$20,000 windfall- Help!
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$20,000 windfall- Help!
We have an extra $20,000 (after tax) that was unexpected. It’s definitely a fun thing but wife and I aren’t on same page for usage.
Basics:
38 yo; no kids.
Have an IPS and sticking to it...
Max 401Ks and Roth IRAs.
Max HSA.
Funding taxable in line with goals (semi early retirement).
Fully funded emergency.
No debt outside mortgage. 50% equity in home; very low rate.
Spend $20,000 on :
a.) Taxable to accelerate semi early retirement.
b.) Dream Vacation.
c.) Down payment on cash flowing investment property.
Pros/cons ? If more info needed let me know.
Basics:
38 yo; no kids.
Have an IPS and sticking to it...
Max 401Ks and Roth IRAs.
Max HSA.
Funding taxable in line with goals (semi early retirement).
Fully funded emergency.
No debt outside mortgage. 50% equity in home; very low rate.
Spend $20,000 on :
a.) Taxable to accelerate semi early retirement.
b.) Dream Vacation.
c.) Down payment on cash flowing investment property.
Pros/cons ? If more info needed let me know.
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- Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:20 pm
- Location: New York
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
What does your wife want to do with it?atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:45 pm We have an extra $20,000 (after tax) that was unexpected. It’s definitely a fun thing but wife and I aren’t on same page for usage.
Basics:
38 yo; no kids.
Have an IPS and sticking to it...
Max 401Ks and Roth IRAs.
Max HSA.
Funding taxable in line with goals (semi early retirement).
Fully funded emergency.
No debt outside mortgage. 50% equity in home; very low rate.
Spend $20,000 on :
a.) Taxable to accelerate semi early retirement.
b.) Dream Vacation.
c.) Down payment on cash flowing investment property.
Pros/cons ? If more info needed let me know.
"One should invest based on their need, ability and willingness to take risk - Larry Swedroe" Asking Portfolio Questions
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
TBH, $20k is not that much. If $20k arrived in my bank account tomorrow, I'd probably just throw it at VTSAX.
The thing with a dream vacation, maybe you can find a good deal with COVID, but IDK. I'm not sure how destination sports are handling pricing right now.
With a rental, I think most lenders want 20% down if you're making the property a rental. I'm not sure if $20k will go that far. But, I don't do REI and landlording.
The thing with a dream vacation, maybe you can find a good deal with COVID, but IDK. I'm not sure how destination sports are handling pricing right now.
With a rental, I think most lenders want 20% down if you're making the property a rental. I'm not sure if $20k will go that far. But, I don't do REI and landlording.
Last edited by Helo80 on Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thank God for Wall Street Bets.
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Asking the real questions!Grt2bOutdoors wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:49 pmWhat does your wife want to do with it?atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:45 pm We have an extra $20,000 (after tax) that was unexpected. It’s definitely a fun thing but wife and I aren’t on same page for usage.
Basics:
38 yo; no kids.
Have an IPS and sticking to it...
Max 401Ks and Roth IRAs.
Max HSA.
Funding taxable in line with goals (semi early retirement).
Fully funded emergency.
No debt outside mortgage. 50% equity in home; very low rate.
Spend $20,000 on :
a.) Taxable to accelerate semi early retirement.
b.) Dream Vacation.
c.) Down payment on cash flowing investment property.
Pros/cons ? If more info needed let me know.
Are you currently a landlord? If not, I wouldn't rush straight into that. Why not half into taxable and half for vacation? $10,000 will pay for a really nice trip for 2.
Bogleheads® emphasize regular saving, broad diversification, and sticking to one's investment plan regardless of market conditions.
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
From your post, I will assume that 20k is a large amount for you but not really life-changing.atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:45 pm We have an extra $20,000 (after tax) that was unexpected. It’s definitely a fun thing but wife and I aren’t on same page for usage.
Basics:
38 yo; no kids.
Have an IPS and sticking to it...
Max 401Ks and Roth IRAs.
Max HSA.
Funding taxable in line with goals (semi early retirement).
Fully funded emergency.
No debt outside mortgage. 50% equity in home; very low rate.
