the Lottery - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Bittertalker · 03-10-2007, 09:30 PM

Losing this week’s Mega Millions got me to thinking—what if I won the lottery, what might I have done with the money? I started to think of what I might do with it realistically speaking, the first thing I would do with that money and such and such, but the fun thing about such a question is all the possibilities. What if you won the lottery? How would you spend the money? Would you spend it all on yourself or would you have other plans in mind? Hypothetically speaking, if you were to win the lottery, say a million dollars or more, what would you do?

Fearless_Hyena · 03-10-2007, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bittertalker

Losing this week’s Mega Millions got me to thinking—what if I won the lottery, what might I have done with the money? I started to think of what I might do with it realistically speaking, the first thing I would do with that money and such and such, but the fun thing about such a question is all the possibilities. What if you won the lottery? How would you spend the money? Would you spend it all on yourself or would you have other plans in mind? Hypothetically speaking, if you were to win the lottery, say a million dollars or more, what would you do?

I would pay off all the debts for everyone in my family first. Wouldn't buy everyone a new car and house etc. like everyone says they would, when they get into money... (ok maybe I'd get my mom an old '70 Camaro)

But I'd handle all my business I have here and move to south Brazil.

Halx · 03-10-2007, 10:23 PM

The first thing I'd do is buy a Lamborghini Murcielago.

Then I'd buy some really prime property where I'd most like to live.

Then I'd regret not being more frugal.

Dilbert1234567 · 03-10-2007, 10:45 PM

lock 80% up in investments, 5% goes towards a house, car, kitchen. 10% I'll donate to charity, i know the womans shelter when I live needs money badly. 5% I'll spend flying to Florida and have some fun with a special someone.

SecretMethod70 · 03-10-2007, 11:29 PM

For the sake of this thought experiment, I'm going to assume that I've won $1 million, lump sum, after taxes. I'm also going to assume that I will maintain my current clarity of thought and not turn into a foolish idiot upon winning (which can happen to even the smartest of people).

The first thing I would do is pay off all mine and onodrim's student loans. Then, I would set aside another 150,000 or so for each of us to go to grad school. I'd spend about 7,000 performing various computer upgrades for both of us. I'd set aside some more money (not sure exactly how much, but I'm guessing it would be somewhere around 25,000 total) for future trips to Antarctica, Easter Island, and maybe Réunion for both onodrim and me. Once I decide who I'd like to support in the next election, I'd donate the maximum allowed (I think it's $2,300 right now) to their campaign. I'd set aside a few thousand for season tickets for a few years to both the Chicago Lyric Opera and the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. With the remaining ~650,000, I'd invest for retirement.

Xazy · 03-11-2007, 03:01 AM

Automatically I will give 10% to charitey (I give 10% of anything including interest I make to charitey). Depending on the sum left over depends on what I do. If it is 5 mil or more, I will keep that locked up in investment and live off the money made. If it is more I would start giving money to help payoff family members debts (Or I would do this slowly with the interest I made from the 5 mil+ locked up).

I would buy a few plaes in Israel to live for me and my family. and I would tour. But the key for me is 5 mil locked up collecting interest.

Ourcrazymodern? · 03-11-2007, 05:03 AM

Funny question - dunno.

Jove · 03-11-2007, 05:06 AM

I would speak to a financial advisor and a lawyer about my current winnings. I would tell no one because once you tell people about winning a million or so, they get greedy and want you dead. I would continue to work for several months while I plan an extended vacation for a year through Europe and Asia. After the vacation, I will pay off my student loans and go back to grad school for my masters in management information systems. Depending on what the lawyer and the financial advisor suggested, I would put a 100,000 in the stock market.

warrrreagl · 03-11-2007, 06:34 AM

Hand it to Grancey and do whatever she told me to do with it.

REDL|NE · 03-11-2007, 07:16 AM

I'd put 90% of it into investments, and live off of the interest. The other 10% I would splurge on anything i felt like buying.

politicophile · 03-11-2007, 08:20 AM

two characters

Willravel · 03-11-2007, 08:26 AM

What if you had been walking down the street and found a winning lottery ticket, politicopile?

