In a change of pace for my rants, today I am going to write about what I am sure everyone out there has done at some point in their life. Thought about what it would be like to win the lotto. Millions of dollars given to you in just a moment and your life changing forever. How exactly would it change and would it change for the better? Well, here?s a little insight into my own thoughts about the whole thing.
First off, if I won the lottery, odds are, I?d leave my job. If I won enough money that I didn?t have to work ever again, I?d be done. However, given the fact that my current job leaves around 40 people under my responsibility, to some extent, I?d be kind about it and give the notice. I?d just be spending a hell of a lot of time enjoying the cash during my evenings.
People always wonder what they would do the moment they got the money. Me, I?d head straight to the bank, deposit the cheque, and then start paying off the biggest debts I have. My student loans, credit cards, and any other debt I had accumulated would be gone the same day. The car would be paid. I?d also likely pay off the house as fast as possible. Seeing as Tamara works practically beside Atlantic Lotto, I?d likely go get her and bring her along for my fun day.
So the debt is gone, what now? Well, I?d want to share the wealth with friends and family and this is where things get a little troublesome, depending on the family. See, I have a great family, and some great friends (even though I don?t see them much) but money can do a lot of bad things. So, I came up with my own method of protecting myself from those friends and family who decide to squander the money I give them, expecting that I?ll pay out again down the road. So, if you?re reading this rant, and you?re someone I tolerate, it?s likely this would apply to you.
Say I decided to give $100k to 10 friends. Each friend would have to sign a sort of waiver/contract before being given the money. Yeah, it takes away some of the niceties of giving money away but it?s all to protect myself. If I give you $100k and you spend it on porn and booze, I?m not going to giving you more later and I don?t want to hear your excuses. So, the contract makes it very simple. The terms of my contract say that the initial sum of money is given as a gift or forgivable loan. You are not obligated to ever pay any of the loan back unless you break one simple rule. You ask for more money. In the event that you spend all of the money, and then come back to me asking for more, you now forfeit the forgivable part, and now owe me the entire sum of the amount given to you, plus 30% interest, per year, of the original amount given, and is due within 30 days. So, if I give you $100K, and then five years you ask me for more money, you owe me $100K plus five times 30% of 100K which is $150K meaning you owe me $250,000.
This is a surefire way of insuring that friends, family, or anyone I give money to, makes sure they do not waste what they get. A person isn?t going to retire on $100,000 but they can do a hell of a lot with it. Don?t waste it.
What else? I?d probably add an upstairs to the house, add a pool and a pile of other nice things that the place could use. I?d then travel. I?d go to Egypt & Australia for sure and anywhere else I figure would be worth my time. I would also try and fulfill my biggest dream which would be to actually drive around the world. From one point to another, in a single vehicle, around the whole globe. That would be some damn sweet.
But what about the better half? Tamara would get her share and she could either quit her job, or keep working. I?m not her so I can?t speak for her in what she would do. Maybe she should post a comment enlightening us as to how that would go.
I?d make sure my mom, grandmother, and the family were well taken care of with any debts paid up and insuring that my mom got her 10%. I have a deal with her that if I win, she gets 10% of my winnings and vice versa. Hey, even if I don?t win the lotto, I?d still get some from her if she does.
I?d probably hire somewhat to keep the damn house clean. Man, between me and Tamara working full time, it?s hell trying to keep the house clean and things in place since by the time you get home, you?re beat and the last thing you feel like doing is cleaning the house up. Hehehe, that would be very nice.
And how would I leave the money once I am long and gone? Well, I thought about that a lot and the funny thing is, I?m still not overly sure on whether or not I will ever have kids so if I do, they get some, with a chunk locked in an account that they can?t get to unless the balance is over a certain amount, and insure the balance never dips below that. This insures they would always have money. If I have no kids, friends and family get it split evenly based on what I?d put in a will. In the off chance that I have no family, friends, or anyone around, I always thought I would leave everything I have to the closest person living to where I died, that shared my last name. Either that, or give everything I have to a random person in the phone book under the age of 30. That?d be kind of cool too.
Regardless, it?d be nice to let go of those financial burdens that we all have and just be able to live, full time. I know that in my own head, I think about winning the lotto now and then and it would be nice, but I also suspect that it would come with it?s own set of troubles that are far beyond what we as normal people can understand. I?d love to have tons of money and not have to worry about bills and all of that, but I also would never want to be obsessed or overcome with money. I know people that either are or have been preoccupied with ?stuff? and material things that they have and ultimately this means nothing because after you die, you are left with the memories you leave behind with others. Would you rather be remembered as someone who had a pile of stuff, or someone who was genuine, kind, and just a great person. That?s what life is about. Although, I could use a little more money here and there 😉
So there. I?ve had my say.
