If I had an unlimited budget for 24 hours, I’d have to move fast.
Twenty-four hours sounds like a lot until you start thinking about the kinds of decisions you would need to make. I’m probably not going to suddenly become some master dealmaker in one day. I’m not going to sit down and make a bunch of great Trumpian real estate deals before midnight. There just wouldn’t be enough time for that.
But I could still do some important things.
The first thing I’d do is start building a financial engine that would keep running after the money well dried up.
I don’t make a lot of money, and one of the things that means is that I haven’t been able to invest nearly as much as I’d like. It’s not that I don’t understand the importance of investing. It’s that most of my money already has somewhere to go before I ever get much of a chance to think about the future.
So with unlimited funds for 24 hours, I’d use that time to set up the future.
I’d do some quick research. I’d talk to trusted friends and advisers. I’d put together a portfolio designed to generate consistent income over time. I wouldn’t be trying to get cute or chase some miracle investment. I’d want something steady, diversified and strong enough to keep producing after the fantasy was over.
I’d also buy commodities like gold and silver. Not because I think they’re magic, but because there is something comforting about owning something real. Stocks, funds and accounts are important, but I’d want some tangible stores of value too.
Then, when I had a few minutes, I’d start looking at properties.
Not mansions. Not some ridiculous celebrity compound with sixteen bathrooms, a tennis court and a room just for wrapping presents. I’d look for a solid, comfortable home in the area for Daryl and me. Something that would suit our needs for the next 30 or 40 years. A place where we could settle in, breathe a little easier and not spend the rest of our lives wondering whether the next big repair was going to knock us sideways.
After that, I’d set up trusts for the grandchildren — mine and Daryl’s. That would matter to me. I’d want them to have something waiting for them someday that could help with school, a first home, a business idea or just the kind of start in life that makes the road a little less steep.
That’s probably the real answer.
I wouldn’t use unlimited money for 24 hours to act rich.
I’d use it to stop feeling financially cornered.
I’d use it to buy stability, options and a little peace of mind. I’d use it to build something that could keep helping my family long after the clock ran out.
Because if the money only lasts one day, the smartest thing to buy is a future.
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Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.