If I hit the big lotto, $60m, I'd donate to my city to cover the roofs of every building possible in solar panels. I could easily power 20,000 households worth with an investment of that size.

ngdawg · 03-11-2007, 08:39 AM

I'd donate a large portion to the World Wildlife Fund. I'd find a family that can't afford its own home, give them my house and find a nicer one for myself-preferrably in the hills of Tennessee, where I could wake each morning to the sight of the Smoky Mountains.
I'd pay off my immediate family's debts. My kids' college would get paid for in cash. I'd become an entrepreneur, maybe opening an eatery/gallery sort of thing, highlighting unknown young artists. I'd take time off from everything and travel around, visiting friends. That 58 Impala I've been drooling over would be mine.
What's left over would be invested.
Ah, to dream.....instead I just take the money I make and pay bills or put a few bucks into the savings account, to pay more bills....

politicophile · 03-11-2007, 08:43 AM

two characters

radioguy · 03-11-2007, 11:02 AM

it's funny to read all the stuff that we say we'd do....give to charity, buy someone else a house, support other organizations....i can't help but wonder if it's all a lie. sure, we'd all love to believe that we are all perfect, kind, warm hearted folks, but money changes everyone!!! shoot, i'd like to believe that i'd share it with people that need it, but truthfully, i probably wouldn't.

Ourcrazymodern? · 03-11-2007, 11:15 AM

Can I suck up a little? How would one not spend a dime for a decade?

Willravel · 03-11-2007, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radioguy

it's funny to read all the stuff that we say we'd do....give to charity, buy someone else a house, support other organizations....i can't help but wonder if it's all a lie. sure, we'd all love to believe that we are all perfect, kind, warm hearted folks, but money changes everyone!!! shoot, i'd like to believe that i'd share it with people that need it, but truthfully, i probably wouldn't.

Well, I'd think about keeping a bit just to make sure my family is able to be safe (savings accounts in case of emergency), but I know that I'd rather have the money help a lot of people I don't know than to spoil a few people I do.

SecretMethod70 · 03-11-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radioguy

it's funny to read all the stuff that we say we'd do....give to charity, buy someone else a house, support other organizations....i can't help but wonder if it's all a lie. sure, we'd all love to believe that we are all perfect, kind, warm hearted folks, but money changes everyone!!! shoot, i'd like to believe that i'd share it with people that need it, but truthfully, i probably wouldn't.

Yeah, I mean, I'd love to give lots of money to charity. And actually, if I won a $60 million lottery, like willravel mentioned, I probably would give a rather sizable amount to charitable interests. Working with $1 million, like I did in my post, I have to be honest with myself and say that I'd give, at most, a few thousand dollars to charity. Between the cost of a good education and the amount of money needed to provide a comfortable retirement, $1 million is just not enough money to go around giving it away.

MSD · 03-11-2007, 08:18 PM

I'll be realistic. I'm going to pay off a my student loans and credit cards, put it in high-yield CDs or bonds for when my brother gets out of school, pay off my mom's mortgage and credit cards, put a down payment on a house for myself, and buy a Ferrari. whatever is left gets invested.

ngdawg · 03-11-2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radioguy

it's funny to read all the stuff that we say we'd do....give to charity, buy someone else a house, support other organizations....i can't help but wonder if it's all a lie. sure, we'd all love to believe that we are all perfect, kind, warm hearted folks, but money changes everyone!!! shoot, i'd like to believe that i'd share it with people that need it, but truthfully, i probably wouldn't.

I've given to WWF(and used to buy my Christmas presents through them), MADD and at one time, gave my entire state tax refund to Green Peace. I'd rate myself as pretty selfish; giving to my choices of charities makes me feel as if I'm doing something worthwhile, which, if you think about it, is selfish in a way. As for giving away my house-it's a shithole anyway

Painted · 03-11-2007, 08:46 PM

If I had a million dollars...I would pay off all my debts, get rid of most of my stuff (save for those mementos that everyone holds onto), buy several good-looking suits, put 800k into savings and with the rest I would travel all over the world. Italy, Egypt, Japan, Australia, all the places I have ever wanted to go. I imagine I would get tired of that, but I haven't been on a two-year holiday before.

