Chippy_boy
Well-Known Member
In an ideal world, I'd agree with you but the reality is with the tax burden as high as it is, childcare as expensive as it is, housing as expensive as it is, car tax, insurance, FOOD! etc etc, many families are struggling to put anything like enough aside for their retirement, and others may need funds from mum and dad to even get on the housing ladder.I think the point he was making is that if you live in a million pound house there are more ways of accessing cash that wouldn't be available to someone who was living in a much less expensive house or, worse still, didn't own the house they were living in.
I'll also add that half a million quid is a hell of a decent wedge before IHT kicks in. Put it this way - I wouldn't be complaining about IHT if I inherited over half a million and anyone that does needs to have a reality check. In any case - and I'll make it clear that in no way am I saying that parents shouldn't be leaving money and assets to their children - fully grown adults who are capable of looking after themselves shouldn't be relying on inheritance from their parents. And I say that as someone who has just inherited part of my dad's estate.
And regards your first paragraph, well perhaps if equity release is an option - although in many cases it makes no sense. But we have to accept - as I am sure you do - that some people are better off than others and it will always be the case. That doesn't mean the better off people don't have struggles of their own. I am sure even the poorest posters on here live in relative luxury compared to someone trying to get in from e.g. Syria, yet anyone trying to tell an impoverished Labour voter on benefits to "stop moaning" would likely be criticized.
I can well imagine a retired lady with no money, little income and facing large bills, is pretty stressed about it.

