If you suddenly inherited $10,000, what would you do with it?
Daily | September 3rd, 2008
Big dreams and get rich schemes…or good ol’ common sense that’s tried and true. It’s your money, honey. With our special guest, J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly fame!
Carrie says: My responsible side would use five grand to pay our line of credit, the other five grand for a shopping spree in Seattle for my husband – the poor guy needs some new duds.
Danielle says: $8k would allow us to buy a small condo investment to rent out. $1k for some cashmere and cowboy boots for fall. The final $1k for a weekend in San Francisco with my Firefighting hubby who deserves a break.
J.D. says: Ten years ago, I would have spent a $10,000 windfall on all sorts of toys: books, computer games, maybe a downpayment for a car. Three years ago, I would have used most of the money to pay off debt, and then set aside some to save for a vacation. Now that my debt is paid off, I’d be really boring if inherited $10,000. I’d stick it in a savings account! I’d probably still set aside some ($1,000) to save for a vacation, but I’d use the rest so that I could save for the future. Early retirement, here I come!
Want to get rich (slowly, now.) Read our interview with Money man, J.D. Roth today.
And read today’s blog to learn how to get into the millionaire mind(set).
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September 3rd, 2008 at 12:36 am
I’m boring. I’d put most of it in a savings account, too!
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:09 am
I would put most of it away in savings for retirement (coming soon!) but I think I would take $2000 and use it for those “extra” things – splurging for the “deluxe” room at the hotel on a weekend holiday, opting for the “reserve” vintage bottle of wine, choosing the “Sterling” vs “AA” cut of beef, the “menu gastronomique” instead of the table d’hote, so that we can enjoy that little touch of luxury over time…
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:19 am
I would take $5,000 off our mortgage and the rest I would spend on landscaping our garden.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:28 am
It depends who I inherited it from. When my granddad died I spent some of the money he left me on a beautiful Cartier watch. Every morning when I put it on, I think of him. The rest went on a road trip down the Californian coast. He would have loved to hear all my stories.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:30 am
I’d pay off my car loan ($6500), try to save some of it ($2500) and allow myself to spend $1000 of it on whatever I want! That’s where the really tough thinking comes in – prioritzing that $1000 shopping list!
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:31 am
I love that you spent part of your inheritance on a beautiful piece of jewelry that will remind you of your grandfather!
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:50 am
Probably use it to make my monthly car payment less (MUCH less).
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:52 am
I’m so lucky. I have all the things I need and want and the means to fund a few more guilty pleasures. I’d sign my check over to Rachel Lloyd to support G.E.M.S. (Girls Education and Mentoring Service) which aims to end the trafficking and sexual exploitation of girls and young women. This kind of money would make an enormous difference to that organization and the beautiful girls that it serves.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:08 am
Retirement savings.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:21 am
For me it does depend on who I inherited it from. If it was someone from my husband’s side then I would let him buy a treat (max 20%) for himself to remember that person by. If it was someone from my side I would probably put the $2,000 towards a holiday somewhere I haven’t been or somewhere that holds very dear memories.
