Checklist
By Izumi Inoue, Founder @ Bereev
This post is meant for all the young adults out there who are probably just starting out in life and the idea of death may seem so foreign or even distant. I’m sorry but I have to be the bad guy here and remind everyone that death is not reserved for only the old and the sick. Over the years I’ve heard of stories like the young healthy teenager who collapsed and died suddenly while playing basketball or the time when a friend of a friend (in her early 20’s) got hit by a truck on her way back home.
On my last trip to the memorial park where my grandparents are buried, I walked past rows and rows of burial plots and niches housing people of my age or even younger. I’ve even seen kids buried merely meters away from my late grandparents. Death is a scary thing to think about, I know. Personally, I’ve avoided the topic like a plague for years thinking that I have lifetime ahead of me, why should I even think about death now?
The sobering reality is death doesn’t recognise age or the state of your health, it comes at times that are most inconvenient and we’ve all heard of stories like these. I’m not asking you to dwell on the topic and let it send you to a state of depression, no. But why don’t we appeal to our logical and pragmatic side, let’s prepare for it so that we can go on and live our lives worry free? Let’s get it out of the way now so that when the time comes (and it will come), we won’t have to worry about the people we leave behind.
📄 Write Your Will
Sounds simple enough and yet more than 50% of Malaysians have not written one and the problem is most of us don’t think we’re RICH enough to need one. Here’s the thing, by the time we start working all of us would have at least a savings account, retirement fund (EPF/KWSP) and some personal belongings. Even if you have RM1,000 or less to your name, it’s still money that you’ve worked hard for and every cent counts. Also, it’s not that expensive or difficult to write a will. Check out this post where we talk about some of your options in Malaysia.
You can use an online repository like Bereev to securely store your will.
✅ Itemise Your Belongings
List down all of the things that you own including your mobile phone, laptop, tablet, TV, camera, gaming console, jewellery, collection and etc. Specify where you usually keep those things and how to access it (i.e.: your phone’s passcode). If it’s not already in your will then let your family know who would you like to pass those items down to.
Learn how to manage your vehicles and properties on Bereev.
💸 List Your Debts
Another thing most of us ‘own’ that constantly slips our minds are our debts. Are you paying off any loans or mortgages for your house, vehicle or even for your education? Do you have any unpaid credit card debt? Or do you owe anyone money? Remember that RM100 loan you got from your friend? When everything is said and done, repaying those debts will help you tie up any loose ends and leave this life debt-free. Also, plenty of religious teachings stress on not leaving any debts behind before moving on.
Here’s how you can use Bereev to list down all of your debts.
💬 Prepare Instructions
What else should your family know? Do you want your funeral to be handled a certain way? Do you have an active Netflix or Spotify subscription that needs to be cancelled? Are you a member of the local gym? What should your loved ones do with your email or should they memorialise your social media accounts? Do you need someone to delete your search history (😬)? Write all of these down and help them understand what you need them to do when you’re no longer around, while you’re at it why not have a family meeting to talk through these things?
Learn how to plan for your own funeral on Bereev here.
📋 Update Your Insurance
If you have any insurance especially life insurance, check your policy and make sure that everything is in order. Remember to ensure that the beneficiary of your insurance is listed. You’ll be surprised to find that over 50% of the life insurance policies sold in Malaysia DO NOT have a beneficiary listed which means that when those policy holders die, the insurance company won’t know who to pay the money to and that’s years of paying your premiums gone to waste.
Here’s how to upload and manage your insurance policies on Bereev.
💌 Record Farewell Messages
The sweetest (and arguably most useful) thing you can do for the people you love is to comfort them in your own words. Losing you someday will leave a huge hole in their lives and some of them may struggle to move on with their lives without you. Help them find closure or use this opportunity to remind them how much you love them, forgive past wrongdoings and encourage them to look forward to life. It’s going to be tough on them and you can do your part to make it a little bit easier.
Here’s how you can leave messages for your friends and family on Bereev.
🐱 Arrange Pet Care
Are you a pet parent who needs someone to care for your furry friends when you’re no longer around? Make sure you’ve identified a person or two (just in case) who’ll be able to take them in when the time comes, don’t forget to let them know which veterinarian do you usually go to and if your pets have any allergies or medical conditions that needs their attention. If your pets have a microchip or birth certificate, make sure that their new carer will have access to those too.
Learn how you can arrange for the care of your pets on Bereev here.
Bereev is a Death Preparation App that helps you prepare yourself and loved ones for your own death. Sign up for your FREE account here.
📝 Plan
Leave instructions for your funeral, financial and personal arrangements.
📂 Vault
Store vital documents like your will, insurance, medical records and more.
💌 Message
Leave messages for your loved ones which will be sent after you’re gone.
👥 Share
Invite the people you trust to view your plan and customise their access.
#death #deathplanning #deathapp #endoflife
