The Green Box That Could Save Your Family’s Sanity
A Simple Hack to Handle Life’s Messiest Moments—Even When You’re Not Around
For this week, I wanted to share something I came across recently on X.
It’s called The Green Box Exercise, and it’s one of those ideas that’s equal parts practical and thoughtful.
Basically, it’s a way to make life a little less stressful for your loved ones if you’re, well… not around to help out.
The idea is simple: gather all the important stuff—documents, passwords, instructions—and keep it in one place.
Ideally, a secure box (green is optional, but hey, it’s a nice touch).
Think of it as your "life admin cheat sheet" for your family when they need it most.
Now, if you’re in your 20s, you’re probably thinking:
“Why would I need this? My biggest assets are my laptop and that one jacket everyone keeps borrowing.”
Fair point. Unless your net worth rivals your wealthy uncle’s—who probably has a yacht named Tax Break—this might not feel urgent. But someday, when life gets more complex, this will be a game-changer.
Of course, this box has super sensitive information in it. Don’t just toss it under the bed with old receipts. A safe, fireproof cabinet, or even a safe deposit box at the bank is a much better call.
Just make sure your family knows where it is—because the last thing you want is them tearing the house apart yelling, “Why is nothing EVER labeled in this house?”
And hey, if you’re not the one who handles these things—maybe it’s your spouse, your dad, or your mom—do them a favor and forward this newsletter. Tell them it’s worth a look. They might thank you later (or ask you why they weren’t already subscribed 😀).
It’s not just about being organized—it’s about saying, “I love you enough to save you from hunting for my insurance documents at 2 AM.”
And honestly, isn’t that the kind of legacy we all want to leave?
What do you think—something to consider for the future?
Anyways here’s the piece by Michael Girdley:
The Green Box Exercise
The days after you die will be awful for your loved ones. Here's one way to make it easier for them:
Collect all the info your loved ones will need after you're gone.
Put it in a box (preferably green) and store it somewhere secure.
Tell your family where to find it.
This will save your family, lawyers, etc., from puzzling out a million loose ends.
Here's what I put in mine:
PERSONAL STUFF
A "START HERE" document that lists everything in the box
Letters to your spouse/children/parents
Any mementos and to whom you'd like them given
Copy of will
Copies of your power of attorney documents
LIFE ADMIN
Computer passwords (I keep this simple - it's my password manager master password)
Copy of passport and birth certificate
Copy of credit cards
Details of all insurance (personal and company-owned)
Medical/dental information
BUSINESS
Org chart(s) and contact information
Recommendation on who to trust and how
List of trusted advisors (lawyers, accountant, CPA, etc)
ASSETS
Personal financial statements
Details of any trusts
Copies of physical property titles (cars, houses, etc)
Personal portfolio information and access (stocks, cc points, etc)
Personal property valuations (jewelry, etc)
FINAL TO-DO LISTS
List of personal and business people that should be notified
Any instructions not addressed in your will
Funeral/burial instructions
That’s it for this week.
Manoj
"1 Idea" delivers interesting insights every week straight to your inbox. If this edition resonated with you, how about sharing it with a friend?
And if you're just diving into my world for the first time, why not hit that subscribe button?