are the most important people in my life. I hope
I live to see my daughter's children be born. To watch my grandchildren
graduate college. To travel and see the world. I hope I live to see the
day my husband gets gray hair, is in need of a hip replacement, and
needs a pill box to organize all his medicine. My hopes and dreams all
revolve around my family, their health and security, and their future. And
if a day comes that I won't be here to be a part of all these important milestones in their lives? My hope is that they will
still be able to carry on those dreams of theirs with absolutely nothing
holding them back - See more at:
http://frommrstomama.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-life-insurance-movement.html#sthash.0IIRJhCf.dpuf
I
know this isn't a topic that I normally talk about on the blog. I know
that it is far from all the mama business, shopping deals, and everyday
life that surrounds this little space of mine. But what I also know is
that life insurance is a word that the young seem to steer away from, and unfortunately a topic that needs more awareness and exposure.
Why do young people not like to talk about it? Perhaps due to the lack of extra finances to open up a plan. Maybe the lack of knowledge of what life insurance is and what it will mean for them. And most importantly, lack of understanding of what life after death may look like to their beloved family members. So why am I, a 26 year old, talking about this today? Because I'm a mama now. Well, I've been one for quite some time. Not to mention that I am a wife. And also the fact that I am surrounded by both life and death where I work. Because I not only see the old pass but also the young.
Young men and women in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties.
Women and men with young children. Some with older ones getting ready to
head out to college. A daughter who is getting ready to walk down the
aisle. A son who's the star quarterback on his football team. A wife who
has been a stay at home mother for 10+ years. A lifestyle that they
have worked so hard to build throughout the years. And then death
happens. And it rips the family apart. It rips everything they know,
everything they do, how they function, how they don't. And
thus, they are forced to enter this new world of being a widow, left
without their loved one, left with bills, responsibilities, and changes
that they never thought for one second they would have to live with.
Perhaps I have reached the core of why young people don't discuss life
insurance. Because by talking about it... it means that "it," in other
words death, can actually happen. And the thing about it, is that it can. And it does. Car accidents happen. Heart attacks come unexpectedly. Cancer, in which we still don't have a cure for, strikes. And the unfortunate part is that these things can strike at any age, any time.
I was 23 years old when we opened up our first life insurance plan at my
work which fortunately for us a very large amount was offered both for
myself and my husband. I was surprised/impressed that ours actually
offered something more than the typical 50k/100k plans that you
typically see in work environments. Therefore, we took out the maximum
amount allowed, which would far exceed a funeral, pay off our home and
student loans in full, and give myself or my husband a 5+ year cushion
to get our feet off the ground, get out of our depressed beds, and
figure out how to get ourselves back in order.
We have maintained this plan since. Thankfully for me, it costs very
little to us, and we view it as pocket change for what could be life
changing if death did unfortunately strike. And we have further
discussed opening up a separate private plan in the next couple of
months to add onto the "cushion" of our life insurance. A cushion we do
not exactly like to discuss over the dinner table, but as our family grows, know how important it is that we do.
When something as unfortunate as death of a loved one occurs, the last
thing anyone would ever want is financial burden on top of the grief for
their family members.
I hope that I will be one of the many that throws her money into an
insurance plan that we will never have to use. Because that to me? Would
mean that both my husband and I are still alive and living life with our children. But in the unfortunate event that we do? I at least know we are covered.
My husband and children are the most important people in my life. I hope
I live to see my daughter's children be born. To watch my grandchildren
graduate college. To travel and see the world. I hope I live to see the
day my husband gets gray hair, is in need of a hip replacement, and
needs a pill box to organize all his medicine. My hopes and dreams all
revolve around my family, their health and security, and their future. And
if a day comes that I won't be here to be a part of all these important milestones in their lives? My hope is that they will
still be able to carry on those dreams of theirs with absolutely nothing
holding them back - See more at:
http://frommrstomama.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-life-insurance-movement.html#sthash.0IIRJhCf.dpuf
I
know this isn't a topic that I normally talk about on the blog. I know
that it is far from all the mama business, shopping deals, and everyday
life that surrounds this little space of mine. But what I also know is
that life insurance is a word that the young seem to steer away from, and unfortunately a topic that needs more awareness and exposure.
Why do young people not like to talk about it? Perhaps due to the lack of extra finances to open up a plan. Maybe the lack of knowledge of what life insurance is and what it will mean for them. And most importantly, lack of understanding of what life after death may look like to their beloved family members. So why am I, a 26 year old, talking about this today? Because I'm a mama now. Well, I've been one for quite some time. Not to mention that I am a wife. And also the fact that I am surrounded by both life and death where I work. Because I not only see the old pass but also the young.
Young men and women in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties.
Women and men with young children. Some with older ones getting ready to
head out to college. A daughter who is getting ready to walk down the
aisle. A son who's the star quarterback on his football team. A wife who
has been a stay at home mother for 10+ years. A lifestyle that they
have worked so hard to build throughout the years. And then death
happens. And it rips the family apart. It rips everything they know,
everything they do, how they function, how they don't. And
thus, they are forced to enter this new world of being a widow, left
without their loved one, left with bills, responsibilities, and changes
that they never thought for one second they would have to live with.
Perhaps I have reached the core of why young people don't discuss life
insurance. Because by talking about it... it means that "it," in other
words death, can actually happen. And the thing about it, is that it can. And it does. Car accidents happen. Heart attacks come unexpectedly. Cancer, in which we still don't have a cure for, strikes. And the unfortunate part is that these things can strike at any age, any time.
I was 23 years old when we opened up our first life insurance plan at my
work which fortunately for us a very large amount was offered both for
myself and my husband. I was surprised/impressed that ours actually
offered something more than the typical 50k/100k plans that you
typically see in work environments. Therefore, we took out the maximum
amount allowed, which would far exceed a funeral, pay off our home and
student loans in full, and give myself or my husband a 5+ year cushion
to get our feet off the ground, get out of our depressed beds, and
figure out how to get ourselves back in order.
We have maintained this plan since. Thankfully for me, it costs very
little to us, and we view it as pocket change for what could be life
changing if death did unfortunately strike. And we have further
discussed opening up a separate private plan in the next couple of
months to add onto the "cushion" of our life insurance. A cushion we do
not exactly like to discuss over the dinner table, but as our family grows, know how important it is that we do.
When something as unfortunate as death of a loved one occurs, the last
thing anyone would ever want is financial burden on top of the grief for
their family members.
I hope that I will be one of the many that throws her money into an
insurance plan that we will never have to use. Because that to me? Would
mean that both my husband and I are still alive and living life with our children. But in the unfortunate event that we do? I at least know we are covered.
My husband and children are the most important people in my life. I hope
I live to see my daughter's children be born. To watch my grandchildren
graduate college. To travel and see the world. I hope I live to see the
day my husband gets gray hair, is in need of a hip replacement, and
needs a pill box to organize all his medicine. My hopes and dreams all
revolve around my family, their health and security, and their future. And
if a day comes that I won't be here to be a part of all these important milestones in their lives? My hope is that they will
still be able to carry on those dreams of theirs with absolutely nothing
holding them back - See more at:
http://frommrstomama.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-life-insurance-movement.html#sthash.0IIRJhCf.dpuf
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
