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PaperclipPerfector  1mo ago (text post)   1940 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for March 1, 2026

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My parents are giving me $250k because they gave an equivalent amount to my sister so she could buy an apartment in London. I don't really want the money and have tried to argue them out of giving it to me (would rather they enjoy their retirement) but they are insistent, especially since they gave it to my sister. Being able to pay in cash for a house in Baltimore (if I stay here) would be pretty huge, but I'm not sure where I will be in a few years time so a house doesn't seem like a great use of time or money right now. Should I just keep it in the market until then (transferring to my preferred stock/bond distributions where appropriate)? Are there any other big ticket items that I should consider purchasing? A car would probably be useful, both for my practical and romantic life, but if I move to Europe in the next two years (maybe 30% chance), it's a terrible investment. I could also donate most of the money to charity, but that feels both like slapping my parents in the face, and potentially making life much more difficult for myself. Even if the money were to just sit in money market, it would be an extra $10k of income a year, which is substantial.

A car would probably be useful, both for my practical and romantic life, but if I move to Europe in the next two years (maybe 30% chance), it's a terrible investment.

You're a second class citizen without a car in America (NYC doesn't count), so even for 2 years it would be worth it. Just buy a used, reliable model, you would be losing around ~15% max in 2 years.

I could also donate most of the money to charity, but that feels both like slapping my parents in the face, and potentially making life much more difficult for myself. Even if the money were to just sit in money market, it would be an extra $10k of income a year, which is substantial.

Why are you even considering donating it if $10k/yr is substantial income for you? That's 25 years (less after taxes) of your 'substantial income' gone from your pocket.

I'm sure your parents worked hard for that money, enjoy the fruits of their work and use that money to improve your life.

The only reason I would consider donating to charity is that I worry that unearned wealth is a bit of behavioral hazard for me. But like you said, it will make my life significantly better, and I have sufficient maturity to use it responsibly and not be a wastrel/spendthrift. A car and a house are solid investments that will make my life better.

To clarify my financial situation. I currently am a PhD student and earn ~$50k/year. I expect to graduate within 15 months and earn anywhere from 75-150k. An extra 10k a year right now would effectively double my savings rate, while maybe not being too impactful in a few years time.

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