In either case the rest would be invested.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:43 am
Fund my hand painted tshirt line with $5K. Put the rest toward my Egypt trip.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:58 am
I’d hire a personal trainer. I don’t have a clue how much that would cost but if it didn’t take the full windfall I’d use the rest for new clothes for my new toned body.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:19 am
This actually did happen to me last year. Blessed be! I paid off about $8500 in debts, added $500 to my emergency fund, bought a brand new vacuum cleaner for $350, gave $100 to the local food bank, went out to dinner several times with my husband (we hadn’t done that in ages!) and the rest I put into my checking account and used for fun…I got my hair cut and colored, got an oil change for the car, bought a nice outfit, stuff like that. I also bought a cheap plane ticket home for a weekend to see my family, if I recall. I got a little chunk of money about 15 years ago and my very first purchase then was a vacuum cleaner. It was that vacuum cleaner that I replaced. How funny, I hadn’t thought of that.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:28 am
I would put $5,000 into a high risk mutual fund, and I would use the rest to pay off my student loans.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:33 am
After returning to school at 30 to become an art/drama teacher, I’ve incurred some new student debt later in life. It was all worth it, but I’ve had to make some financial sacrifices in order to do it. That said, I’d pay off some of my student debt and put the rest aside for a digital SLR camera to continue my love of photography.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:34 am
I could use $10,000 right about now. If I did inherit any money I would save 1/2 and put 1/2 on my mortgage.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:41 am
$10K would be a blessing right now. I would use about half to subsidize the repairs needed to my house and the remainder I would be in conflict with on how to use. The responsible side of me would use to offset my student loans since I am currently in grad school. The more I need to have fun too side would use $2500 to plan a couple of much needed excursions during the school year and the other $2500 to fund a trip to India I’ve been wanting to take this December.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:47 am
I’d give $9,000 to my parents to help them pay off their mortgage, then use $1000 for myself on some necessities (trips to see my boyfriend at law school) and maybe some clothes
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:53 am
Jess…that’s really generous and thoughtful to help support your parents.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:54 am
Now that I’ve gained new understanding in how important it is to live within your means (quite a new concept for me) I’d put that $$ in the bank (I can’t believe I’m saying this and actually meaning it!)you never know what may come up and it truly is best to save it and not spend it:-))
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:54 am
If $10,000 landed in my lap, I would get laser eye surgery (imagine the miracle of waking up and being able to read the alarm clock after 25 years?), and the remainder would go into our investments savings account.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:58 am
It all would go to debt.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:06 am
Thank you! I’m a student and thanks to my parents hard work, I will be graduating my masters without debt – something many students are not fortunate enough to do – so this would be just a small way to give back (so it’d be great if it actually happened! Haha)
Doing my Style Statement actually helped me to come to this conclusion because before, when I wasn’t strong in my choices, I would’ve spent it on myself or sent my parents on a trip (they don’t even like traveling). But now I feel more confident in myself, I don’t feel I need to prove so much with my money.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:09 am
$10,000 would be a godsend right now. I would pay off debt.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:09 am
I would fund my decorative accessory line. $10K would buy a lot of fabric
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:19 am
$10K would be just the tidy sum I’d need to pay off my student loan and have just enough left over to buy the brown velvet sofa of my dreams.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:19 am
So weird! I just asked my mom this last week! Stop spying! Her answer was very practical – pay off debt and invest in her condo. Mine was less so – rent a house in Cape Cod for my family to spend two weeks together, lobsters included! I feel so fortunate to have a financial plan in place, so this windfall would be for the luxury of restful time with family.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:25 am
A sweet little jalopy for my newly licensed daughter, some much longed for finish work around the house, a couple of kayaks, and the rest for gifts and saving.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:32 am
BONJOUR MES AMIS!!!
Aminorate debt, or take a trip to Paris. I think Paris would win hands down!!! lollollollol
Cécile
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:32 am
two words- COLLEGE FUND! Sure I might take a little to splurge on a treat for the family but after that investing in my daughter’s education so that she isn’t paying off student loans when she is in her mid forties would give me the greatest satisfaction.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:57 am
First ten percent would be tithed to charity – ‘Almost Home,’ an animal adoption center. As a Sub-S, I’d have to then fork over $2,700 to the Fed and $540 to the state of Virginia. I’d take the remaining $5,760 and use some of it to take my wife out to dinner at a restaurant neither of us have been able to afford and then reduce my credit card to zero. I’d put the remainder into a six-month CD until I could figure out where the most valuable investment might be. Eventually it would end up invested in real estate of some kind as a long term support to my third retirement.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:10 am
i would bank it and apply for the “rock star intern position at carrie + danielle!
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:14 am
I would invest some in the stock market (retirement) and receive a dividend check each month off the interest, I would spend some (vacations, shopping) and I would save some (emergencies)!
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:39 am
Sounds wonderful. I’d pay off debt (7,000) trip to Greece (3,000)
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:57 am
Me too…pay down debt.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:59 am
I was about to write about the wishlist items I’d check off (re-upholstering my grandmother’s chair, an Aeron chair for my home office, a Style Statement session…) when I realized that this is about what we got back on taxes this year. And where did it go? Straight into a savings account for down-payment on our next house. So there ya go.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 am
As much as I would love to go on a trip somewhere, I would probably use most of it to pay down my debt. You can tell that I am 40 now. Ha.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:41 am
Ya know, I could be really sensible and pay off some debt with it or stash it away in savings, but…I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, want to go to Italy darn it! It would be a very hard decision for me, and of course my husband would get a vote. But really now, how do it I get this 10k?