Personally, I think all of you folks who would give it all to charity are completely crazy. Why would anyone pass up the opportunity to never work again, never live in run-down apartments or soulless suburbs? Some people are destined to lead exciting lives. Winning the lottery is a sign of that kind of destiny.

MageB420666 · 03-12-2007, 05:18 AM

If I won less than 10 million, I'd spend it all on more lotto tickets for one of the 100+ million powerball drawings. Seems like have a million or more randomly chosen tickets would up my chances of winning.

If I then won the 100+ million..... I'd buy a new uber gaming computer, a new car, and let the rest sit in a savings account. I don't need to invest or anything if I'm gonna be glued to WoW 16 hours a day for the next 5 years.

fresnelly · 03-12-2007, 05:31 AM

To answer the charity question to those resistant to the idea, I bet there are certain tax incentives and advantages that could persuade you.

As to my own ideas, I'd follow the secure investment, trust funds for family and modest luxury route as several have outlined above.

I too would like to help out my friends in their debts, but I wonder if that would create more discord than goodwill. Wouldn't their pride and sense of independance bristle against being "bought"? How could they pay you back? Do they still like you for you or because of the money? At what point does their need for support become mooching or a form of welfare?

It opens up a can of worms if you ask me, so any gifts to friends must be handled extremely delicately and at a level that enables them to return the sentiment equally if not financially.

snowy · 03-12-2007, 06:24 AM

I would pay off my debts (currently running around 35k in student loans), my parents' mortgage (150,000 or so), buy myself a new house (or two, property in a college town is a good bet) and a new car, replace my SO's run down car, and invest the rest. I'd also set aside funds specifically for travel. Making my day-to-day life as comfortable as possible is important to me, though I doubt I'd splash out on a car fancier than a Honda Accord.

As for charity, I donate frequently. I would probably buy myself a better membership for Oregon Public Broadcasting and donate some money to the Alzheimer's Association, as well as large donations to my church and the English department at Oregon State.

Hektore · 03-12-2007, 07:48 AM

I have a question for everyone who wants to pay of X debt and invest the rest. Why not invest it all and pay off your debts over time? I know you pay more money that way, but you also have more money invested, which in theory means greater returns, faster increases in total wealth (if your investments pay off), and a greater inheritence for any potential offspring. I think that investing it all might pay off bigger over time, so I would hopefully be able to keep my sanity enough to go that route.

snowy · 03-12-2007, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hektore

I have a question for everyone who wants to pay of X debt and invest the rest. Why not invest it all and pay off your debts over time? I know you pay more money that way, but you also have more money invested, which in theory means greater returns, faster increases in total wealth (if your investments pay off), and a greater inheritence for any potential offspring. I think that investing it all might pay off bigger over time, so I would hopefully be able to keep my sanity enough to go that route.

Debt is an enormous stressor. Having it gone would eliminate that source of stress from my life. Therefore, debt is the first thing I would pay.

Sultana · 03-12-2007, 08:55 AM

I'd eliminate useless debt first. Then I'd buy a couple of houses for my family to live in, if I didn't give it to them outright (mom and sis and sis-in-law only). New vehicles for the same people. I've already chosen charities I'd donate to, on a percentage basis, many local. I'd probably support my sister and help her to finish her degree, mom too if she wants.

Beyond making appropriate personal retirement and maintenance arrangements, yes, I'd quit my job, but I'd get into something else. I'd like to set up scholarship funds for college students and grant programs for theaters and the arts. I guess my job could be managing those things.

I'd probably buy us a large house where I could host folks easily, and hubby could have his wood-working shot of his dreams. I'd replace the 13-yr-old car with something similar (maybe an SUV hybrid, heh). We'd certainly travel a LOT.

