Greed is a common human flaw. Whether it appears in small acts or large ones, most of us have wrestled with the temptation of gluttony. But at the end of the day, no matter how much we accumulate, we can’t take money with us when we die. It’s always better to use wealth for good while we’re alive. Unfortunately, one man didn’t understand that—until his wife came up with a clever solution to his ridiculous final request.
This humorous and touching tale—true or not—has been widely shared, and it’s easy to see why. It serves as a gentle reminder that earthly riches are temporary. The story centers on a modern-day Scrooge, a man who worked tirelessly, hoarded every cent, and lived extremely frugally just to build up his savings. Money was his top priority, even over his relationships.
So much so, that on his deathbed, he made a strange request:
“Promise me,” he said to his wife, “that you’ll put all of my money in the casket with me. I want to take it with me—no matter where I’m going.”
Though shocked by the selfishness of the request, his wife—kind and honest—felt obligated to keep her word. After all, she was a woman of principle. But honoring her husband’s last wish wasn’t easy. She was left with limited income and knew that the money could’ve supported her or even helped others.
Still, she made a plan.
On the day of the funeral, dressed in black, the widow sat quietly at the front of the service, her best friend by her side. When the ceremony ended and the casket was about to be closed, the widow stood up and called out, “Wait a moment!”
With everyone watching, she approached the coffin holding a shoebox. She placed it inside before saying a final goodbye.
Her friend leaned in, stunned. “You didn’t actually put his money in there, did you?”
The widow replied, “I sure did. I’m a good Christian—I couldn’t lie. I promised I’d put all the money in the casket.”
In disbelief, the friend asked again, “You really put every last cent in that box?”
The widow smiled slyly. “Yes, I did. I deposited all the money into my account… then I wrote him a check.”