My father died when I was nine. He left behind my mother and four children aged between seventeen years and nine and no money. Sure I missed him but at nine I didn't really have much idea about death or loss. I know it sounds selfish but what I really missed was our old lifestyle. We had to move house because we lived in a company house and couldn't stay there anymore. We had to give up our car because that was provided by the company too. All we could afford was a run down council house. It was small and cramped and didn't have much in the way of fences so we felt we had neighbours right on top of us. This was all salt to the wound of our grief, all these niggly things that had now become our life. I don't know why my father didn't take out life insurance, all I know is that he didn't and we bore the consequences of that decision for a long time.

It has made me wonder why so many people roll their eyes when the words 'life insurance' are uttered out loud. Sure I can understand not wanting to contemplate a scenario that would require you or your family to actually need it but that is no excuse for ignoring it altogether and not planning ahead. Imagine, just for a moment, your family