If you won the lottery....

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
81

The absolute first thing I would do would be to get a safe deposit box and put the ticket there so i didn’t accidentally lose it or anything else dumb.

Then I’d go to a financial planner and figure out the best way to claim the money, how to maximize privacy, set up trusts. So, for example, when I go to buy my house and even if I’m known as the lottery winner, my house would not be in my name-it’d be in the name of one of my trusts or LLCs or whatever (that’s why I need the planner.)

Then I move immediately to a furnished apartment while I figure out where I want to have a house, if I want to build or buy existing.

Then I get a new car. Nothing fancy, but new.

I don’t have much debt, but I feel indebted to some people and organizations, so I would help them, either cash or gifts.

I have some civil legal issues, so I’d get a whole team of lawyers, experts, and PIs.

I never splurge on myself on material things, so I would go on a shopping spree.

I’d like to finish my degree and do some traveling. Maybe even do something like follow a band around for a tour in style.

I’d get laser eye surgery and a few cosmetic things (teeth whitening, see if I can get some scars reduced, etc.)

A day at a spa… mani/pedi, facial, massage, wraps and aromatherapy and hair and just total self-indulgence.

The neighbors of a family member are terrible. I’d try to buy their house to get them gone.

82

And God does sure work in mysterious ways. Damn song runs through my head every time I see this thread title in MPSIMS.

83

Yep… but still fun nonetheless!

84

I worked with a guy who won one of the early Michigan lotteries. He got 50 K for 20 years. That was 38K after taxes. He was about 60 ,so he was the perfect age. He did not have to deal with the transition. But even 40 years ago, that was not huge money. He worked but he was sure more comfortable . Economic downturns did not hurt him so badly either.

85

I have heard that it can take several months for the lottery company to process all the paperwork. So I would not give notice to my boss until after the check cleared and all the taxes were paid. Then:

Have business cards printed up that say “Retired”.

Pay off my car.

Buy a house. Nothing fancy, just something a bit larger than what I’m in now.

Then I’d start hunting for a nice trophy wife who wants to bear me a dozen kids.

86

I’m glad I found this post. I was beginning to think I had lost my mind. I was panicking wondering how many other threads I had posted to in my sleep.

87

OK, one of my 3 minutes of fame.

The jackpot in California was over a 100 million so the LA Times had a reporter at the corner liquor store asking people buying the tickets what they would do with the money. I got quoted in the second paragraph of the front page piece.

The ex called the next day in a huff saying, “If you’re done buying a meatball sandwich, you may want to call me about your son!”

88

I have next to nothing in debt, so I’d finsh off that last $40K.

I’d make improvements to my house. Central heat & air, more insulation and maybe even the spiffy energy-efficient windows! Also, I’d have it painted. the tin roof could be replaced, too.

I’d build a big indoor riding arena (also with A/C) and hire a good trainer. Maybe I’d compete in drssage or three-day. Probably dressage, as the falls in three-day would be harder to recover from as I get older.

I’d replace my hotwire fencing with pretty wood fencing.

I’d quit my job, natch.

I’d start a good, well-run animal rescue.

I’d help my sibs out a bit, but just a bit. Those who are already lazy don’t need more of an excuse, and those who aren’t lazy don’t need help.

I don’t really need much money. I don’t care about cars and travelling. I like my house and acreage and love my animals.

StG

89

One of the things I would do is go to college and get a bachelor’s. I went after high school for one year. This way, if I blew through my fortune, I’d at least have a college degree, so I wouldn’t have to get a sucky job when I went back in the job market.

Also, three girls at the same time.

90

I would buy a bottle of '82 Lafite and make Sangria out of it. Oh, and bathe in 1996 Krug. Just for shi*ts and giggles.

91

That’s awesome. How about gargling with Dom or Cristal? Gargle, swish, spit… don’t even drink it…

92
  1. Build a REAL homeless shelter in our town… a non-religious, accessible to physically disabled people, one.
    2)Buy a house in our own neighborhood (we lucked out with finding a cheap rental in a rather upscale neighborhood) … LOL.
    3)Pay off my student loans.
  2. Retire.

Not necessarily in that order.

93

Stop working.
Pay off house, sell, and build a new one on a large lake, preferably remoteish, but still near enough to family.
Enroll in flight school, working my way to IFR, multi-engine, amphibious operations.
Buy a Grumman Goose , and spend my time flying to interesting places to hunt & fish. Alone some trips, with friends/family on others.
Set up trusts for family education… anyone that wants to go to school, can.
My sister, and brother in law get their houses paid off. Preferably so the deed arrives in the mail one day by surprise.

94

Ooh, that’s my dream plane too. I’d love to land and pull it into little secluded bays and inlets and cast a fishing rod.

95

Exactly! I can’t think of a better way to spend the rest of my days. Sometimes with the Butlerette, sometimes with a buddy, and sometimes all by myself.

And with a 5500# capacity, it’d be big enough for camping gear, a buddy, the hunting gear, and a couple of dead moose from Alaska… or Rocky Mountain Elk, or Artic Caribou, or… :smiley:

96

I used to have spectacular plans for building a castle on a hill and Ferraris and legendary parties and all sorts of other crazy stuff, but I guess I’ve growed up a bit.

I’d remodel my house. New roof, new floors, new fixtures, new windows. Probably add a porch to the 2nd story. We’d pay off our cars and maybe trade one in for something bigger. Make sure our families and closest friends are set. I’d buy a couple nice road bicycles and a couple nice mountain bikes.

I’d start a non profit to do philanthropic work.

I’d make a few documentaries I’ve been wanting to make, and maybe a narrative film or two.

But mostly, I’d travel. I’d do a hell of a lot of travelling. NYC, PNW, and the Great Lakes region would be first on the list, then Europe, then Japan, then the rest of the world, little by little. I’ve been all those places, but not as a rich man :).

97

I would put away a million for myself and donate the rest to the public high school I went to. Of course I would only do this if I could be certain that the district wouldn’t cut my schools budget to spread the money around.

98

Well, I wouldn’t have to complete the bankruptcy process, for starters.

Buy a farm with some woods.
Buy a lake home.

Create my own charitable foundation (a ‘donor directed foundation’)

Not much more than that.

99

Do’s and don’ts of lottery winning: http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/07/lottery.winning.psychology/index.html?hpt=C1

100

I would help my mom with some cash, and help my sisters get houses and some spending money.

I also have a sister that needs an operation so i would pay for that.

I need a house for myself, something a little larger but not ostentatious, and built to have solar panels, well insulated and use green materiel. I’d probably get myself a house in Florida just to have, built to the latest hurricane codes, again spacious but not ostentatious.

I would invest so as to make the money provide an income and for growth, but nothing wild, because i don’t want to be broke agian. It sucks to be broke.

My best friend would get some cash because he is as poor as I. Stephen and I would go to Europe or something fun, like two weeks at Key West.

I might help a few friends but nobody like being hassled by hordes looking for a handout. I don’t know what i would do for my aunt uncle and immediate cousins, but if they need something i could write a check.