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:42 am
I like your style girl!
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:00 am
I would invest it in my self to learn to earn / create a greater income than I currently have.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:14 am
I’d finally pay a visit to a financial adviser AND I’d invite a money savvy (i.e. successful and wealthy) friend over for a nice dinner. I think it would be worthy getting advice from both points of view. I would also consider paying down my student loan with half, and adding the rest to the “pot” for a down payment on our first home.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:38 am
Definately start a retirement fund as we have nothing!
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
real estate.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 am
Pay off credit card debt. Then be really pissed off that I didn’t go on a trip. So take a trip and wait for the next $10K to pay off credit card debt.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:10 am
I’d invest in alternative energy stocks.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:12 am
Sadly I would most likely juice up my bank account due to some heavy travel expenses over the last few months…it’s been a fantastic summer! With the rest, I’d throw a big dinner party, then buy a coffee, pizza, new jacket and boots…in Milan!
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:14 am
haha…funny how this works! You are not alone…:(
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
Pay off debt!! Because that equals freedom to act on my dreams.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:23 am
Spend $1k on clothes, buy my over-worked, over-tired, single parent, best friend a ticket to Hawaii, and the rest on debt.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
When my brother died my mum gave us money he had saved to buy something in his memory. I bought a piece of art which reminds me of him daily.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:03 am
I’m boring. I’d pay off debts, then save the rest, just like J.D.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:09 am
i’d pay off my visa then take a trip!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 am
your brother? i’m sorry to hear that.
but i love what you did to remember him.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 am
right on!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 am
Lovely and thoughtful.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 am
i’m practically blind without my glasses, too! laser surgery would be like a whole new kind of freedom! good idea.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:14 am
what’s a Sub-S? (i’m canadian and i have a feeling this is an american thing?)
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:14 am
go to italy.
’nuff said.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
Your daughter is blessed with a generous mama!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:17 am
How about getting that money advice now?
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
i don’t even know how single parents do it. i recently babysat my 3 year old niece and 1 year old nephew over a long weekend. we didn’t even need to get groceries, clean the house, or go anywhere at any specific times because it was a fun weekend with ‘auntie kakky’ (that’s me.) i had loads of fun, but there were also moments… moments when the baby was crying and his older sister couldn’t find her elephant that she always takes to bed with her. i found myself at times telling myself to breathe. i cannot imagine needing to take care of kids PLUS work, clean, do laundry, shop, etc etc etc… all those things called LIFE if i were a single parent! i instantly realized that anything you could do to help a single parent friend would be like lifting one of many weights off their shoulders. how on earth they do it i don’t even know. kudos to single parents everywhere!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:36 am
If you work for a company that has 401K plans or any kind of retirement, the administrator of the plans are usually pretty knowledgeable about all kinds of investments and the advice is usually free!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:40 am
I am so how come I have to be the shrew that has to get her to eat decent food, take a bath, go to bed on time… I don’t mind being the parent but I dearly hate being the grownup!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:48 am
Hands-down, I would put this towards a down-payment on a house. At 32-years-old, I am still not a homeowner, and it really bugs me that my kids don’t have a backyard to play in, and I don’t have a place to grow veggies. No backyard “camping”, no catching fireflies… It’s really kind of depressing when I think about it, despite that I live in a nice suburb with good schools.
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I would use it to renovate our second floor bathroom in the home that we just purchased. It is the only room in the whole house that really needs help. The house is a Victorian storey and a half and the bathroom at the moment has a brown wood panelling, a tub that is enclosed underneath the slant of the roof and the sink is in a tired vanity that sticks out into the room. The worst part is the floor is an old piece of linoleum with brown and gold.
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Good point Carrie.
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Mel,
If you live in a nice suburb with good schools you can consider yourself very fortunate. The fireflies and the camping aren’t waht will give your kids a good future. I am not knocking the fireflies or the tent, mind you, all I am, saying is that what you are providing is super important in a child’s life. Don’t sell yourself short.
Cécile
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I’d trade in my car and use the trade-in plus half on a black Mini Cooper then put the rest in the savings account.
