***Collaborative post***
The topic of inheritance is not always a pleasant one, but there are many circumstances where it makes sense to use inheritance as investment capital. Whether you’re working with a substantial sum of money or just enough to buy your first home, learning how to invest your inheritance can help create a profitable financial future for yourself and those you love.
1) Pay off debt
If the primary reason why you received your inheritance was that someone passed away, then the chances are good that they left their finances in shambles. Oftentimes, people will make out wills and leave behind instructions for loved ones to take care of outstanding debts or other financial responsibilities before dividing up the rest of the money; this isn’t always the case, but it’s a reasonably safe assumption to make. Therefore, your first step should be to pay off any and all outstanding debts that the deceased person had amassed. If you’re looking for more of an immediate return on your investment, you might consider tackling credit card debt.
2) Invest in yourself
If you have education or training pertinent to a specific type of work, such as graphic design or law, then you could use the money from your inheritance for furthering this education by attending college or completing more certification/training programs. Doing so immediately makes you a more valuable employee and can lead toward future promotions with better pay. The added income from these promotions could help increase the health of your overall portfolio in time for retirement or other long-term financial goals.
3) Invest in your home
Well, there’s no need to get too literal here; you don’t necessarily need to purchase a new house(but if you can check out Compass for great options) or even invest in renovations, but rather use the money from your inheritance for making your current home more secure than it was before. If possible, replace older windows with newer models that are designed to help keep the heat inside during the winter and block unwanted sunlight during the summer.
Another option is purchasing an upgraded security system, which can offer much better protection than just having locks on the doors when you’re at home alone at night or away for days at a time. You could also consider installing a greenhouse or garden space of some kind that broadens your options of what food items you know how to grow in your own backyard.
4) Take a trip
If you happen to have a little extra money burning a hole in your pocket, then why not take advantage of it by going on a vacation? Whether you’re interested in seeing the Eiffel Tower or Machu Picchu, there are always options for vacations that can provide experiences you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Of course, you could also use this money to travel domestically and see parts of our country that were previously outside your budget. In either case, the chances are good that this is one investment where all parties involved will come out with happy memories and new perspectives on their lives moving forward.
There You Have It
So, whether you’re thinking about investing in real estate, starting a business, taking a trip, or just about anything in between, you have several options when it comes to making the most out of an unexpected financial windfall. Just be sure that you find licensed professionals who can help protect your best interests when it comes to any sort of investment so that you keep seeing returns for years after your inheritance hits your bank account!
