If you won the lottery....

[snackmonster]

Okay, just a bit of fun!

If you won the lottery (let's say £146 million - basically unlimited money!) what would you do/buy?

Would you give friends/family any money? Or would you hide it from friends?

Would you get a chef or a personal trainer?

Home gym/pool/sauna/cars?

Would you quit your job?

I would definitely buy a nice big house, in the countryside, with plenty of land so I could have a smallholding. Would probably quit my job so I could have more time for my crafting and hobbies. I'd give my immediate family money...not sure about my friends though.

Only tell my immediate family, only give some money to them.
Some to charity.
Upgrade house.
Holidays.
Start on business

Huge house with my own pool and gym and land for animals.

I’d put a decent amount into trust for the children and buy property for them.

I’d not advertise the win but would donate to our favourite charity and clear our BF’s mortgage to give them more choices.

Decent amounts to our 2 DCs but possibly a lump sum then an annual allowance or something.

Decent amounts to DB and Sil and BIL and Sil. 5 nieces/nephews and 2 cousins I’m close to would get some too.

Move to a nicer house/area in our town, one with a sea view. Buy properties in New York, Florida and Italy. Travel as much as possible (assuming covid is gone).

My DPs and MIL would get whatever they wanted but I’m fairly sure none of them would want to move so I’d just give them money to do what they want. All to elderly to travel much but DPs would probably want a new caravan!

There's huge old manor house in the next village. It's almost completely derelict. I'd buy that and return it to its former glory.

Hopefully someone will do just that and save it from the developers. I don't hold out much hope though.

I would set up a Foundation with £10 million, and fund the court cases of women and organisations currently having to crowdfund to bring sanity back to the UK.

I'd call it 4M.A.Y.A.

For me and you always.

Ibb bc could buy a great big house with land. My family would have nice houses and I would pay a friends student loan (she is from India and they are horrible when chasing and chase up her poor mother). I would give up my job as i don’t need to work and someone else could take my role. I’d get some dogs and build a small gym for us in the grounds of our house. I’d just live well.

Some to my dad and sister.

I'd buy a big penthouse apartment, I don't want the upkeep of a house. And when allowed I'll be flying first class all over the place.

Would give up work in a second, and maybe throw my laptop out the window for good measure.

I'd give up work and take up a very self- indulgent degree course.
I'd move house but just to a few streets away, and still probably smaller than many MNers have now, and I think it would be plausible to attribute this to savings/promotion/canny house market shenanigans.

Giving to family is where it gets tricky. H and I are very private anyway. his mother and my sister are the world's two most indiscreet people, and I don't know how I'd be able to give money to them without them knowing about the win, and blabbing to most of the country about it, even though they would kid themselves that they can keep quiet.

Still, lovely dilemma to have!

Give up work
Have a lot of surgery

Then think about things

I certainly wouldn't think about retiring and would set up or organise specific help projects.
Eg lobbying, forcing teacher training to include basic sen flags, forcing lobbying SENCO to be trained to a certain level..

I'd have a few beautiful properties set up specifically for respite families, single mostly people who care for disabled children.. Luxury small hotels for them.. Spas.. Massages.. Yoga.. Relaxation.. Bars.. Music.. I'm not sure how I would sustain that long term.
I would also try and have solicitor on hand to help me them with legal issues.
I'd try and consolidate help for people with dc with sen.. And also lobby for legal aid and more access to legal help for the general public.

I would lobby for ll to stop renting mouldy properties.. And have best mould experts in world to show how to eradicate it in houses.

FUN!! I'd get much pleasure from secret donations... To be friends and some of family..

I'm not sure where I would buy permanent homes, definitely London but I'm not sure where else in UK or abroad? I do love South of France.

I would also start a paint and flower project on grim housing estates and flats.

I'd paint up places.. Get flowers planted.. Roses.. Etc.. To try and turn things around...

For myself I'd initially indulge in a private chef.. Personal trainer.. Any botox etc.. Tech to turn back the clock.
I'd buy an old fashioned Mercedes... A porsche.. I'd travel and visit all the places on my bucket list...watch finest living actors in plays.. Operas, musicals..
I'd have cleaner.. Hand made clothes..
Search out some of the finest experiences known to man...

• although I'd definitely buy a new house it wouldn't be so large I'd be scared in it alone.

I would bask in my sudden sexual magnetism and exploit it for all its worth.

If I won £150 million or so - I'd give some away. A million to each of my close family members and friends. Then I'd save £50 million in trust for DS. So that would leave me with around £90 million.

I would still work but I'd get a job that I'm passionate about. Would only work part time, maybe 3 days a week.

I would buy a house in a nicer area but I have never wanted a mansion. Just enough space for a super king bed and walk in wardrobe! Would hire a cleaner and a driver as I can't drive.

I'd spend my time travelling and enjoying life.

Find a nice bungalow and move. Leave adult dd to have my current house.

Get new house exactly how I want it before moving out.

I would employ a cleaner to come everyday while I carried on working as normal. (I adore my job).

Give some to charity and two struggling good friends.

Get a greyhound and a van for my partner big enough to transport his 3 greyhounds plus mine altogether.

@gamerchick

I would anonymously gift chunks to who I wanted to including myself. So I could join in with the who has gifted money thing.

