If I won... 16 million I would...

[that_someone_special]

haha YEAH. I would pay off my $50-$60k school loans (umm who knows what it is anymore).. and then help pay off my friends! One of my friends has $125k in school debt. Seriously, and we went to the same school!

Anyways.. for fun? I''d buy a loft downtown, and some fun cars. And a diamond for every finger! jk.. Oh, and I''d visit Ireland, Egypt and Europe. ''

AND NEVER WORK AGAIN! MUHAHAHAHA!

 

[that_someone_special]

I dont know if this is going to kick me in the butt, but a certain person I know won the lottery a few years ago. This person kept it for themselves.. and just takes trips around the world. We''re talking millions of dollars won after taxes (ahem, I''m related to this person). You would think my college would''ve been paid for (we WERE close) but instead, trips around the world were more important than their family. I''d love to win the lottery, but after really seeing what people turn into after winning......... I almost wouldn''t seriously want it. Sure, my life could be easier if I did.. but I might turn into someone I wouldn''t want to be!!

 

[Haven]

That''s sad to hear, SwedishBean. I have to say, though, that I bet it is extremely difficult to be the recipient of unexpected large sums of money for that reason--Eric Clapton''s words "nobody knows you when you''re down and out . . . but once you get back on your feet again, everybody wants to be your long lost friend" come to mind. It''s really hard to feel charitable when others are scrutinizing your financial decisions, and my guess is that a lot of open hands come out of the woodwork.

ANYWAY . . . this thread has been so fun to read! The best thing is that after thinking about this for a while, I realized that I wouldn''t want to buy any THINGS, and that makes me happy with the decisions I''ve made thus far. I wouldn''t upgrade our home, or our cars, or anything like that.

I''d buy leisure time and experiences. I would do whatever I need to do to set us up so we wouldn''t have to work full-time anymore. Then I would:
- spend long afternoons reading good books in local coffee houses
- visit with the people I love over meals that I spent ridiculous yet blissful amounts of time preparing
- take long walks and runs with my doggies, visit the dog parks, and play a lot of fetch
- tutor under-privileged and at-risk children in reading and English
- travel to all the places that are still on my list, and then some
- hand write letters to my friends and family, just because
- volunteer at the local animal shelter where we found our sweethearts
- open my Haven and therefore be exposed to a whole slew of experiences and individuals

I would live simply and be happy. I would not set my alarm clock to 5 AM every day. I would not sit through trivial meetings. I would not wear dress pants. I would not be too tired to play with my furbabies at the end of the work day, or to cook a full meal. I would not neglect the books in my "cannot wait to read" pile.

I would feel very independent.

I guess I''m looking into buying TIME. Time to do what I want to do, without being beholden to my job, as much as I love it, there are things I''d much prefer to do with my time, and those things are pretty plain and simple.

 

[Gypsy]

Haven that was so profound. Not being too tired to play with furbabies, or to cook a meal. What a luxury indeed. And GOD do I know what you mean (I suspect that many of us do!). I love reading this thread. So many great posts and so many thoughtful, wise, and also fun replies.


And Alj... so happy about that.

 

[JSM]

After the requisite pay off student loan debt and help out our parents, the fiance and I would like to buy a baseball team!

...we''re dreaming, right?

 

[musey]

Date: 1/7/2009 11:07:40 PM
Author: swedish bean
I dont know if this is going to kick me in the butt, but a certain person I know won the lottery a few years ago. This person kept it for themselves.. and just takes trips around the world. We're talking millions of dollars won after taxes (ahem, I'm related to this person). You would think my college would've been paid for (we WERE close) but instead, trips around the world were more important than their family. I'd love to win the lottery, but after really seeing what people turn into after winning......... I almost wouldn't seriously want it. Sure, my life could be easier if I did.. but I might turn into someone I wouldn't want to be!!

I don't think it's selfish to use one's money on oneself. I don't know your situation, or your relative's, but I don't think that the info you've given (alone) would lead me to believe that this person "turned into" anything bad, or selfish. Many people who've come into money have found it quite difficult to give handouts, because then everyone wants/expects them and then whoops... there goes all that money. If traveling the world is what's important to that person, then they have every right to use the money in that way, IMO, if that's what they want.

