My Regret Over Not Having Life Insurance | Kotori Notebook | Vol. 1

The 'what ifs' can happen to anyone.
Back then, I didn't know the importance of being prepared.

When my husband was diagnosed with his illness, we did not have life insurance.
It was only when we faced the unexpected reality that I learned the weight of money and systems.
If I had known back then, perhaps our future would have been a little different.

In this Kotori Notebook, I will write down, little by little, the things I wish I had done differently based on my experiences at that time.

I hope this serves as a small hint for those who are supporting loved ones or
facing sudden events in the same way.

[Insurance Talk] Things I wish I had known before becoming a married couple

When my husband was still single, his family had debts.
To pay them off, his parents told him to 'get insurance,' and
it seems he followed their instructions and took out a life insurance policy.

After we got married, even when I suggested we get insurance,
my husband said, 'I already have it, so there's no need for us to get new insurance as a couple,' and
we couldn't discuss insurance any further than that.

I was young at the time, too,
and I just thought, 'I guess that's how it is.'

But what I found out after my husband passed away was
the reality thatthere was absolutely no coverage for me or our childrenin that policy.

Talking about money as a couple is difficult.

But...

It is hard to bring up the topic of money, even when you are married.
That is exactly why I truly wish we had talked about it properly.

And another important thing is that
rather than just having insurance,understanding what it coversis what matters.

What I wish I had done back then

Before marriage, after marriage, and before having children,
I strongly believe now that as a couple, we should haveplanned our lifeandprepared for minimum risks.

In life, 'unpredictable things' happen
more suddenly than you think.

I had no idea at the time
how lonely that would be or how much it would affect our lives.
Life is a series of unpredictable events.

What I want to tell my past self

Once you have children, make minimum preparations

"Until the children are independent, term insurance is fine.
In any case, I should have had life (death) coverage for the head of the household."

That is what I strongly believe now.

And even if it were term insurance, just having coverage would have allowed me to avoid my mistake of
"rushing to sign up for a pointless insurance policy right after my husband passed away,
and spending most of my salary on it."

Summary: "Kotori Notebook" as a quiet light

Kotori Notebook is written with the hope that it can become a "quiet light"
for someone who is supporting a loved one.

I hope you will take your time reading it.