Spend $20,000 on :
a.) Taxable to accelerate semi early retirement.
b.) Dream Vacation.
c.) Down payment on cash flowing investment property.
Pros/cons ? If more info needed let me know.
If I were in this position - it would be either a dream vacation (do it when you are healthy and when you can afford it; I personally wouldn't spend 20k on a vacation, so it would probably be 2 dream vacations for me or a really extended one) or a really speculative investment (say, bitcoin) that I wouldn't sink my 'regular' money on.
Option (c) is not attractive to me personally (too much headache maintaining a property). Equally, if you REALLY want to pursue an investment property at 20k down payment, I feel like you will find a way to do it!
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
c.)Grt2bOutdoors wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:49 pmWhat does your wife want to do with it?atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:45 pm We have an extra $20,000 (after tax) that was unexpected. It’s definitely a fun thing but wife and I aren’t on same page for usage.
Basics:
38 yo; no kids.
Have an IPS and sticking to it...
Max 401Ks and Roth IRAs.
Max HSA.
Funding taxable in line with goals (semi early retirement).
Fully funded emergency.
No debt outside mortgage. 50% equity in home; very low rate.
Spend $20,000 on :
a.) Taxable to accelerate semi early retirement.
b.) Dream Vacation.
c.) Down payment on cash flowing investment property.
Pros/cons ? If more info needed let me know.
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- Posts: 110
- Joined: Tue Jul 11, 2017 1:45 pm
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
It’s less than 1% of nwk b wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:58 pmI will assume that 20katlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:45 pm We have an extra $20,000 (after tax) that was unexpected. It’s definitely a fun thing but wife and I aren’t on same page for usage.
Basics:
38 yo; no kids.
Have an IPS and sticking to it...
Max 401Ks and Roth IRAs.
Max HSA.
Funding taxable in line with goals (semi early retirement).
Fully funded emergency.
No debt outside mortgage. 50% equity in home; very low rate.
Spend $20,000 on :
a.) Taxable to accelerate semi early retirement.
b.) Dream Vacation.
c.) Down payment on cash flowing investment property.
Pros/cons ? If more info needed let me know.
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- Posts: 110
- Joined: Tue Jul 11, 2017 1:45 pm
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
We own one investment property already.dvvader wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:53 pmAsking the real questions!Grt2bOutdoors wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:49 pmWhat does your wife want to do with it?atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:45 pm We have an extra $20,000 (after tax) that was unexpected. It’s definitely a fun thing but wife and I aren’t on same page for usage.
Basics:
38 yo; no kids.
Have an IPS and sticking to it...
Max 401Ks and Roth IRAs.
Max HSA.
Funding taxable in line with goals (semi early retirement).
Fully funded emergency.
No debt outside mortgage. 50% equity in home; very low rate.
Spend $20,000 on :
a.) Taxable to accelerate semi early retirement.
b.) Dream Vacation.
c.) Down payment on cash flowing investment property.
Pros/cons ? If more info needed let me know.
Are you currently a landlord? If not, I wouldn't rush straight into that. Why not half into taxable and half for vacation? $10,000 will pay for a really nice trip for 2.
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
$5000 toward vacation fund that you may not take for a year, the rest in market.
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Is your wife going to be an active participant in the landlord of said property? If no, and you still want real estate exposure buy a REIT, otherwise put $5k towards future vacation and the rest in VTSAX.atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:01 pmc.)Grt2bOutdoors wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:49 pmWhat does your wife want to do with it?atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:45 pm We have an extra $20,000 (after tax) that was unexpected. It’s definitely a fun thing but wife and I aren’t on same page for usage.
Basics:
38 yo; no kids.
Have an IPS and sticking to it...
Max 401Ks and Roth IRAs.
Max HSA.
Funding taxable in line with goals (semi early retirement).
Fully funded emergency.
No debt outside mortgage. 50% equity in home; very low rate.
Spend $20,000 on :
a.) Taxable to accelerate semi early retirement.
b.) Dream Vacation.
c.) Down payment on cash flowing investment property.
Pros/cons ? If more info needed let me know.
"One should invest based on their need, ability and willingness to take risk - Larry Swedroe" Asking Portfolio Questions
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
In that case, just merge it with your other funds and go with a and/or b and/or c. Why even ask others the question?
