13 Sentimental Things You Can Leave Your Kids (It's Not All About Money)

Life is finite, and that is a real bummer — especially as we grow nearer to our own expiration dates. It can be difficult to plan for our inevitable demise and painful to discuss with loved ones, but it's often worse for those left behind if words are left unsaid and plans left unmade. Making the right moves isn't just about the money, though, and the sentimental items can leave a more lasting emotional legacy after the practical needs of financial survival are in order.

Take a look at some deeply personal inheritance items that will tell your story, reflect your values, and preserve your memory in a lasting, tangible way for your loved ones to cherish.

A handwritten (or typed and printed) notebook of wisdom, reflections, and values learned throughout your life is a way to speak to your family even after you are gone. Those who have lost a loved one understand how valuable it can be to have a place to turn for advice when longing for the comfort of one who no longer walks among us.

Food is more than just nourishment for the body, and the taste of "home" can nourish the soul during times of grief. Leaving a curated binder of family recipes with notes, annotations, and little anecdotes will let your loved ones make that favorite birthday cake, grandma's holiday stuffing, or the lasagna the kids always begged for — and they will think of you with every bite.

Heirlooms that mark major life moments can be passed down with the family stories of your relationship, career, or other moments that represent the journey of life and will give them a physical token to hold and use when cherishing those happy memories.

Writing deeply personal letters that express love, hopes, memories, dreams, and aspirations for your loved ones can be a way for them to keep you close when they need you the most. Putting such letters in a special case or even displaying them in a frame can help guarantee they don't get lost in the initial grief.

A physical, or even digital, map can be used to mark places that were meaningful to your life — where you were born, met your spouse, traveled as a family, where your children were raised, or any other important locations. Adding notes about what made each place special can turn it into a wonderful gift to leave to your family after you have passed.

We've all had that one voicemail message we try to keep forever, just to hear that special voice. Give your loved ones the gift of a better method to hear more purposeful words to carry them through grief, and record messages for them in a more permanent format.

Clasping a pendant or ring with your fingerprint gently embedded in the metal can be like a gentle squeeze of your hand when they miss you the most. Many memorial keepsake companies offer this service, and may be available through the funeral home handling your services.

A phone is a convenient place to keep pictures, but don't leave them there forever. Be sure to print your favorites and curate a physical album for your loved ones to page through when missing your presence.

Children, especially, can appreciate a favorite and well-worn sweater or blanket to wrap around themselves when missing you. A soft fabric that they associate strongly with you can be a comfort during the darkest hours of the night, when grief can hit the hardest and loneliest.

Most people have a fragrance associated with them, from a perfume, cologne, or some other scent worn daily (or even just on special occasions). Keeping an extra bottle or two along with letters, pictures, and recipes can add an extra layer of sensory memory to your thoughtful posthumous gifts.

Don't leave your relatives to find each other through third-party DNA testing. Create a complete lineage of your relatives, with room for future generations to be added. If you have little artistic skill yourself, an artist can be commissioned to create one on high-quality paper suitable for framing.

Handling unfinished arrangements for legal paperwork can feel impossible while simultaneously grieving the fresh new loss of a loved one, and can leave one vulnerable to those who would take advantage.

Making sure all the legal work for estate, inheritance, and funeral arrangements is complete is more than just practical — it's a way to make your passing easier on those who will be grieving your loss the most.

Don't forget to ask your loved ones what they would like to remember you by, and if there are any things that are especially important to them! Sometimes the answers aren't what you would expect, and might even seem trivial to you before they tell you.

After life plans should include more than just financial fitness, and while money is always important to plan appropriately, it is often the sentimental gifts that will mean the most to your loved ones.

Giving them financial security helps your loved ones to truly live, but giving them sentimental gifts to last throughout the ages helps your loved ones to get through the emotional grief that aches far longer than any financial woes ever could.