And I'd host a helluva party. Kinda like the one this upcoming weekend--Corned beef and cabbage for all!

soccerchamp76 · 03-12-2007, 01:02 PM

Assuming a $80 million net payout (approximately what the Georgia trucker received minus fees/taxes/etc.), I would distribute my money roughly in the following manner:
$1 million to my grade school
$1 million to my middle/high school
$1 million to my current university
$1 million in an inappropriate spending spree (throw a huge party, new car, computer, entertainment system, etc. for my house at school)
$5 million to pay off sisters grad school, parents debt, then the rest to give to them (new house/car, etc.)
$5 million in my checking account
$20 in 5-year bonds/CDs
$25 million in 10-year bonds/CDs
$20 million in 20-year bonds/CDs

I would still go to school and graduate, possibly get my PhD (in chemistry), and become a professor. The long-term bonds will give my some security in the future/prevent me from spending too much. Each of my schools would receive money, and I would have a million dollars to just blow through. Sounds feasible.

Willravel · 03-12-2007, 01:51 PM

You've thought about this, haven't you Soccerchamp?

Ourcrazymodern? · 03-12-2007, 04:31 PM

Lotterry, 1. Those who lost, >78,000,000!

spindles · 03-12-2007, 07:03 PM

What can I say? I'd look after my immediate family before anyone else:
1. pay off debt (house mortgage)
2. get planned renovation done (plans already at the council but really don't have the money to do it yet...)
3. invest about half of it
4. give money to siblings and parents (mine and my wife). What they did with it is their business. Exactly how much would depend on exactly how much we won.
5. stick the rest into the bank where we could spend it at our leisure.

The bonus of paying off the debt is it would make my income something we can 100% use for ourselves.

Pure speculation, as I don't buy lottery tickets

soccerchamp76 · 03-12-2007, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willravel

You've thought about this, haven't you Soccerchamp?

Me????

Nah, flew right off my head.......

iccky · 03-12-2007, 09:39 PM

I like to think I'd give it all away.

Seriously, it seems like most lottery winners end up unhappy. Their friends and family turn into mooches, they get attacked by all kinds of scam artists, they quit their jobs and suddenly have no meaning to their lives (or don't quit their jobs and have everyone think they are crazy). Sudden massive wealth that I didn't earn would upend my life, and that usually isn't a good thing.

So yeah, I'd probably give it all away.

Maybe I'd tell everyone I gave it all away and keep a little on the side for beer money.

Crack · 03-13-2007, 06:03 AM

two chicks, same time.

Ample · 03-13-2007, 06:12 AM

Of course pay off the debt.

Buy my parents and siblings big houses, and some mad money to decorate.

Hire a full staff and buy a "boat" that would make Paul Allen green with envy. Grab my kids, hit the water, and never look back!

Ourcrazymodern? · 03-13-2007, 06:17 AM

Hey, man, that's generally easy.
Arranging a larger party wouldn't take the lottery winnings.

"Security" followed by charity...

and the devil takes the rest

guthmund · 03-13-2007, 06:50 AM

You know what I always thought would be kind of neat? I may have mentioned it before, but if I were to win an enormous amount of money, I'd pay off the debt, build a house and all that jazz, BUT...

I'd carry a big pocket full of cash with me everyday and as I go about town I'd just give it away. Hold a door for me? That's some money. Help me pick up some shit I dropped? That's some money. Say something genuinely nice to me? That's some money. And not just me...I see some random act of kindness...you guessed it, that's some money. It would be my little way to reward civility and encourage it in others.

I'd also donate substantially to the public and the university library because....well, I like the library and maybe if I donate enough, they'll let me work there when I get bored with all my money.

That and the two chicks thing....that sounds nice.

Kadath · 03-13-2007, 07:34 AM

guthmund: You would do that until the first time you were mugged at gunpoint.

With 80 million dollars "what would you do" becomes meaningless. Even if you put it in a 4% yield account (which is about the least you can earn) and left 3% to combat inflation, the remaining 1% is 800,000 a year (in constant dollars). You never have to try again.

pornclerk · 03-13-2007, 08:00 AM

To be honest, the only reason I'd want to win the lottery is to pay off my student loan. I have a good job already, what more do I need?

I don't think I could live with myself knowing I had millions of dollars and there are people living on the streets. It's just not fair. I would also fear becoming greedy or having people like me for the wrong reasons.