I'm sure there's more to the story than that, but I did want to say that I don't think that it's very fair to automatically expect recipients of a windfall to 'spread the wealth,' or to use it to take care of anyone that they would otherwise not be financially responsible for. I wouldn't expect or want that, if one of my family members came into money. It's their money, not mine, to do with as they see fit - and I am not anyone's financial obligation to take care of.

You know, except my husband's

just kidding. Well, mostly.

Likewise, I would not appreciate family/friends feeling 'put out' that I was using my money on things other than them.

 

[pennquaker09]

Donate all of it. I think I would donate half to Tulane and maybe 4 million to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure (breast cancer) and the other 4 million to St. Jude Children''s Research Hospital.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 1/7/2009 11:07:40 PM
Author: swedish bean
I dont know if this is going to kick me in the butt, but a certain person I know won the lottery a few years ago. This person kept it for themselves.. and just takes trips around the world. We're talking millions of dollars won after taxes (ahem, I'm related to this person). You would think my college would've been paid for (we WERE close) but instead, trips around the world were more important than their family. I'd love to win the lottery, but after really seeing what people turn into after winning......... I almost wouldn't seriously want it. Sure, my life could be easier if I did.. but I might turn into someone I wouldn't want to be!!

See that was my point about winning. If you do, everyone expects something from you. If you help one person, you have to help everyone. What happens when relatives you haven't spoken to in 10 years start milling about outside your door? It would be a tremedous nightmare and everyone would fight over who deserves what!

Hence my reason for NEVER buying a ticket for a large sum. If a person wins just enough (after taxes) to pay off a house, any debt, and set money aside for kids' college educations, there won't be any $ left for family to begin declaring what their share is.

ETA - and my post isn't meant to "kick you in the butt," as you left out how close the relative happened to be or why you and that person are no longer close (a rhetorical question - was it the money?) I don't even know what the real circumstances were. . . my point stems from an article in the paper about a guy who one the megamillions and strangers would knock on his door asking for handouts, friends/family would become irate if one person got more money than another, and no matter how much money he handed out, people still wanted/felt they deserved more. . .Greed takes over.

 

[that_someone_special]

Date: 1/8/2009 2:44:56 AM
Author: musey

I don't think it's selfish to use one's money on oneself. I don't know your situation, or your relative's, but I don't think that the info you've given (alone) would lead me to believe that this person 'turned into' anything bad, or selfish. Many people who've come into money have found it quite difficult to give handouts, because then everyone wants/expects them and then whoops... there goes all that money. If traveling the world is what's important to that person, then they have every right to use the money in that way, IMO, if that's what they want.

I'm sure there's more to the story than that, but I did want to say that I don't think that it's very fair to automatically expect recipients of a windfall to 'spread the wealth,' or to use it to take care of anyone that they would otherwise not be financially responsible for. I wouldn't expect or want that, if one of my family members came into money. It's their money, not mine, to do with as they see fit - and I am not anyone's financial obligation to take care of.

You know, except my husband's

just kidding. Well, mostly.

Likewise, I would not appreciate family/friends feeling 'put out' that I was using my money on things other than them.

This person used to be my favorite person in the WORLD. I can't even look at this person the same anymore after some HORRIBLE, terrible things this person said to me over something that wasn't my fault. This person used to be very down to earth, funny, nice. After the money, they moved away, bought a bunch of toys, and turned away from everyone that had helped them previously in life (and let me tell you, it's A LOT.. think lawyers fees, illegal substances.. ect)

Do I get money from this person? Sometimes, yes! I appreciate what they give me, and I don't expect more. It's their money. But, for something such as school, I really feel that this person would've done more in the past/ before changing. In fact, this person is hardly giving their children any.. they are treated like slaves! It's SO sad.. I call them the "Poor Rich Princesses/ Princes" It's completely weird.

Anyways, this person started with like $10 in the bank account and ended up with over $10mil .. I think it's just sad

It makes me sad

Edit: And, sadly, this would all be easier to talk to any of you in person, I just don't know who is going to read this. But yes, once this person got the money, EVERYONE came out of the woodwork, and EVERYONE wanted money.. and? A lot of this persons loser/druggie/idiot friends got money. Yeah. But there is so much more to this story, I'm used to it now, and compared to their children I have better ..

