What Aussies would do if $100K landed in their savings
Everyone dreams of a surprise lottery win or inheritance, but what Aussies would do with a lump sum of cash might surprise you, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,029 respondents has revealed what Australians would do if $100,000 unexpectedly landed in their savings account.
This is a hypothetical most of us can only dream of, but it's becoming a reality for a growing number of Australians as we head into the greatest intergenerational wealth transfer in Australian history.
The research found 1 in 5 (19%) Aussies would put a surplus $100,000 into a high-interest savings account.
One in seven (14%) would park the six figures in a mortgage offset account, while 13% would use it to buy a house to live in.
Using the funds to go on a holiday (13%) and renovating a house (8%) round out the top 5 ways Aussies would allocate an unexpected gain.
Alison Banney, money expert at Finder, said figuring out what to do with a large windfall requires a lot of planning.
"Six figures is a life changing amount of money if it's not squandered.
"A sudden sum of cash can be an opportunity to take control of your financial future, but without a clear strategy, it's easy to let the money slip through your fingers."
Finder's research shows purchasing an investment property (7%), contributing it to superannuation (7%) and investing in shares (6%) are other popular ways Australians would distribute the cash.
Not surprisingly, the plan on what to do with a windfall varies between the different generations.
One in five (21%) gen Z would put it towards a house purchase, compared to only 3% of baby boomers.
Baby boomers were much more likely to put it in a high-interest savings account (29%) or go on a holiday (21%).
Banney said making thoughtful choices with a large sum can lay the groundwork for wealth that lasts far beyond the immediate payoff.
"While it's tempting to splurge on a holiday or a home renovation, many Australians are recognising the value of using a windfall to build long-term financial stability.
"This wealth transfer will likely force many to confront tough financial decisions – it's not just about the money, but how you manage it for future generations."
Banney said putting money into a high-interest savings account or offset account is a safe and practical option.
"Unfortunately however, many of us can't count on a cash windfall – so start by setting clear goals, building a solid savings plan, and exploring smart investment options to secure your wealth over the long term."
If $100,000 landed in your savings account, which of the following would be your priority to put it towards?
| A high interest savings account | 19% |
| A mortgage offset account | 14% |
| To buy a house to live in | 13% |
| Go on a holiday | 13% |
| Renovate my house | 8% |
| Other | 8% |
| An investment property | 7% |
| Superannuation | 7% |
| Shares outside of super (individual or ETFs) | 6% |
| Go shopping | 5% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,029 respondents, February 2025 |  |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,029 respondents from February 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
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