If I Had a Million Dollars

I've had only one paid vacation in my life...and I had to use it to move unexpectedly when my landlady sold the house I was renting. I'd invest at least half and buy a 3br house close to downtown---near where I currently rent. Buy a reasonable house. Paying rent month after month seems like such a waste but I have never been in a position to be able to buy. I will buy a home and invest the rest. My family had lots more than that at one point and but the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis took it all away. Once I returned from traveling in Europe, I would start a small medical supply company or run a laundry service. I can't imagine buying a house or something like that, not right now.I'd probably keep clipping coupons and living frugally, anyway.Hi Mary. One farmer asks another, "What would you do, if you won a million dollars?" That’s the major hole I’d need to plug before I felt warm and fuzzy about retirement. )I'd invest the remaining $700,000, probably towards retirement. In any case, I would not stop working and in fact, I'd probably hold on to my current job for some time. I’ll take the Mercedes SL500, it’s cheaper than a Lamborghini. Other family members could get small, low-interest loans from me for down payments on homes, seed money for business investments, or educational pursuits. Except for the "stick with it" part!Ooh, this would be too amazing! This would be the beginning of having a peace of mind. GSP is the monetary value of all final goods and services produced in a specific time period within a state’s borders. We often speak of if we won the lottery, we'd jet off to Italy and live in a small cottage in a beautiful small town. I can’t kick my frugal habit that quickly. Meanwhile I would find a part-time job I enjoy, take some more classes, maybe travel around a little bit. It’s not easy. I'd invest in financial education for young people by supporting existing programs, and I'd also like to invest in AIDS research and treatment.I would use some of the money to have a dream wedding with my honey, and I'd give serious thought to investing in starting our own business(es), which could possibly involve family members, depending on the nature of our work. For me - I'd probably fund some grad school - go where I want to go and do what I want to do ya know ;) I'd definitely save a ton of it though - maybe doing the live off the interest bit. I know the meaning of 'enough' and that million would be 'enough. Whatever is left over I would divide between investments and charity.Actually thought about this recently because of the McDonlads Monopoly. All of the missionaries I support would get a big gift. I had $20K left after buying the house - my life's savings - and it went away during this time, mostly on emergency house repairs. Then I would book us a trip to an Island so we could finally have a honeymoon. Just a Lamborgini would run you almost HALF your money, not to mention running costs. I'd also go on a relatively small shopping spree; replace my broken laptop and buy a few other things I've had my eye on (some new clothes, a Wii, some nice Christmas presents for my friends.) He's way smarter than me, I know he'd turn the $1 million into some serious cash. Only one entry per person.Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.I would pay off all of my mortgages and debt. I mean, I could have my own $1,000,000 (that IS a lot of zeros) life, but yours is so nicely organized!So see, you CAN retire by 40. You might not be able to buy time, but you sure can lease it on an hourly basis.I would still work, but it would be by choice. I'm not sure if I'd quit my job or not; I just got hired (as a cashier) and I'd feel bad leaving just before the super-busy holiday season.I'm not too sure what I would do with the rest. I'm sure my husband would prefer to continue working no matter what, but I would think about becoming a stay-at-home mom when my kids start going to school.I sat down and estimated how much money I had earned in my lifetime, and it is about $486,000...earned over 32 years of working full time most years (3 years out for having babies, 2 years out for a near-fatal illness brought on from working too many hours with hazardous chemicals, and one year of unemployment due to the dot-bombs). It's very simple, as I am a simple guy. The rest, I'd split between investing in conservative stuff, like stocks and bonds, and I'd probably invest a hefty chunk in Wise Bread.I'd give my $1 million to Richard Branson, telling him he could keep half of the profits he made from whatever venture he decided to start with it. The rest I would invest to ensure a very comfortable retirement.Can I have your $1,000,000 windfall life? I just don't know what to do with it — can you think of something?" Well, the LA and Emeril parts, that is. )That's what we would do... but we'd probably still be as frugal as ever and our lives would not change much.That's what we would do... but we'd probably still be as frugal as ever and our lives would not change much.With a $25 amazon gift card------hmm. Some might suggest counseling, but life is short - why live in hell prematurely?first paying off our house. And, at some point soon after that, I'd put in new windows throughout my house to help make it more energey efficient.For fun, I'd buy out everything on my Amazon wish-list, sign up to go to Space Camp the following summer and hire some friends to make some other of my friends and me a really nice dinner.I'd also hire a good financial planner/accountant/tax advisor person to help me figure out how to manage the money with the intent of helping to fund my nephews' college educations and increaseing the changes that I can live debt free for the rest of my life.I'd certainly use some amount -- less than 50% -- to seed college funds for my two sons, and also pay off my mortgage.

Then I would invest, live pretty frugally and make delicious meals for my friends.We are essentially debt free, so that wouldn't be an issue. That would go into savings and low-risk investment. I would help people in my family and start a home for abused children. Winning a million dollars would make buying a house possible.Other than that, I don't expect winning a million dollars would change my life a whole lot.