Stories where an unexpected windfall totally changed your life

[Anonymous]

Looking to hear some happy stories! How much did you receive, and how did it better your life? How did you receive the money? Unexpected inheritance, lottery, lawsuit, etc.? Just looking for some happy inspiration!

[Anonymous]

Not exactly what you're asking (sorry), but I created my own wealth by hand-picking stocks. 20 years later, I have a happy number of millions. I will probably not inherit much from my parents, and indeed may have to support them, so between them and my child with a chronic illness, the money will come in handy. I have not touched the capital yet. It buys me peace of mind for the future, which is priceless.

[Anonymous]

I received about $150,000 as a surprise and honestly I try to forget that I have it. Stuck it in a CD and renew every 9 months.

It is comforting to know that it's there, if I need it, but I really don't want to use it. I'm in my 40s, have two kids... So many possibilities for my future self.

[Anonymous]

David Brancaccio from NPR's Marketplace show wrote a book where he interviewed a bunch of people about all the things they did with windfalls (spend it on a shopping spree, do good, start a business, gamble with it, give it away, invest it in the markets, buy a house, go back to school, retire early, save it for a rainy day). Its a good read, despite the one terrible review on Amazon. The common thread was that people were most satisfied with how they spent the money when they spent it on something that made a lasting, positive impact on their lives, but what that thing was differed by person. You can get it used or on Kindle.

[Anonymous]

When I won my first award at work (I'm gov -- so we don't get bonuses, we get awards) I spent it on a really good mattress, which I'd never had before. I have a lot more money now, but at the time it was a big purchase (hell, mattresses still are a big purchase, actually) and it was literally life changing because I slept so well on it. Some of the best money I've ever spent.

[Anonymous]

I got a larger than expected inheritance after my last parent died. I used most of it to pay for an extensive renovation/addition, which has served us very well as it was completed just at the beginning of the pandemic.

I also frittered away some of it on luxury bags and shoes that I normally would not have bought. Those I have regrets on. Plan is to sell them as I don't use them much at all.

But more than anything, I wish my parents had gotten more enjoyment out of life (traveled more, ate out more, threw more money at buying convenience, etc) than living an extremely frugal lifestyle in order to leave us such an inheritance.

[Anonymous]

Many, many years ago in the 80’s I received a $10,000 inheritance from my grandfather. My son had just been born and we put it into Fidelity Magellan. That investment paid for much of his college education at an Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I received about $150,000 as a surprise and honestly I try to forget that I have it. Stuck it in a CD and renew every 9 months.

It is comforting to know that it's there, if I need it, but I really don't want to use it. I'm in my 40s, have two kids... So many possibilities for my future self.

VTSAX

[Anonymous]

My grandfather died about eight years ago and my father chose not to accept his part of the inheritance so it went to his children. It was a good deal of money to a 30 year old with two toddlers but it didn’t change my life as I invested it. It’s way more than doubled and really got us going as investors.

[Anonymous]

Best friend's husband had a difficult relationship with his dad. His mom was emotionally abusive growing up and dad was pretty idle about it. When he went off to college, dad filed for divorce and friend's husband was always a bit resentful that he didn't do it earlier. Turns out his dad had a lot more money than anyone realized and left him 500K after he died. Also left him a home that they sold for 2mil. Their HHI was probably 100K and unfortunately due to my friend's health issues they had medical bills and if they wanted kids, it was going to be adoption or out of pocket fertility treatments, neither of which they thought they could afford. Getting that money was so life changing for them. Their son is 4 months old!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I received about $150,000 as a surprise and honestly I try to forget that I have it. Stuck it in a CD and renew every 9 months.

It is comforting to know that it's there, if I need it, but I really don't want to use it. I'm in my 40s, have two kids... So many possibilities for my future self.

VTSAX

This is a good tip, thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I received about $150,000 as a surprise and honestly I try to forget that I have it. Stuck it in a CD and renew every 9 months.

It is comforting to know that it's there, if I need it, but I really don't want to use it. I'm in my 40s, have two kids... So many possibilities for my future self.

VTSAX

+1. Keep a portion in CD/MM for a fully funded emergency fund. But rest should be in the market

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My grandfather died about eight years ago and my father chose not to accept his part of the inheritance so it went to his children. It was a good deal of money to a 30 year old with two toddlers but it didn’t change my life as I invested it. It’s way more than doubled and really got us going as investors.

But it has/will change your life. You will have money for your kid's college---if smart you will use it to fund their 529s (if you cannot do it on your own).

[Anonymous]

After paying two mortgages way over a decade, I sold them both back to back. I got my equity back, but not much more.
Youtubers were shouting from rooftops to buy stocks and crypto and ofcourse I did. Mostly because the first two decades had not worked out. I could not continue to do the same things, one of them being real estate. That was March 2020.
I learned so much from buying and selling stocks. I don't really have to work anymore. If I had to give away all the money tomorrow, I could do it starting with $0 this time.
I don't know whether to cry that something so simple took me so long to figure out, or be happy that I did when I did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I received about $150,000 as a surprise and honestly I try to forget that I have it. Stuck it in a CD and renew every 9 months.

It is comforting to know that it's there, if I need it, but I really don't want to use it. I'm in my 40s, have two kids... So many possibilities for my future self.

That's great. And amazing. But honestly, for me, that's nothing. We aren't rich and we would like to buy a house in DC at some point and 150k would do almost nothing to get us there. It would help (not fund, just help) with college costs.