So if I did have a large sum of money, I would give it to people who really need it.

stevie667 · 03-13-2007, 10:32 AM

Buy a selection of cars, then beef them up some (such as sticking a hyper car engine in a landrover defender, a super-charger on an aston martin vanquish e.t.c).

Buy a house, a boat, an aquarium, stuff to go in the aquarium, an island, a submarine, a plane, lots of plants and a pair of slippers and glasses for every room of my mansion (and a butler to put them back) so i never have to search again

03-10-2007, 09:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bittertalker Upright Location: Massachusetts.	the Lottery Losing this week’s Mega Millions got me to thinking—what if I won the lottery, what might I have done with the money? I started to think of what I might do with it realistically speaking, the first thing I would do with that money and such and such, but the fun thing about such a question is all the possibilities. What if you won the lottery? How would you spend the money? Would you spend it all on yourself or would you have other plans in mind? Hypothetically speaking, if you were to win the lottery, say a million dollars or more, what would you do?

03-10-2007, 10:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Halx Please touch this. Owner/Admin Location: Manhattan	The first thing I'd do is buy a Lamborghini Murcielago. Then I'd buy some really prime property where I'd most like to live. Then I'd regret not being more frugal. __________________ You have found this post informative. -The Administrator [Don't Feed The Animals]

03-10-2007, 10:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	lock 80% up in investments, 5% goes towards a house, car, kitchen. 10% I'll donate to charity, i know the womans shelter when I live needs money badly. 5% I'll spend flying to Florida and have some fun with a special someone. __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

03-10-2007, 11:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	For the sake of this thought experiment, I'm going to assume that I've won $1 million, lump sum, after taxes. I'm also going to assume that I will maintain my current clarity of thought and not turn into a foolish idiot upon winning (which can happen to even the smartest of people). The first thing I would do is pay off all mine and onodrim's student loans. Then, I would set aside another 150,000 or so for each of us to go to grad school. I'd spend about 7,000 performing various computer upgrades for both of us. I'd set aside some more money (not sure exactly how much, but I'm guessing it would be somewhere around 25,000 total) for future trips to Antarctica, Easter Island, and maybe Réunion for both onodrim and me. Once I decide who I'd like to support in the next election, I'd donate the maximum allowed (I think it's $2,300 right now) to their campaign. I'd set aside a few thousand for season tickets for a few years to both the Chicago Lyric Opera and the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. With the remaining ~650,000, I'd invest for retirement. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling Last edited by SecretMethod70; 03-10-2007 at 11:32 PM..

03-11-2007, 05:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ourcrazymodern? still, wondering. Location: South Minneapolis, somewhere near the gorgeous gorge	Funny question - dunno. __________________ BE JUST AND FEAR NOT

03-11-2007, 03:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
Xazy People in masks cannot be trusted Location: NYC	Automatically I will give 10% to charitey (I give 10% of anything including interest I make to charitey). Depending on the sum left over depends on what I do. If it is 5 mil or more, I will keep that locked up in investment and live off the money made. If it is more I would start giving money to help payoff family members debts (Or I would do this slowly with the interest I made from the 5 mil+ locked up). I would buy a few plaes in Israel to live for me and my family. and I would tour. But the key for me is 5 mil locked up collecting interest.

03-11-2007, 05:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jove Groovy Hipster Nerd Location: Michigan	I would speak to a financial advisor and a lawyer about my current winnings. I would tell no one because once you tell people about winning a million or so, they get greedy and want you dead. I would continue to work for several months while I plan an extended vacation for a year through Europe and Asia. After the vacation, I will pay off my student loans and go back to grad school for my masters in management information systems. Depending on what the lawyer and the financial advisor suggested, I would put a 100,000 in the stock market.

03-11-2007, 06:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
warrrreagl pinche vato Location: backwater, Third World, land of cotton	Hand it to Grancey and do whatever she told me to do with it. __________________ Living is easy with eyes closed.

03-11-2007, 07:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
REDL\|NE Crazy	I'd put 90% of it into investments, and live off of the interest. The other 10% I would splurge on anything i felt like buying. __________________ "You learn more and more about less and less, until you know everything about nothing."

