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Original poster

Windfall of 10,000 - how to spend it?

40 replies

Spare10k · 26/02/2025 18:55

Imagine you have a £10k windfall. You have no mortgage and your ISA is full for the year.

How do you spend it?

OP posts:
Snorlaxo · 26/02/2025 18:56

Any debt like credit cards?

Loveduppenguin · 26/02/2025 18:58

I wouldn’t just spend it to be honest…I would book a holiday and leave the rest as savings to use when needed/wanted. I have no desire for “stuff”

bifurCAT · 26/02/2025 19:00

With the way the job market is, all the redundancies etc, I'd bank for a rainy day. Quite a few rainy days these days...

Headingtowardsdivorce · 26/02/2025 19:02

Holiday, then the rest into my pension pot.

DisforDarkChocolate · 26/02/2025 19:05

No mortgage, then I'd put it into premium bonds while I thought about it. It's a nice amount of money but it wouldn't last long if I was made redundant or the house needed a big repair.

Overthebow · 26/02/2025 19:07

Depends what pensions and savings look like. You say isa is full but are savings just the £20k or are they a lot more than that with previous years? If savings and pension are at a good amount then I’d spend it on something fun. If not I’d save/invest it.

Original poster
Spare10k · 26/02/2025 19:08

@Snorlaxo - no debt.

Savings equivalent to 20 year salary so redundancy not an issue.

Agree no need of ‘stuff’ but since it’s totally out of the blue - what fun things can you find people suggest?

I was thinking charity….

OP posts:
DisforDarkChocolate · 26/02/2025 19:16

Half fun (I'd love a train holiday), half charity (something very local).

Bjorkdidit · 27/02/2025 04:59

Is this one of those 'fantasy spending' threads or are you asking for advice?

Because it sounds like the former but you've posted in Money Matters, which is usually about the latter instead of 'if I won the lottery' dreaming.

But in your circumstances, charity seems reasonable, because with 20 years of salary saved, you probably already buy what you want, when you want, within reason so holidays and new windows, which is the first thing that came into my mind, are probably already covered.

Rabssccuttlefissh · 27/02/2025 05:02

I would have a new bathroom.

Changeissmall · 27/02/2025 05:03

Sounds as though you are comfortable and as you have no ideas of your own you probably don’t need anything.
Half to a very local charity where the money will make a real difference. For me that would be a local volunteer run food bank. Then half for a trip somewhere.

alwaysdeleteyourcookies · 27/02/2025 05:06

In your circumstances, at least half to charity.

BCBird · 27/02/2025 05:55

Giving half to charity would have a lasting effect for you and recipient. I always feel.good when.i give to charity

HoratioBum · 27/02/2025 05:58

I'd do my garden up a bit. I need new decking, fencing - I'd buy some quality garden furniture and beautiful plants.

Alternatively I'd go on holiday somewhere more luxurious/ different to my normal type.

Other than that I'd stick it in premium bonds as a PP said.

GnomeDePlume · 27/02/2025 06:09

I'd buy myself a new sewing machine. I have seen one which has voice command. I would train it to respond to the instruction 'Just f##kng do it!' my current model doesnt have this function no matter how many times I have said it.

Whatshallwedohere · 27/02/2025 06:16

A big long holiday

gettingthehangofsewing · 27/02/2025 06:19

I would do a nice holiday with about 6k . Then I would donate the rest ti some small local charities.

Seymour5 · 27/02/2025 06:19

I’d give the DGC £1k each. Treat DD & DDIL to a few days at our favourite spa, and give the rest to DH for his hobby.

GottaGetOutofDairy · 27/02/2025 06:23

Seems a but odd for me to be fussed about spending £10k if I have 20x years salary saved and no mortgage. Presumably I'd already have whatever I needed in the 10k range? Grin

However, I suppose I'd do something on the house to keep it modern and in good repair. Carpets. New bathroom. Add to it and have a new kitchen. Something like that.

dreamingofpalms · 27/02/2025 06:25

Pass it down the family as a one-off gift if you're not interested in keeping it yourself

Chewbecca · 27/02/2025 06:32

If the savings account / pension really doesn't need it and I am looking at pure luxury, holiday is always going to be top of my list, with BC flights.

I do need a room or two decorated but I am too lazy to choose the stuff and clear the room, as well as arrange for a decorator to come and quote and make them tea from the crack of dawn daily.

How about a piece of jewellery from an auction?

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 27/02/2025 06:43

I don’t have the equivalent of 20 years salary in savings, and I do need to think practically about new carpets and a new kitchen, but if that weren’t the case, I’d go on a dream holiday. I haven’t travelled very much and I’d love to go somewhere special.

DaphneduMaureen · 27/02/2025 06:43

Sounds like £10k is small change to OP

IDontHateRainbows · 27/02/2025 06:46

If we are doing fantasy spending, I'd love to take the family on a cruise.

PrioritisePleasure24 · 27/02/2025 06:49

Id save half (or in my circumstances-put towards mortgage) and use half to go on a really great holiday and treat myself.
But this depends on peoples situations and financial standings. It’s a lot of money!

wrote that before seeing ops post about savings!

@Spare10k Donate it to charity or friends/family you obviously don’t need it and you seem to want to.