Feeling empty after parents died

It’ll sound like a very first world problem, I lost both parents very suddenly 1 year apart and grandparents the two years before. Both parents worked until the day they died (heart attack and pulmonary embolism). Dad was retirement age when mom died but went back to work and then retired again 1 month before he died about half year ago.

For myself, I have done very well and I have always imagined I would dedicate myself to give my parents a well-deserved retirement without ever having to worry about financials. We were immigrants, grew up lower working class, parents never took a vacation until dad hit 65. Otherwise I live a simple life, spent time with dad after mom passed, we went on 1-on-1 vacations. I now have a home (mortgage), and no other debt. Married without kids (but in the works). Significant pay bump in the recent years. She takes care of her parents with her income and buys nice things for herself. The rest of our household/joint expenses are on me. I make $320k and she makes $100k.

I’m parking away $8-9k monthly at this point into our retirement (spouse has pension too). Additionally, received $50k inheritance and a house which has essentially put me into CoastFIRE Territory with my current expenses and lifestyle, but hesitant to actually make the move to selling the property and investing the inheritance as I feel a tremendous amount of guilt benefiting from it.

Essentially I have been feeling empty since the dust has settled. Estate finalized, taxes done, extended family has moved on. I go to work, job is good, come home and exercise, spend time with my wife. We go on dates when we want to, take time off when we want to, luxury bags for the wife. Nothing just seems fulfilling. it feels lonely and lost and none of my friends nor wife can really relate. We are all still relatively young (30-32)and all of their parents are alive.

Posted May 3, 2026, 6:09 PM UTC

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