DEAR DAVE • Recently, I had an accident at work and lost a couple of fingers. I was given a one-time settlement of $500,000. I've gotten another job since. My wife and I are both in our 30s, and we've got our eye on a house that appraised for $50,000. The seller is willing to take $38,000. We've also got three children and about $12,000 in credit-card debt. What's the smartest way to handle this money?

Kevin

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