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
If the goal is for early semi-retirement, it should be A.
Such a small amount, doesn't change much either way, though.
Such a small amount, doesn't change much either way, though.
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
That is a question of priorities. What are yours?
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
It's a weird conundrum that comes along with having a certain level of wealth but not enough to be "rich". You have $20K that dropped out of nowhere, but to spend it in a semi-wasteful way like a fancy vacation seems to violate your instincts.
I would go on a $10K vacation and consider giving the rest to a charitable cause(s).
I would go on a $10K vacation and consider giving the rest to a charitable cause(s).
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Haha. The vacation was actually my choice. I do appreciate everyone responding.Escapevelocity wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:18 pm It's a weird conundrum that comes along with having a certain level of wealth but not enough to be "rich". You have $20K that dropped out of nowhere, but to spend it in a semi-wasteful way like a fancy vacation seems to violate your instincts.
I would go on a $10K vacation and consider giving the rest to a charitable cause(s).
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
This is not THAT much money; no to A, some of B, and some of C and move on.
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
BTW, I consider "what happens to unexpected income" to be part of my IPS.
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
If it’s 1% of you her worth I don’t know why you bothered asking the question.
Gill
Cost basis is redundant. One has a basis in an investment |
One advises and gives advice |
One should follow the principle of investing one's principal
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Because I wanted opinions. What would you do, a b or c?Gill wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:39 pmIf it’s 1% of you her worth I don’t know why you bothered asking the question.
Gill
Thanks!
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Windfall usually means a significant amount of money. 20k is not a significant amount of money for you as you say it is less than 1% of your NW. I would just plug it into my AA.
I would also take the dream vacation that you want to go on. We did a dream vacation to Europe late last year. My wife wanted to wait until this year. I'm glad we didn't wait.
I would also take the dream vacation that you want to go on. We did a dream vacation to Europe late last year. My wife wanted to wait until this year. I'm glad we didn't wait.
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Pensions= 2X yearly expenses. Portfolio= 40X yearly expenses.
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Is just add it to my taxable portfolio. Sounds as if you have over $2 million so this is inconsequential.atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:41 pmBecause I wanted opinions. What would you do, a b or c?Gill wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:39 pmIf it’s 1% of you her worth I don’t know why you bothered asking the question.
Gill
Thanks!
Gill
Cost basis is redundant. One has a basis in an investment |
One advises and gives advice |
One should follow the principle of investing one's principal
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Not entirely. It gives us the option to take our dream vacation. Or put a DP on an investment property we’ve had our eye on.Gill wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:45 pmIs just add it to my taxable portfolio. Sounds as if you have over $2 million so this is inconsequential.atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:41 pmBecause I wanted opinions. What would you do, a b or c?Gill wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:39 pmIf it’s 1% of you her worth I don’t know why you bothered asking the question.
Gill
Thanks!
Gill
Or go to taxable and accelerate semi early retirement.
Thanks
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
As I said above, and others have repeated, you seem to simply want to have this online conversation for your amusement. This is only a "1% windfall"!atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:51 pm
Not entirely. It gives us the option to take our dream vacation. Or put a DP on an investment property we’ve had our eye on.
Or go to taxable and accelerate semi early retirement.
Thanks
If you needed this $20k in order to have "the option to take our dream vacation. Or put a DP on an investment property we’ve had our eye on." then maybe you need to revisit how you are making money decisions in general.
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Without even looking at your plans, I can tell you with 100% certainty that coming to a mutually agreeable decision is your #1 priority with this move.atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:45 pm We have an extra $20,000 (after tax) that was unexpected. It’s definitely a fun thing but wife and I aren’t on same page for usage.
The Sensible Steward
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Haha! Fair point!willthrill81 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:05 pmWithout even looking at your plans, I can tell you with 100% certainty that coming to a mutually agreeable decision is your #1 priority with this move.atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:45 pm We have an extra $20,000 (after tax) that was unexpected. It’s definitely a fun thing but wife and I aren’t on same page for usage.
Appreciate the feedback.
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
A windfall of 1% of our net worth would just go into taxable for us at our AA. But we are not investment property people and vacations are built into our expenses.