03-11-2007, 08:20 AM	#11 (permalink)
politicophile Addict	two characters __________________ The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty Last edited by politicophile; 02-09-2008 at 08:23 PM..

03-11-2007, 08:26 AM	#12 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	What if you had been walking down the street and found a winning lottery ticket, politicopile? If I hit the big lotto, $60m, I'd donate to my city to cover the roofs of every building possible in solar panels. I could easily power 20,000 households worth with an investment of that size.

03-11-2007, 08:39 AM	#13 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	I'd donate a large portion to the World Wildlife Fund. I'd find a family that can't afford its own home, give them my house and find a nicer one for myself-preferrably in the hills of Tennessee, where I could wake each morning to the sight of the Smoky Mountains. I'd pay off my immediate family's debts. My kids' college would get paid for in cash. I'd become an entrepreneur, maybe opening an eatery/gallery sort of thing, highlighting unknown young artists. I'd take time off from everything and travel around, visiting friends. That 58 Impala I've been drooling over would be mine. What's left over would be invested. Ah, to dream.....instead I just take the money I make and pay bills or put a few bucks into the savings account, to pay more bills.... __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

03-11-2007, 08:43 AM	#14 (permalink)
politicophile Addict	two characters __________________ The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty Last edited by politicophile; 02-09-2008 at 08:23 PM..

03-11-2007, 11:02 AM	#15 (permalink)
radioguy Registered User Location: Texas	it's funny to read all the stuff that we say we'd do....give to charity, buy someone else a house, support other organizations....i can't help but wonder if it's all a lie. sure, we'd all love to believe that we are all perfect, kind, warm hearted folks, but money changes everyone!!! shoot, i'd like to believe that i'd share it with people that need it, but truthfully, i probably wouldn't.

03-11-2007, 11:15 AM	#16 (permalink)
Ourcrazymodern? still, wondering. Location: South Minneapolis, somewhere near the gorgeous gorge	Can I suck up a little? How would one not spend a dime for a decade? __________________ BE JUST AND FEAR NOT

03-11-2007, 08:18 PM	#19 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	I'll be realistic. I'm going to pay off a my student loans and credit cards, put it in high-yield CDs or bonds for when my brother gets out of school, pay off my mom's mortgage and credit cards, put a down payment on a house for myself, and buy a Ferrari. whatever is left gets invested.

03-11-2007, 08:46 PM	#21 (permalink)
Painted Pleasure Burn	If I had a million dollars...I would pay off all my debts, get rid of most of my stuff (save for those mementos that everyone holds onto), buy several good-looking suits, put 800k into savings and with the rest I would travel all over the world. Italy, Egypt, Japan, Australia, all the places I have ever wanted to go. I imagine I would get tired of that, but I haven't been on a two-year holiday before. Personally, I think all of you folks who would give it all to charity are completely crazy. Why would anyone pass up the opportunity to never work again, never live in run-down apartments or soulless suburbs? Some people are destined to lead exciting lives. Winning the lottery is a sign of that kind of destiny. __________________ I came across a nice rack at the department store Last edited by Painted; 03-11-2007 at 08:49 PM..

03-12-2007, 05:18 AM	#22 (permalink)
MageB420666 <Insert wise statement here> Location: Hell if I know	If I won less than 10 million, I'd spend it all on more lotto tickets for one of the 100+ million powerball drawings. Seems like have a million or more randomly chosen tickets would up my chances of winning. If I then won the 100+ million..... I'd buy a new uber gaming computer, a new car, and let the rest sit in a savings account. I don't need to invest or anything if I'm gonna be glued to WoW 16 hours a day for the next 5 years. __________________ Apathy: The best outlook this side of I don't give a damn.

