“預支遺產”大行其道

父母出錢給孩子（甚至孫子）買房，這在中國大概是極其普遍的一個現象。近幾年來，原本奉行各自獨立生活理念的外國父母們似乎也開始向中國的父母學習了。他們把房子抵押出去換來資金給孩子買房或者結婚，這就相當于提前把遺產給了孩子，英文叫做pre-heritance。

Pre-heritance refers to financial support given by living parents to their children or grandchildren as an alternative to leaving an inheritance to them after they die.

Pre-heritance（預支遺產）指父母健在時將財產拿出來為子孫提供經濟支持，而不是將其留作身后遺產供后輩繼承。

According to a national survey in the UK, 82% of people over 55 said they would prefer to give financial support to their children or grandchildren before they die. 44% said they would consider releasing equity from their homes in order to give their children or grandchildren the finances necessary to buy their first house or to cover the cost of weddings or education. It seems that parents are increasingly beginning to recognize the advantages of giving financial support to their offspring at a time when they really need it, thereby also potentially avoiding the pitfalls of inheritance tax, tax paid on inherited money or property.

據英國一項全國性調查顯示，55歲以上的人中有82%表示愿意在身故前給子孫提供經濟支持。44%的人愿意將房產抵押獲取資金來幫助子孫購買首套房或承擔他們結婚及上學的費用。似乎有越來越多的父母開始意識到在孩子們真正需要的時候提供經濟支持的有利之處了，另外，這樣做還能避免上繳遺產稅。

相關閱讀

新潮的“不留遺產族”

雙核家庭 dual-core family

空巢家庭 empty-nest family

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）

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