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Congrats! Dream vacation, though I’d wait till this coronavirus stuff calms down. If it was less than 1% of our net worth then I’d put it in a 60/40 fund till we were ready to travel.
“The strong cannot be brave. Only the weak can be brave; and yet again, in practice, only those who can be brave can be trusted, in time of doubt, to be strong.“ - GK Chesterton
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
I would do the vacation with some portion of the cash then put the rest in a taxable VTSAX account.
It's nice to retire with a lot of cash in your taxable account, you get choices as to what you what to draw from in retirement.
It's nice to retire with a lot of cash in your taxable account, you get choices as to what you what to draw from in retirement.
“While money can’t buy happiness, it certainly lets you choose your own form of misery.” Groucho Marx
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Option d. Listen to your spouse.
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Honestly, if $20k is less 1% of your NW, you don't even need to be asking strangers on the internet about options. Whatever you do, it doesn't really matter.
I'd say get on the same page with your wife. Happy wife, happy life, and all that.
I assume option b is not really an option right now, depending on where you live in the world.
Good luck!
I'd say get on the same page with your wife. Happy wife, happy life, and all that.
I assume option b is not really an option right now, depending on where you live in the world.
Good luck!
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
I vote A, add to your taxable account and Invest in Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX).
In normal, non-COVID, times I would suggest both A and B with 1/2 to investing and 1/2 to a nice vacation.
In normal, non-COVID, times I would suggest both A and B with 1/2 to investing and 1/2 to a nice vacation.
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
$10k to what your wife wants, $10k to what you want.
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Do you really want to go on a dream vacation with the current health restrictions, limited eating out, no large groups, masks, etc.? Invest it and let it grow.
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Go option “a”.
In 1985 I made my first mutual fund investment with wedding gift money and have never touched it. It was one of the best decisions of my life!
In 1985 I made my first mutual fund investment with wedding gift money and have never touched it. It was one of the best decisions of my life!
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Seeing your net worth, personally I would create an additional option of upgrading electronics or household larger items.
Then, I would divide it by three and put 1/3 in investments, 1/3 toward a great vacation, and 1/3 getting new TVs, computers, etc. because we're overdue & those sorts of large expenses are ones I always put off & then later wish I hadn't.
The reason I wouldn't buy an income property right now is because I think real estate has too many unknowns. We own some, and so far, we've had no/little adverse impact from covid, but if we did, we wouldn't be allowed to evict anyone & I don't think there's assistance for landlords in my state at this time. It's also not liquid, and property values seem unstable and unpredictable. I recently spent some time reading a blog called Wolf Street which has some really interesting & eye-opening articles about both residential and commercial real estate. The comments are also very interesting.
So that's what I'd do - congratulations on your windfall! Maybe to address your wife's desire for more investment real estate, agree to pull 1% from your investments at some point in the future when things are less murky.
Then, I would divide it by three and put 1/3 in investments, 1/3 toward a great vacation, and 1/3 getting new TVs, computers, etc. because we're overdue & those sorts of large expenses are ones I always put off & then later wish I hadn't.
The reason I wouldn't buy an income property right now is because I think real estate has too many unknowns. We own some, and so far, we've had no/little adverse impact from covid, but if we did, we wouldn't be allowed to evict anyone & I don't think there's assistance for landlords in my state at this time. It's also not liquid, and property values seem unstable and unpredictable. I recently spent some time reading a blog called Wolf Street which has some really interesting & eye-opening articles about both residential and commercial real estate. The comments are also very interesting.
So that's what I'd do - congratulations on your windfall! Maybe to address your wife's desire for more investment real estate, agree to pull 1% from your investments at some point in the future when things are less murky.
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
D Have a child
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
If you are inclined to do so, it would be cool to hear the details! I love these examples of compounding at work!
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Some disappointing responses here...
Just because it's 1% of his nw doesn't mean it's not worthwhile to consider and discuss. People discuss penny pinching all the time here and that's not even the case.
Depending on how comfortable you're living and the luxuries you allow yourselves, I would probably split it between A and B (or some other luxury you wouldn't normally spring for).
BTW, congratulations, sounds like you're doing awesome.