03-12-2007, 05:31 AM	#23 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	To answer the charity question to those resistant to the idea, I bet there are certain tax incentives and advantages that could persuade you. As to my own ideas, I'd follow the secure investment, trust funds for family and modest luxury route as several have outlined above. I too would like to help out my friends in their debts, but I wonder if that would create more discord than goodwill. Wouldn't their pride and sense of independance bristle against being "bought"? How could they pay you back? Do they still like you for you or because of the money? At what point does their need for support become mooching or a form of welfare? It opens up a can of worms if you ask me, so any gifts to friends must be handled extremely delicately and at a level that enables them to return the sentiment equally if not financially. __________________ Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

03-12-2007, 06:24 AM	#24 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	I would pay off my debts (currently running around 35k in student loans), my parents' mortgage (150,000 or so), buy myself a new house (or two, property in a college town is a good bet) and a new car, replace my SO's run down car, and invest the rest. I'd also set aside funds specifically for travel. Making my day-to-day life as comfortable as possible is important to me, though I doubt I'd splash out on a car fancier than a Honda Accord. As for charity, I donate frequently. I would probably buy myself a better membership for Oregon Public Broadcasting and donate some money to the Alzheimer's Association, as well as large donations to my church and the English department at Oregon State. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

03-12-2007, 07:48 AM	#25 (permalink)
Hektore Junkie Location: Greater Harrisburg Area	I have a question for everyone who wants to pay of X debt and invest the rest. Why not invest it all and pay off your debts over time? I know you pay more money that way, but you also have more money invested, which in theory means greater returns, faster increases in total wealth (if your investments pay off), and a greater inheritence for any potential offspring. I think that investing it all might pay off bigger over time, so I would hopefully be able to keep my sanity enough to go that route. __________________ The advantage law is the best law in rugby, because it lets you ignore all the others for the good of the game.

03-12-2007, 08:55 AM	#27 (permalink)
Sultana Falling Angel Location: L.A. L.A. land	I'd eliminate useless debt first. Then I'd buy a couple of houses for my family to live in, if I didn't give it to them outright (mom and sis and sis-in-law only). New vehicles for the same people. I've already chosen charities I'd donate to, on a percentage basis, many local. I'd probably support my sister and help her to finish her degree, mom too if she wants. Beyond making appropriate personal retirement and maintenance arrangements, yes, I'd quit my job, but I'd get into something else. I'd like to set up scholarship funds for college students and grant programs for theaters and the arts. I guess my job could be managing those things. I'd probably buy us a large house where I could host folks easily, and hubby could have his wood-working shot of his dreams. I'd replace the 13-yr-old car with something similar (maybe an SUV hybrid, heh). We'd certainly travel a LOT. And I'd host a helluva party. Kinda like the one this upcoming weekend--Corned beef and cabbage for all! __________________ "Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come." - Matt Groening My goal? To fulfill my potential.

03-12-2007, 01:02 PM	#28 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	Assuming a $80 million net payout (approximately what the Georgia trucker received minus fees/taxes/etc.), I would distribute my money roughly in the following manner: $1 million to my grade school $1 million to my middle/high school $1 million to my current university $1 million in an inappropriate spending spree (throw a huge party, new car, computer, entertainment system, etc. for my house at school) $5 million to pay off sisters grad school, parents debt, then the rest to give to them (new house/car, etc.) $5 million in my checking account $20 in 5-year bonds/CDs $25 million in 10-year bonds/CDs $20 million in 20-year bonds/CDs I would still go to school and graduate, possibly get my PhD (in chemistry), and become a professor. The long-term bonds will give my some security in the future/prevent me from spending too much. Each of my schools would receive money, and I would have a million dollars to just blow through. Sounds feasible. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

03-12-2007, 01:51 PM	#29 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	You've thought about this, haven't you Soccerchamp?

03-12-2007, 04:31 PM	#30 (permalink)
Ourcrazymodern? still, wondering. Location: South Minneapolis, somewhere near the gorgeous gorge	Lotterry, 1. Those who lost, >78,000,000! __________________ BE JUST AND FEAR NOT

03-12-2007, 07:03 PM	#31 (permalink)
spindles Mine is an evil laugh Location: Sydney, Australia	What can I say? I'd look after my immediate family before anyone else: 1. pay off debt (house mortgage) 2. get planned renovation done (plans already at the council but really don't have the money to do it yet...) 3. invest about half of it 4. give money to siblings and parents (mine and my wife). What they did with it is their business. Exactly how much would depend on exactly how much we won. 5. stick the rest into the bank where we could spend it at our leisure. The bonus of paying off the debt is it would make my income something we can 100% use for ourselves. Pure speculation, as I don't buy lottery tickets __________________ who hid my keyboard's PANIC button?