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Ten grand would be a wonderful blessing but the reality is that it doesn’t get you a whole lot anymore! I JUST finished paying off the line of credit I had left over from college! Right now my bank account is in the positive (only $80!) but it feels sooo good to not see a minus sign in front of that.
I have been wanting to go back to Europe since I was 15 years old. I would put $3500 towards Europe. The hubby has horrible eyesight and laser eye surgery would be a wonderful blessing – $1500 ish. $1000 would go into an emergency fund, $1000 for some fun spending on myself and the remainder towards investing in the gift and decor business I would love to start next spring.
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Road Trip!
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
You are spot on. I dunno either!
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Love the laser eye surgery idea – I’d do that. The rest would go to pay down debt.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Lasik is a great idea for those of us who are still four-eyed…lol
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I would divvy it up and put it towards investing in my health and future.
Some towards a new wardrobe that looks professional and fits me properly, making me look as healthy and fit as possible.
Some towards yoga and/or dance classes to get me fit.
And some towards some music or art classes to get my artistic side expressed. Probably guitar and/or sketching.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I would call the pool company! I’ve always wanted my backyard to be my retreat.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I recently inherited about $30,000 after the passing of my father and I still haven’t decided what to do with all of it, but here’s what we’ve decided so far . . .
No outstanding debts aside from our mortgage and some of the money might end up going towards that. If I’d had a student loan/car loan/etc. the money would have gone there first (that’s what my sister did with part of her inheritance).
Half of the money is going into an RRSP account for the future.
With the other half of the money I’m going to spend some on life adventures – skydiving, vacation, etc.
I love the idea of purchasing a beautiful watch or piece of jewelery that will remind me of my dad every time I look at it. Though since he wasn’t much for fancy jewels and things, a beautiful piece of furniture or artwork might be a better idea.
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
We too just inherited money from my father in-laws estate ($245,000)! We are grappling with what to do with it as well. House will be paid off ~ mortgage-less at age 37. How blessed we are… but I wouldn’t trade all the money in the world to have my in-laws back…
With $10,000… one of 2 things… i’d pack up my hubby & 2 boys (under 5) Disney Cruise / Hawaii, here we come, or I may put it in the kitty for the acreage we intend to buy someday…
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
oh what a treat $10,000 would be! My hubs and I are really good about saving (well he’s better than I am) but I would buy the SLR camera I’m been crushing over for quite some time now. And with the rest I would a get my mom a housekeeper/personal assistant to help alleviate some of the stress she has weighing down on her right now.
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Agree 1,000%… I’m amazed that my wife manages to run a business full-time and look after our 13-month-old daughter, let alone how difficult it must be for a single mother.
It seems like single mothers are being demonized in the media again, particularly in Britain, where the Daily Mail newspaper loves writing awful pieces on how women are deliberately becoming single mothers so they can exploit the social security benefits system. And of course they dress this kind of nonsense up as concern about “family values”! Sorry, rant over…
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Personal circumstances certainly come into it, but I think I’d give at least half of the windfall to an environmental charity / pressure group or related cause. I feel like money that arrives entirely out of the blue is asking to be passed along to someone else who will be equally surprised.
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
That’s so easy right now…a new washing machine and dryer. My washer died while we were away and handwashing for three boys has not been fun. I already have a Samsung set picked out and on my vision board. Then $5,000 to pay the architect to start our house drawings and permits. A new b.b.q. for my hubby, an expresso machine, new skis and music lessons for my boys.
http://www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
A Sub-S is a form of corporation which allows the taxes to pass through to the individual, so you don’t pay taxes twice vis-a-vis the corporation.
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
i was debt-free for a little while (sigh…)
hoping to be there again someday.
it was … very liberating.
i couldn’t believe how much of a difference it made not having to pay 1) interest, and 2) monthly payments.
while i don’t regret the choices i made that led me back into having debt, i realize now that the simple truth is that ‘the rich get richer’ sometimes because they aren’t paying all of those monthly payments with interest on top. (’the rich’ in this case being those who are debt free.) this leaves them with money that other people (in debt) don’t have. so the money in savings (or wherever they put it) keeps growing and growing, almost despite anything else.
just like debt is a downward spiral, i know now that prosperity is an outwardly radiating one.
more than anything is the freedom that comes with being debt free.