Just because it's 1% of his nw doesn't mean it's not worthwhile to consider and discuss. People discuss penny pinching all the time here and that's not even the case.
Depending on how comfortable you're living and the luxuries you allow yourselves, I would probably split it between A and B (or some other luxury you wouldn't normally spring for).
BTW, congratulations, sounds like you're doing awesome.
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Half (a) - plan ahead.atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:45 pm Spend $20,000 on :
a.) Taxable to accelerate semi early retirement.
b.) Dream Vacation.
c.) Down payment on cash flowing investment property.
Pros/Cons
Half (b) - yolo.
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
But his nw is fluctuating by that amount regularly, so they shouldn't be changing their spending based on this "windfall."6p24qtn wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 7:03 am Some disappointing responses here...
Just because it's 1% of his nw doesn't mean it's not worthwhile to consider and discuss. People discuss penny pinching all the time here and that's not even the case.
Depending on how comfortable you're living and the luxuries you allow yourselves, I would probably split it between A and B (or some other luxury you wouldn't normally spring for).
BTW, congratulations, sounds like you're doing awesome.
That's what's so confusing about the question.
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
That is poor logic. Maybe we shouldn't discuss small ER differences or various allocation differences if they only cause a small impact.
Also, we have no idea (am I wrong here?) about the breakdown of his nw. Maybe it's all tied up...
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
The question doesn’t make sense.6p24qtn wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 7:03 am Some disappointing responses here...
Just because it's 1% of his nw doesn't mean it's not worthwhile to consider and discuss. People discuss penny pinching all the time here and that's not even the case.
Depending on how comfortable you're living and the luxuries you allow yourselves, I would probably split it between A and B (or some other luxury you wouldn't normally spring for).
BTW, congratulations, sounds like you're doing awesome.
He has a 2 million net worth. Gets a 20k windfall. At 2mil net worth I would not describe 20k as a windfall. Heck, the market goes up 1% and your net worth goes up 20k.
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
Some folks have been very diligent and have made sacrifices to accumulate a robust net worth. It's the sum of all these smaller decisions that produce the end result.manatee2005 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:11 am The question doesn’t make sense.
He has a 2 million net worth. Gets a 20k windfall. At 2mil net worth I would not describe 20k as a windfall. Heck, the market goes up 1% and your net worth goes up 20k.
Other folks have great big incomes or have received large inheritances that have accelerated their net worth. Some have both.
Would you throw away 1% of your net worth? Or barely give it consideration? What if it was a utility fee or cash you found on the sidewalk?
The only thing I would question is calling it a windfall but that's semantics and are we really gonna get picky about that?
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
I would think with your net worth, you could have already taken your dream vacation or found a way to purchase another investment property, but maybe you are low on liquid taxable investments?atlgenxennial wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:51 pm
Not entirely. It gives us the option to take our dream vacation. Or put a DP on an investment property we’ve had our eye on.
Or go to taxable and accelerate semi early retirement.
Thanks
If this were me, I'd go with option A since I already feel like I can take dream vacations if time allows and I don't do investment properties.
Last edited by keystone on Sat Aug 15, 2020 10:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
If I wanted to take a vacation, at $2 mil NW I would know that I don't need this '$20k windfall" to be able to do it. $20k makes no difference in my life because I make or lose more than that almost every day in the stock market.6p24qtn wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:48 amSome folks have been very diligent and have made sacrifices to accumulate a robust net worth. It's the sum of all these smaller decisions that produce the end result.manatee2005 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 9:11 am The question doesn’t make sense.
He has a 2 million net worth. Gets a 20k windfall. At 2mil net worth I would not describe 20k as a windfall. Heck, the market goes up 1% and your net worth goes up 20k.
Other folks have great big incomes or have received large inheritances that have accelerated their net worth. Some have both.
Would you throw away 1% of your net worth? Or barely give it consideration? What if it was a utility fee or cash you found on the sidewalk?
The only thing I would question is calling it a windfall but that's semantics and are we really gonna get picky about that?
Re: $20,000 windfall- Help!
I have a 10% rule for any unexpected chunk of money. I allow myself to spend 10% on anything, no guilt. The rest goes into taxable.