NaBloMoPo '13, Day One - Let the fun begin!

Friday, November 1, 2013
If you found one million dollars in the morning and had to spend it by nightfall, what would you do with the money?

In no particular order:

I would pay off my house.  And, no, not necessarily buy a newer, bigger one, but pay off the cracker box I already have.  We've been in this house 19 years now, as of Oct. 15.  We moved in right before Stud's 1st birthday.  I can't believe my "baby" is going to be 20 in five days!!!  But, I digress.  My point is, I don't know if I'm ready to leave this house, as there are so many memories connected to it.  Besides, a million dollars really isn't as much as it sounds like anymore. If anything, I would consider some remodeling and/or an addition.

I would set up a fund to pay for Stud's future education.  He could go to whatever college he wanted, and get as many degrees as he wanted.  Hello, Dr. Stud!

I would set up similar funds for my three nieces.  I want all three of them to be able to get the best education possible.

I would pay off my brother's condo.  It would be one less thing for him to worry about as a single dad.

I would give my sister an equivalent amount, to do with whatever she wanted.  Her place is paid for (she got lucky when she got divorced, and found a place she could buy outright with her divorce settlement) so she may want to get a new place, or save for her retirement.

I would give a good portion to my parents.  I know they set themselves up well for retirement, but I think I would call it their "Fun Fund."  They could use it for traveling, or whatever they wanted.

I would invest the rest, to ensure I would be comfortable during my Golden Years.  And, for me, those would start right now!!  I don't think Magnum is ready to stop working just yet, but this cushion would give him the freedom to find something that truly makes him happy.  Maybe start his own firm, so he can be his own boss.

Hmmm, I just reread that list, and I'm thinking I put too many things on it.  Like I said, a million dollars just isn't as much as we think.  I've been saying for years that, if I ever played the lottery, I'd want to just win a million.  Not the hundreds of millions that the jackpot sometimes reaches, but ONE million.  It wouldn't be enough to quit working, but it would be enough to make us comfortable, and hopefully, take us through retirement.  And, hell, if we're really lucky, leave a nice little chunk of change for Stud (and our grandchildren?!) when we're gone.

Ok, I made it through the first day.  Just 29 to go!