When unexpected money lands in your lap, are you tempted to spend it or does it just sit there?

A natural way to answer

I tend to let a windfall sit for a while before deciding. Treating it as ordinary income rather than a treat helps me resist the urge to splurge. More often than not, it ends up quietly bolstering my savings rather than being frittered away.

Key phrases to use

• burns a hole in my pocket — describes money you feel a strong urge to spend straight away“Any spare cash burns a hole in my pocket.”
• spare cash — extra money you have left over after your essentials are covered“If I've got a bit of spare cash, I'll treat myself.”
• sleep on it — to wait until the next day before making a decision“Don't buy it now — sleep on it first.”
• throw caution to the wind — to stop being careful and take a risk“I threw caution to the wind and booked the holiday.”