What To Do With Unexpected Money

If you’ve received a sudden windfall, avoid making hasty decisions and consider taking steps to help improve your financial wellness.

Receiving a large, unexpected sum of money is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Depending on where the money is coming from, it can stir up a lot of different emotions, and make you want to save or spend it a certain way.

If you find yourself in this situation, breathe, take a step back, and carefully consider your next move.

Steps To Take

Proceed With Caution

Give yourself time to weigh all your options by not rushing into anything. Start with putting your funds in a low-risk, fully liquid investment like a savings account or money market fund. This will allow you to do some research and figure out your next step while also earning dividends.

Possible Taxes

Depending on where your sudden influx of cash is coming from, you’ll want to be prepared for the possibility that Uncle Sam may want a cut. While most gifts, inheritances, and trust distributions won’t be subject to income tax, it’s always a good idea to seek advice from a professional.

Find out how much, if any, you may need to set aside for taxes and then you’ll be able to figure out what will be left over for investing, saving, or spending.

Pay Down Debt

This is a great opportunity to pay down high-interest debts or credit cards. Make a list of all your debts and include the balances and interest rates. If you’re able to take care of all your debt then congratulations, you’re done. If not, you’ll want to decide on the best repayment strategy that will not only pay off your debt quickly but also help you to save money at the same time – the snowball or stack method.

Invest In Your Future

Unless you have an urgent need for your newly acquired funds – such as medical bills – put the money in small investment accounts, high-yield accounts, and/or contribute to an IRA. Essentially, put your money somewhere it can appreciate.

Summary

Not knowing what to do with a large sum of money is a problem most, if not all, would want to have. While it’s not necessarily a bad thing to treat yourself it would be wise to have a plan in place to keep your money from disappearing as quickly as it appeared.