Dh and I thought the comment made by one of the gentleman that just won 15.5 million $ in the lottery was funny and true. He said that they all used to speculate that they would buy a plane or an island but now that they have won they realize they really don't like water and flying doesn't appeal to them either - so they don't know what they'll do! I think that's so true. Would you move? Quit your job? If so, what WOULD you do every day? If everyday is like Saturday, what is there to look forward to? Dh suggested we have a maid, a chef, buy a hotel or something like that. I could deal with the maid, but a chef? That's out of my comfort zone. That would feel wierd. As far as buying a hotel or houses around the world, sounds like a lot of jet setting that just isn't for me. I would be much more satisfied with a smaller sum of money (a million or two) that we could keep quiet about - no national press. We could help our families and charities, and keep our lives the same (of course we'd buy new cars, get a pool...). Think about how your children's characters would change having that much money.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 09:17 am:

Quit my job. Buy a home at the beach and one in the French Quarter. Buy a home for each of the kids. Pay off their college tuition debts. Pay off my debts. Help my sisters and friends who are struggling. Set up an education trust fund for Madison. Donate money to the SPCA and some other agencies, etc. that are important to me. Take some classes on photography and travel, travel, travel!

With the exception of doing the above for the kids, I wouldn't hand over chunks of money - YET. We'd set up trusts for them. DH and I have worked all our lives and I, for one, have done my share of struggling. So, in my mind, we've earned the *right* to stop working. However, the kids have not, if that makes any sense. So I would buy them homes, so they'd always have a place that was *theirs*, and pay off their tuition debts, to give them an easier start, and then they need to stand on their own feet and begin their lives. The trusts could come into play later on.

I think I'd donate some money to medical research for some specific health conditions that have affected me or members of my family too. After all, with that kind of money at your disposal, you can A) afford to be generous) and B) will need something for tax benefits.

I don't think we'd necessarily live an elaborate lifestyle, unless you consider frequent traveling and owning more than one home elaborate. We are happy as a couple, but having money to do those things would definitely make life more enjoyable!

I definitely wouldn't want all the press that goes with winning though, but I doubt you can avoid that completely.

I think it's important to help others who need help, and both my sisters would appreciate what I'd be able to do for them, and I'd definitely help some close friends. I can think of 3 offhand that I'd help immediately.

By Sunny on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 09:28 am:

The first thing I would do is set up a trust for each of my kids, and probably a trust for myself. A bigger house would be nice, but being financially secure is more important to me.

I would travel. I have a mental list of all the places I'd like to visit and having the means to do it is the only thing stopping me from doing it now.

As of right now, my kids are young and I don't think my life would change much from the day to day, at least in how we live our lives. Sure we would be able to afford to do more or have more things, but as I said before, I'm more interested in the security money brings not in the big or expensive ways I can spend it.

I'll also add that I'm happy the money is being divided up between eight people and there is not one sole winner. I told my Dh that if we had won, my thought was to share the ticket with his and my siblings so we could all share in the money! I don't envy the publicity the winners of those large jackpots get. I know I wouldn't want my name and face known throughout the country.

By Kaye on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 09:29 am:

Honestly I think it would go very fast.

I don't think my hubby would quit having a job, but maybe we would go into business for ourselves. He has always dreamed of opening up his own golf shop or something like that. Me I would lend towards a craft type thing, or kayak renting..LOL.

But in reality, 15 million dollars
After taxes you are down to on a good tax break 10 million. So you pay off all debts, a house at 200,000, a car at 40,000, we would probably want two, so another 40,000. And other random loans, that is 20,000 for the average family. So now down to 9 million and change. I just don't think it would be hard to go through. I would want to give 10% to my church, I would want make some pretty hefty donations to the MS society and the world hunger fund. I have a grandmother that could easily spend 1/2 mill. So without really life changing events happening I have would have spent all but about 5 million. If you set your lifestyle to spend only half a million a year, that is only 10 years of money. I am too much of a realist to win the lottery

By Beth on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 10:20 am:

I would definately quit work! I think dh would to and after we have had some fun we would open our own shop. Me scrapbooking and him antiques. I would move also and get a better house and new cars. I don't want really fancy but anything has to be better then my 94 van. LOL! I would make sure my family was comfortable. I would set up trusts for the kids. Buy a camper and travel! Make donations to the Autism society for my nephew and to leukemia for my cousin. Oh if this could only be reality!

