What to do?

[Teallaura]

The settlement from the accident is going to be much larger than anticipated. I am going to the doctor this afternoon and if I'm unlikely to have anything else seriously wrong (which I'm pretty sure I'm good) I'll sign off on it. Check going in bank for a three month cooling off period - not optional (gives the insurance company time to ask for reimbursement if they are planning to).

Then what?

1) Pay off car?
2) Buy house?
3) Hold off and buy house in January by which time I can really up my credit score?
4) Other?

[themuzicman]

1) Pay off debts
2) Put together an emegency fund (like a few months of expenses)
3) Invest for the future, which may include saving for a large downpayment on a house.

[Teallaura]

1) Am debt free other than the car.
2) Would create that but storage costs are a real drain. House is cheaper than rent - much cheaper than rent and storage combined.
3) Have down payment.

[themuzicman]

Storage? What do you have that you need to pay for storage?

[Carrikature]

I'd pay off the car and put your now-non-existent car payments into a bank account for an emergency fund. Emergency funds are pretty essential for homeownership, imo. If you've already got the down payment set aside, I'm not sure what else would you're lacking to buy the house anyway.

[Sparko]

I agree about the emergency fund. You should always have 3 to 6 months of expenses saved up just in case. In case something large breaks in your house, in case you lose your job, in case of hospital bills, etc.

[Teallaura]

Storage? What do you have that you need to pay for storage?

My furniture - I down-sized pretty severely on the last move (desperation will do that).