Lessons from a Gas Fired Boiler
As I write this, my 40-year-old gas fired boiler is being replaced with a high efficiency boiler that also replaces my 50-gallon hot water tank. Mass Save and the gas company offered a great rebate deal and a zero-interest loan to pay for the upgrade. The old boiler was working fine, but everything has a shelf life.
It did not make sense to wait until the old boiler died before replacing it. Doing it now gave me time to do my homework and feel comfortable with our purchase. I didn’t want to wait for Murphy’s Law to kick in, as in that boiler would have died on the coldest night of the year, which would have been on a weekend – probably on the night of the Super Bowl.
Waiting too long to act can actually cost more in terms of money and aggravation. Not to mention the increased stress and feeling the pressure of being out of control. It is much easier to shop for a car when the old one still runs. I have not done this for a long time, but people tell me it is better to look for a new job while you still have one.
Individuals and families can also take advantage of not waiting until it’s too late. Many find it reassuring to plan their estate and funeral before someone dies. Like everything else in life, having time to think and plan saves money, stress, and aggravation. Planning our estate takes reflection and prayer, a step that is often missed when we wait too long to act.
If you have not written or recently updated your will, let me suggest the Foundation’s “Provide & Protect” wills guide to help you begin the process. You may request the printed version or download a copy. I believe setting up an online account planner is easier to use because you can save and update your information on a regular basis. (I prefer to update my information annually and print a copy for my records.)
There are also educational videos on the website that are very helpful. The “online” wills guide can be found by clicking HERE. Even better is that you can save the information in a PDF file to print for your records or email to your advisors.
Please let me know if you have any questions, or if you need more information about a charitable gift. I would be happy to meet with you at your convenience and talk about how the Foundation can be of assistance to you. It never pays to procrastinate.