# What to do with a million **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952 "2003-12-19T12:49:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/21 "2003-12-19T18:42:11Z")
Well, not all chicks. ---
**Author:** ![culture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@culture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/culture)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/22 "2003-12-19T19:03:24Z")
I would take my US $1.7M and place 30%in a midcap US equity index fund, and 70% in a US large cap equity index fund. I would then wait until I was 50 and do whatever I wanted for the rest of my life (finianced with my expected $4.4M, which would yield a life-time income of $176,00/year at 4% withdrawal rate). ---
**Author:** ![Hirundo82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/919ad9/32.png) [@Hirundo82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirundo82)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/23 "2003-12-19T21:02:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by don’t ask \* > \*\*Well, not all chicks. \*\* Maybe not all chicks, but shallow hot chicks do. ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/24 "2003-12-19T21:23:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by don’t ask \* > \*\*Well, not all chicks. \*\* Well the kind of chicks that’d double up on me do. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/25 "2003-12-19T21:23:31Z")
Like culture. Invest it straightaway, and, even at some piss-poor 5% return, have an instant $80,000+ annual income for the rest of my life. Not too bad. ---
**Author:** ![dal\_timgar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@dal\_timgar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dal_timgar)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/26 "2003-12-19T23:14:07Z")
Convert it to dollars and find a place to build a passive solar log house in the US. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/27 "2003-12-19T23:33:34Z")
Re-frickin’-tire. ASAP after getting my grubby paws on the loot. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/28 "2003-12-19T23:34:26Z")
I would buy myself a booshank pair of trainers. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/29 "2003-12-19T23:40:31Z")
Well, it’s not enough to retire on so I guess I’d buy a larger house (not a mansion, though - just outright ownership on someplace about 25% larger). I’d have to get the requisite toy - probably a Mercedes sport coupe. Finally, I guess I’d put the rest in a fund for my kid’s education and my retirement. I’d keep working but always firm in the knowledge that I can always say, “Take this job and shove it.” if things get too bad. It’d remove a lot of stress in my life. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/30 "2003-12-20T02:27:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kasuo \* > \*\*Well the kind of chicks that’d double up on me do. \*\* Good point. ---
**Author:** ![Siegfried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Siegfried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siegfried)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/31 "2003-12-20T03:22:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*\* A case of Dr. Pepper. \*\* Pfft. Think big, **lieu**. I’d get **two** cases of Dr Pepper. My practical side will always win out in this sort of hypothetical. First, I would pay off my debts (which are up there thanks to the student loans). Then I would give a very generous amount to my parents so that they can pay off their debts and have a chance a nice retirement. I’d also give my sister some of the money so that she can pay off her student loans. The rest? I’d probably leave about $10,000 in my checking account and put the rest in saving accounts, investments, and other things where they can wait for me to reach retirement age. I don’t think I could ever really live an extravagant lifestyle or blow through that much money in a big spree. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/32 "2003-12-20T03:49:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toadspittle \* > \*\*Like culture. Invest it straightaway, and, even at some piss-poor 5% return, have an instant $80,000+ annual income for the rest of my life. Not too bad. \*\* Like **culture** and **toadspittle**. I think the most valuable thing you can get yourself is the opportunity to do what the hell you want for the rest of your life. Although I’d probably also buy a house, or a piece of real estate with the intention of building a house eventually. ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/33 "2003-12-20T07:58:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by don’t ask \* > \*\*Good point. \*\* But what about you, what would you do? ---
**Author:** ![gouda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c77e96/32.png) [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/35 "2003-12-20T08:57:05Z")
First I’d buy up all the real estate I can find around the area where the new international airport for my city is coming up. Then I’d watch my million pounds turn into about 3 million pounds. _Then_ I’d have some money to spend. I’d buy a penthouse in the tallest building in Bombay, have it centrally airconditioned, install a pool on the roof, have a kick-ass entertainment system installed, hooked up with my kick-ass top-o-the-line computer. My garage would be BIG, and well stocked 🙂 And with the remaining million, I’d see the world. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/36 "2003-12-20T08:59:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jehovah68 \* > \*\*But what about you, what would you do? \*\* Besides two chicks at the same time? ---
**Author:** ![RCracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@RCracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RCracer)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/37 "2003-12-20T11:46:35Z")
It seems many on this thread are into spending money for sex. Wouldn’t it be better to buy something that would last longer than a few minutes (or slightly more, it depends)? ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/38 "2003-12-20T18:31:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by don’t ask \* > \*\*Besides two chicks at the same time? \*\* Well, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/39 "2003-12-20T18:45:59Z")
Buy a house in Brooklyn and maybe, if I’m very frugal, furnish it. That’s about as far as a million dollars will take me. A million pounds? I’d probably also get a new-to-me used car too. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/40 "2003-12-21T03:32:11Z")
First off I’d buy a Cammer and blow the socks off these smart alecs in the TV ads with their Hemi’s. * * * “Beware of the Cog” ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952/41 "2003-12-21T03:39:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jehovah68 \* > \*\*Well, yeah. \*\* Nothing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-million/219952.md?page=3)