Decide How to Allocate a Windfall

A lump sum has landed, an inheritance or a bonus, and the temptation to spend it sideways is strong. This works through it in order: clear the expensive debt, top up the emergency fund, then weigh investing, paying down the mortgage, or treating yourself. You allocate the money deliberately rather than watching it quietly disappear.

<context>
You have unexpectedly received {WINDFALL_AMOUNT} (an inheritance, a bonus, a property sale profit, or similar) and need to decide how to allocate it rather than spending it reactively.
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<task>
**Step 1: Clear the urgent obligations first**
Identify any high-interest debt, overdue bills, or financial safety net gaps that should be addressed before anything else.

**Step 2: Build or check the emergency fund**
Do you have three to six months of expenses in accessible savings? If not, this is the second priority.

**Step 3: Assess the medium-term allocation**
Consider the sequence: pension allowances, ISA allowances, mortgage overpayment, and investing in a taxable account. Apply the correct order of priority.

**Step 4: Protect against reactive spending**
Recommend a cooling-off period before finalising any decision, and a process for making allocation decisions with intention rather than impulse.
</task>

<output_format>
- A prioritised allocation plan
- A recommended allocation split for your windfall amount
- One cooling-off protocol
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