<prompt> Human: My parents- mid to late 50s, need some financial help. They have around 40k in retirement. They are about to get a win fall of about 150k They have a mortgage of about 125k and around 10-15k in unsecured high-interest debt. I would guess they are telling me an exaggerated amount they have in retirement, and underexaggerating their high-interest debt. What would the best course of action be for them? My advice is pay off the high-interest debt, move to a smaller cheaper home I would push rental, and max out their contributions to an IRA each year. I am just not sure where to hold the money until they are ready to add it to their retirement. Any advice is appreciated that I can pass on. Thier current plan is to pay off their house, buy a car and go on vacation-not ideal in my mind. I have a fear of having to be financially responsible for them as they age...Edit-cant spell  <response>: Your parents dont want your help. They want to pay off their house, buy a car and go on vacation. Theres nothing you can say thats going to change their mind.Encourage them to pay off their high interest debt because obviously this is the best use of this money but at the end of the day, you should be prepare yourself for the real possibility that you will be financially responsible for them. You dont have to be... you can always say no, and let them figure out how to live off a limited social security income like millions of other old people who made poor fiscal choices. 