Do you know what these purchases consisted of? Stuff she actually needed? Thought she needed? Need (of whatever kind) didn't even enter into the equation? Some of each category? Can any of these purchases be returned? Can those who provided services be contacted to explain the circumstances and request a partial or full refund?

I know where about $4K came from. A few years ago she had to have roof damage repaired. The costs was about that give or take. It was in the days before she had insurance on the house.

Now she has insurance, but the last time there was damage to the house, she couldn't afford the deductible, so things were fixed the way they should be. I would imagine, though I don't know for sure, that some of the money may have been from the use of a credit card to pay her taxes and insurance.

Beyond that, who knows what she spent the money on? My stepdad has been gone for 8 years and she has nothing of any real value in the house. I'm sure a lot of it went to clothes, as she has two closets stuffed full, but her clothing connection closed her shop last year, so she isn't spending on that any more, but she was very resistent when I suggested we take them to a resale shop.

Quite honestly, what I see happening at this point is that she'll make minimum payments until she passes. At which point the cards will be cut up and returned with a copy of her death certificate and the accounts will be closed. The home mortgage refi place will take the rest.

LWW