What Would YOU Do With $50,000? (SB1716)

7 snips

Aug 1, 2025

Join Paula Pant, founder of Afford Anything and a savvy real estate investor, along with Jesse Cramer, founder of The Best Interest, as they dive into the capital conundrum of what to do with a sudden $50,000. They emphasize starting with mindset and goals before addressing high-interest debt, investing, or splurging. The conversation reveals common pitfalls in managing windfalls and tackles the 401(k) match dilemma. Expect playful banter mixed with valuable insights on navigating unexpected financial blessings.

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ADVICE

Max 401(k) Match Then Debt

Prioritize maxing out your 401(k) match if you haven't yet, using the windfall to create budget space to capture free money.
After, pay off any high-interest debt immediately to get a guaranteed return on investment.

ADVICE

Pause Before Big Moves

Delay investing the windfall for a few months to let emotions settle, especially if it comes from an inheritance or sudden event.
Park the money in a savings account earning interest and revisit decisions later when clearer-headed.

INSIGHT

Debt Comfort Zone: The Scuzz Factor

People have a "scuzz factor" which dictates their comfort with a certain debt level before alarms sound.
Locking money away in retirement accounts or home down payments helps avoid self-sabotage if you tend to bounce back into debt.

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You just came into $50,000—no strings attached. Do you crush your debt? Supercharge your retirement? Blow it all on a podcasting-themed backyard grotto?

In this episode of The Stacking Benjamins Show, Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, Paula Pant (Afford Anything), and Jesse Cramer (The Best Interest) gather around the card table in Mom’s basement to tackle one of the most common “someday” questions in personal finance: What do you do when a windfall lands in your lap?

Whether it's an inheritance, work bonus, or prize money (maybe you finally won that game show you keep applying to), the panel explores what smart, emotionally grounded, and goal-aligned decisions look like in the face of sudden cash.

Start With the Why
Before you touch a dime, the crew walks through the importance of mindset, goals, and not falling into the “I deserve it” trap that has sunk many a lucky winner.
Debt vs. Invest vs. Enjoy
High-interest debt? Retirement accounts? Travel dreams? The panel weighs each strategy—and surprises us with their personal priorities.
Behavioral Finance & Windfall Psychology
Why do people tend to mismanage unexpected money? From mental accounting to lifestyle creep, learn the hidden traps and how to sidestep them.
The 401(k) Match Dilemma
Is it better to max out tax-advantaged accounts or build an emergency fund? The team hashes out smart order-of-operations for stacking your windfall right.
Trivia Break: St. Paddy’s Parade Edition
Neighbor Doug makes sure you don’t learn too much without a little distraction. Can you guess when the first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held?
How They’d Spend It
Ever wonder what Joe, OG, Paula, or Jesse would do with an extra 50 grand? From practical moves to guilty pleasures, we get a peek into each of their financial brains.

Don’t let windfalls drift into “found money” syndrome—align with your long-term goals first.
Paying off high-interest debt = guaranteed return. But balance it with your future-focused investments.
Emotional awareness is just as crucial as spreadsheets when a windfall hits. Take a beat before making decisions.
Give yourself permission to enjoy some of the money—just make sure it’s intentional, not impulsive.

Got a windfall story or dream scenario? Tell us how you’d handle an extra $50K in our Basement Facebook group. Let’s see who would invest it, who would renovate the kitchen, and who would finally launch that mobile alpaca petting zoo.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackikngbenjamins.com/how-to-treat-a-financial-inheritance-1716

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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