03-12-2007, 09:39 PM	#33 (permalink)
iccky Psycho Location: Princeton, NJ	I like to think I'd give it all away. Seriously, it seems like most lottery winners end up unhappy. Their friends and family turn into mooches, they get attacked by all kinds of scam artists, they quit their jobs and suddenly have no meaning to their lives (or don't quit their jobs and have everyone think they are crazy). Sudden massive wealth that I didn't earn would upend my life, and that usually isn't a good thing. So yeah, I'd probably give it all away. Maybe I'd tell everyone I gave it all away and keep a little on the side for beer money.

03-13-2007, 06:03 AM	#34 (permalink)
Crack Misanthropic Location: Ohio! yay!	two chicks, same time. __________________ Crack, you and I are long overdue for a vicious bout of mansex. ~Halx

03-13-2007, 06:12 AM	#35 (permalink)
Ample Psycho Location: In your closet	Of course pay off the debt. Buy my parents and siblings big houses, and some mad money to decorate. Hire a full staff and buy a "boat" that would make Paul Allen green with envy. Grab my kids, hit the water, and never look back! __________________ Her juju beads are so nice She kissed my third cousin twice Im the king of pomona

03-13-2007, 06:17 AM	#36 (permalink)
Ourcrazymodern? still, wondering. Location: South Minneapolis, somewhere near the gorgeous gorge	Hey, man, that's generally easy. Arranging a larger party wouldn't take the lottery winnings. "Security" followed by charity... and the devil takes the rest __________________ BE JUST AND FEAR NOT

03-13-2007, 06:50 AM	#37 (permalink)
guthmund big damn hero	You know what I always thought would be kind of neat? I may have mentioned it before, but if I were to win an enormous amount of money, I'd pay off the debt, build a house and all that jazz, BUT... I'd carry a big pocket full of cash with me everyday and as I go about town I'd just give it away. Hold a door for me? That's some money. Help me pick up some shit I dropped? That's some money. Say something genuinely nice to me? That's some money. And not just me...I see some random act of kindness...you guessed it, that's some money. It would be my little way to reward civility and encourage it in others. I'd also donate substantially to the public and the university library because....well, I like the library and maybe if I donate enough, they'll let me work there when I get bored with all my money. That and the two chicks thing....that sounds nice. __________________ No signature. None. Seriously.

03-13-2007, 07:34 AM	#38 (permalink)
Kadath Muffled Location: Camazotz	guthmund: You would do that until the first time you were mugged at gunpoint. With 80 million dollars "what would you do" becomes meaningless. Even if you put it in a 4% yield account (which is about the least you can earn) and left 3% to combat inflation, the remaining 1% is 800,000 a year (in constant dollars). You never have to try again. __________________ it's quiet in here

03-13-2007, 08:00 AM	#39 (permalink)
pornclerk Insane Location: Ontario, Canada	To be honest, the only reason I'd want to win the lottery is to pay off my student loan. I have a good job already, what more do I need? I don't think I could live with myself knowing I had millions of dollars and there are people living on the streets. It's just not fair. I would also fear becoming greedy or having people like me for the wrong reasons. So if I did have a large sum of money, I would give it to people who really need it. __________________ Who wants a twig when you can have the whole tree?

03-13-2007, 10:32 AM	#40 (permalink)
stevie667 Too Awesome for Aardvarks Location: Angloland	Buy a selection of cars, then beef them up some (such as sticking a hyper car engine in a landrover defender, a super-charger on an aston martin vanquish e.t.c). Buy a house, a boat, an aquarium, stuff to go in the aquarium, an island, a submarine, a plane, lots of plants and a pair of slippers and glasses for every room of my mansion (and a butler to put them back) so i never have to search again __________________ Office hours have changed. Please call during office hours for more information.