(not to mention a shiny happy credit rating!)
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I would spend a portion on a wonderful 20th wedding anniversary celebration, A $500 splurge would be on season tickets for local theatre productions, and the rest for savings.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I would put it into our ongoing home renovation, and push us into some changes we can really SEE that will boost our spirits and excite us about our vision. (y’know, not in the electrical or plumbing).
I would plan a vacation with my sweetheart, maybe to Amsterdam.
I would pay the tuition for my Expressive Arts Therapy course in full.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
oh yes! Theatre subscriptions, that would be perfect.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
- clear out credit card (too many airline tickets)
- new computer (ours is 7 years old)
- pad the emergency account (which happens to be an offset account for an investment property)
Gosh I’m boring.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I’m saving for the next car! I’d stick it somewhere where i couldn’t get to it. 10% would go to charity first though….okay and maybe a couple hundred for a new outfit!
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Oh, easy. And boring. I’d put 1/3 of it in a short term savings account earmarked for tuition and books, 1/3 of it in a long term CD or my IRA, and I’d use the rest to pad my emergency fund.
Ok, and I’d probably take my kids out to dinner at their favorite restaurant, and buy enough yarn to knit a new sweater.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
We only have about 13,000 dollars left to pay on our ONE loan (the only debt we have), so I’d put it toward that and be finished with debt in a couple of months, freeing up $800 a month to put toward savings each month.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I’m very boring. I have a set windfall strategy… 20% is mad money that I can do whatever I like with, 10% to charity, 10% to short-term savings (saving up for a new mattress set), 10% to long-term savings, 10% to my mortgage, 10% to investment, and the rest split among whichever of those categories (other than mad money) I like. So, after taxes, that’s how I spend it. I have a job where I get bonuses every so often (but I can live on my salary) and just having a set strategy helped me deal with all the over-spending and subsequent guilt that resulted from having money lying around that I didn’t know what to do with.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
The world needs more people like you!
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I’d reinvest the money right away.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
When my Grandfather passed away 5 years ago, I inherited $10,000. So here’s what my husband and I did with it:
We put half of it into our emergency fund, and used the other half to pay down our mortgage. That move helped us position ourselves to eventually sell our home for a nice profit and build our dream home.
But I’d give all that money back in a heartbeat if I could just talk to my Grandpa again.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I’d give 10% ($1,000) as tithe. Put $8000 in a high-interest savings, and spend $1,000 on me!
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I would probably buy an outrageously expensive purse with some of the money, donate some of the money to my favorite charities (Junior League and local ballet company) and then invest the rest.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I’d get the hell out of Seattle come holiday season and go visit my kids and friends on the east coast and spend a good deal of time eating and watching plays with all of them in NYC. I’d also buy some clothes for me, my daughters and grandson.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:32 pm
I’d use it to pay down whatever debt I might have (although I’m pretty careful to pay down credit card bills as soon as I receive them), hubby and I would each spend a bit on fun stuff (maybe $500 each) and the rest would go in a saving account of some type of investment account.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Five thousand dollars paying off the car, fifteen hundred on amazing clothes (purse, boots, jacket, dresses, sweaters, jewelry), three grand to invest, and five hundred dollars for a later extravagance or rainy day. I love questions like these. So fun. Thanks guys!
September 4th, 2008 at 5:25 am
I would most definitely invest it in our home. We are slowly renovating it room by room so $10,000 would be a welcomed windfall… and this would free some of our savings to take a great trip to Tuscany or Venice!!!!
September 4th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Chalk me up as one of the boring ones too! I’d probably just use it to knock $10k off my mortgage.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
My fiancee actually DID get $10K from a relative, and she went the pseudo-boring route: she stuck it in a CD. Every year, when the CD matures, she takes the interest she earned and transfers it into her checking account, and then she rolls the principal over into a new CD.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
That would be an ammzing asset that I would want to see grow. That would become a down payment on a house. Or if that were covered I would put a lot of it into Prosper the website where individuals lend or borrow money from other individuals.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:24 am
I recently had this happen to me. I took some of the money to go on a “Dream Vacation” to NYC to see Yankee stadium. The rest went to retirement savings. I am always excited to watch my savings increase and I get closer to my goal of financial freedom.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I’d pay off debt. 10k would be very helpful right now.