By Janet on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 10:40 am:

I would quit this job, but after taking a break I'd definitely look for something else, that I REALLY loved to do! I'd fix up our house (siding, paint, finish the rooms, fix the fireplace...), get rid of our stupid Taurus and buy something nicer, get my dh the truck of his dreams, buy the farmland that we've got for sale and get new equipment so dh could quit HIS stupid job and be a full-time farmer like he wants, set up the girls for college, maybe go back to school myself, give lots of money away to things like the Komen Foundation, public radio, public television, my old college, my church, etc...
I would also invest so that the "mere" 15 million wouldn't be nickled and dimed away. I can't imagine having millions one day and waking up a few years later, with nothing. That's just crazy.

By Conni on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 10:58 am:

I'd Faint.

By Yjja123 on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:06 pm:

Buy a yacht and sail away.
Buy a new home for our land base and for relatives to visit/stay.
Set up trust funds for family members.
Travel-travel-travel.
Our dream is to live on a yacht so winning the lottery would make that happen. I would share the wealth but not in huge chunks. We would invest also.
Wouldn't it be great? Too bad, we rarely even buy lottery tickets

By Cat on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:12 pm:

Go into witness protection to stay away from all the relatives that would suddenly appear.

No really, I read somewhere that something like 3/4 of all people that win money of any significant amount blow it within a year. I would certainly pay off all debt, including the new house and then probably invest quite a bit. My goal (after a few splurge buys and maybe a trip) would be to make it last as long as possible.

By Nicki on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:36 pm:

Take the money and run.

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:47 pm:

Nothing. That's what I would do...simply nothing.

By Missbookworm on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:55 pm:

LOL Cat! that's the first thing I'd do. My family would be all over me in a heartbeat if I won a lottery, and we're not even remotely close so I wouldn't feel obligated.

I would pay off any debt I have. Buy my children and I a house. Put money into trust for my children and I would go back to school so that I could get a job that pays decently and I would probably invest somehow.

By Crystal915 on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 12:58 pm:

Hire a good lawyer. Build a home, invest a bunch, splurge a bunch, wait for DH's enlistment to end and go home.

By Tink on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 01:00 pm:

DH and I talked about this last night and our plan is...to buy a house in London and travel around Europe on weekends and school breaks. Easter break in Paris, summer vacation in Italy, ski weekends in Switzerland, fall vacation to Scotland. Then sell that house and buy one in Santa Barbara, CA (our favorite place in the US)and a car for each of us. DH would open an art gallery and I'd go back to school for my Masters in Behavior Management and Early Childhood Development so I could open a school for children with autism. Both of us like the idea of donating to specific people that we think we could really make a difference to and the remainder (if there was anything left) would go into investments. If the money's gone in a year, then it's gone and we had the most amazing year of our lives. I don't think life is so bad now that it would be heartbreaking to return to it.

By Alberobello on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 03:17 pm:

Cori (Tink) where in London would you buy your house?

BTW you'd really need to win the lottery to buy in London, the prices are ridiculous!!!

Good luck to all of you ladies, i just have the feeling that it's very unlikely that i'll win the lottery!

By Tink on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 03:40 pm:

Maria, I really loved Chelsea (that's where my sister stayed) but oh, the prices!!! Since we'd just stay for a year, I don't think I'd be too picky. I know how precious living space is in the city so a couple of bedrooms and some living space would be enough. Anytime I got sick of it being too small or cramped, I'd just go for a walk and remember just how happy I was just to be there!

By Kim on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 06:22 pm:

I would definitly quit my job. I would stay here, buy a house that was big enough for us but not really big. I would want to take care of it myself still. I would like to have real grass! Not sand spur weed junk. I would have a nice vehicle but I would still make my kids work for their things as they grow up. I would invest wisely, put my kids thru college and I also would donate to charities that I have strong feelings for. CHildren's causes for sure and Fibro research. I would probably work for kids causes also. The system here sucks! And I would go to the beach A LOT. I would live humbly and try to change the world around me as best as I could. I really would not want a high life. I would also help my family as they have helped support my children and I since my ex left. I would also have to help other women in my situation, maybe buy houses and help single moms get away from abusive ex's.

I might travel a little, nothing fancy.

By Missbookworm on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 06:32 pm:

Kim I'd love to do that! Have safe houses for women to go too! I've lived in a couple and wouldn't be where I am without them. I never thought of buying my own just thought of what I'd have to have to work in one. I guess that's what comes from not having a lot of money.

I wouldn't want a high life either, just to be comfortable. I agree completely about making our children still work for things. I guess with me I'd like to know that we could afford the things they need without having to worry about things like money. Although I think my idea of what we need and what they think they need is a bit different.

Financially things are tough right now but I know they'll approve.