 

[that_someone_special]

Date: 1/8/2009 10:21:56 AM
Author: MC

Date: 1/7/2009 11:07:40 PM
Author: swedish bean
I dont know if this is going to kick me in the butt, but a certain person I know won the lottery a few years ago. This person kept it for themselves.. and just takes trips around the world. We''re talking millions of dollars won after taxes (ahem, I''m related to this person). You would think my college would''ve been paid for (we WERE close) but instead, trips around the world were more important than their family. I''d love to win the lottery, but after really seeing what people turn into after winning......... I almost wouldn''t seriously want it. Sure, my life could be easier if I did.. but I might turn into someone I wouldn''t want to be!!

See that was my point about winning. If you do, everyone expects something from you. If you help one person, you have to help everyone. What happens when relatives you haven''t spoken to in 10 years start milling about outside your door? It would be a tremedous nightmare and everyone would fight over who deserves what!

Hence my reason for NEVER buying a ticket for a large sum. If a person wins just enough (after taxes) to pay off a house, any debt, and set money aside for kids'' college educations, there won''t be any $ left for family to begin declaring what their share is.

ETA - and my post isn''t meant to ''kick you in the butt,'' as you left out how close the relative happened to be or why you and that person are no longer close (a rhetorical question - was it the money?) I don''t even know what the real circumstances were. . . my point stems from an article in the paper about a guy who one the megamillions and strangers would knock on his door asking for handouts, friends/family would become irate if one person got more money than another, and no matter how much money he handed out, people still wanted/felt they deserved more. . .Greed takes over.

MC - it was not about the money, but that person made it about the money. I was 17 at the time, and was told, "IF YOU DON''T DO [THIS], YOU''LL NEVER SEE A CENT OF MY MONEY!!! EVER!! I SWEAR TO GOD!" This person as I said, was my favorite person in the world. We were pretty darn close..I wish this person never would''ve won. Also, I''m sorry I can''t use more information, but we have the same last name. Even I still get asked, "OH are you related to Joe Schmoe? The winner?"

And then I said, "Yeah.." And then it''s "OHHH tell me more...!" Strangers do that! So even though I''ve heard some of the stories, I can only imagine what this person has gone through with strangers and "friends". Blah. It''s just been terrible. If this was a private forum I would say a lot more.. The words I would use to describe this whole situation? Jail, Drugs, Money, Trips, Greed, Death, and fine champange!

 

[MonkeyPie]

I think about this ALL the time. I have a list ready!

1. Pay off all the debt that my husband and I have, as well as all debt my parents, brother, and grandma have.
2. Buy a couple new cars - a Mazda 6 for daily travel and a Sky for weekends!
3. Buy a house, one that has enough rooms that we can have as many kiddos as we want and still have space for my photography studio.
4. TRAVEL. All over the world. And while I''m doing that, I''ll buy bling from every place I stop. First on my list? DeBeers Kiss of the Rose ring!

 

[tlh]

Leave my husband! WHAHAHAHAH!

(umm that is an evil laugh... and OF COURSE I AM KIDDING. I do have to wonder though how many times that kind of widfall has broken up a marriage...)

 

[steph72276]

Date: 1/8/2009 3:12:45 PM
Author: tlh
Leave my husband! WHAHAHAHAH!

(umm that is an evil laugh... and OF COURSE I AM KIDDING. I do have to wonder though how many times that kind of widfall has broken up a marriage...)

I saw a special on lottery winners one time....many of them were bankrupt after a few years for reckless spending, many of them had marriages that ended....didn''t always seem to work out for the best. Maybe Penn has the right idea.

 

[ladypirate]

First off, I would not tell anyone that I won. Then, I would:

1. Pay off K's student loans
2. Buy a house & decorate it exactly how I want it
3. Buy a new car (or 3

)
4. Put the rest of the money into stable investments.

Even if i spent 6 million of it on items 1 - 3, that would leave me 10 million. Earning 3% interest would be $300,000 a year before taxes. I would keep working because I like my job, but I would also travel, donate money to charity, put my sisters through grad school, maybe go back to grad school myself, make sure that Kris and my parents and siblings were taken care of and buy some kick ass jewelry.

 

[tlh]

Lady pirate... what is your favorite kind of sweater??? is it ARRRGYLE?
HAHAH! I heard that this halloween, so I am sorry- I just thought it was soo cute!