That way I get a bit of peace when I'm spending more than usual.

I like the idea of anonymously giving money away so you could help people without having to broadcast the fact you'd win, but how could you do that practically? If you were giving decent amounts away you can't really do that in cash and a cheque or bank transfer would have your name on it..

I’ve always wanted to build my own house... bit like grand designs.

I don’t think I’d quit my job, but I’d definitely cut my hours down to 1-2 days a week. I’m certain DH would quit his.

Enrol DD into private school.

Id love to just sit and scroll through various go fund me and anonymously gift the total amount. Just think wouldn’t it be lovely for people to randomly wake up one morning and find their account has met it’s target and their child can get their new wheelchair or whatever it is they’re saving for.

I don’t think I’d tell my family. I’d perhaps say I won a smaller amount to explain for the house move, but would make it clear all money is tied up.

For someone who doesn't play the lottery, I've spent far too much time thinking about this!

The first thing I'd do would be go to a solicitor in another city. I'd ask them to distribute money in matching envelopes to various relatives, including me, to keep up the ruse. Then I'd get them to either buy a couple of properties my friends currently rent or send them the money with instructions to spend it on property, having agreed with their landlord what they're prepared to sell it for.

With my share of the money, I'd move house & employ a governess for my kids. They're home-educated & it's a lot of pressure on me so I'd like to hire someone else to help out with that & give me a bit of a break. Ideally, I'd hire someone whose first language was either Spanish, Italian, Portuguese or Welsh - mostly because those are all languages I wish I could speak! I don't work but DH does & I think he'd probably continue, although he might look to go part time.

Other than that, I'd like to be able to take my kids on a foreign holiday or 2, there's a few places they specifically want to visit that we can't afford to go to. Then there'd be a bit of saving for the future, but not more than I anticipate we'd need. I'd give the rest of the money away but I'd take my time to do it & enjoy choosing charities to support.

I would pay off our mortgage and put out house on rent, eventually I would sell and use the money to pay for the kids uni fees. I would donate and volunteer for lesser known charities that are important to me. I would buy a bigger home and send the kids to a good private school. I would put some intrust for them £5 million each. I would give each sibling £500k to put towards a home or buying outright. I would give my dad a lump sum to put towards my brother and youngest sister's weddings. I would love to be able to give my parents 5-10k a month for the next 10-20 years so they could do whatever they want with it. I would buy dh a car and give him £5million to do with whatever he wanted. I would probably give bil a £100k to pay off his mortgage or pay for school fees for dn. I would pay for private healthcare for my mum, dad and mil. For myself I would like the house of my dreams, employ a cleaner, I would never do laundry again. I would love to holiday abroad every year and maybe buy a holiday home. Once the kids leave the nest I would like to spend the winter months abroad somewhere sunny. Anything left would be put in trust for the grandkids or great grandkids if I am lucky enough to have them and to the charities of my choice.

Its a pipe dream, I'm probably going to end up doing laundry for the rest of my life.

I also love this...

I would hold tight for 6 months, working and living the current life as I put plans in place

1. I would tell our families we had won a significantly smaller amount and give each of them a ‘big’ part of that smaller amount. It simply wouldn’t stay a secret and I wouldn’t want every man on the street to know the true value of the win.

1. I have 3 important charities (to us) that I would make a large donation to and then 3 to 4 other charities to donate to

1. I would make a contribution to both schools DC have attended, both great schools but old and could benefit from an expected donation

1. I have so many small but lovely jobs I want to do in the garden

1. I would refurb the living room and dining room and get a new kitchen (you guessed it, I’m not moving)

1. I would buy a holiday home on the coast

1. I would buy a cottage for my oldest friend who will never be in a position to buy her own home at this stage

1. I would do the long threatened job on my teeth

1. Buy a new dinner service (simple pleasure)

10. Buy out DH’s business partner

11. Invest in some property and possibly buy a farm

And enjoy!

Oh yes, forgot one item. In that first 6 months I will be treating myself to a diamond ring. It’s already chosen and I am saving for it.

Big house in the country, couple of smaller houses one one the past, one in a city. I’d have 3 of everything so I would never have to take luggage or stuff between them

Enough money to family and friends to keep them secure for life.

Then, I’d just sit and give away money to tiny causes that will have a big impact. For example, I read the other day about a career having their bike nicked while visiting a client. So I’d arrange to get them a new bike. I know of someone else fundraising for medical treatment so I’d give them what they needed etc etc.

Well i would make sure family and friends were ok financially. Hey I could buy a house! Trouble is, much as I love London, I have been 'fantasy shopping' and don't think any house is worth big bucks. There is always something wrong with them. Too tiny back garden, not enough bathrooms. no garage (for storage, I don't drive!), no bloody shared drives - I don't want Mr Next door thinking his mates can park on MY drive. However I would buy something in London and perhaps something near my Hampshire friends and maybe somewhere abroad.

I would deffo get my teeth done and perhaps go for regular massages, possibly facial, mani and pedis but I cannot stand the gel ones whatever they have in all those nail places. I just need someone to keep my cuticles soft and cut my nails. I might even go mad and go for a regular haircut (though I do not actually find this enjoyable). I could even go to one of those style advisors in a shop and watch with glee when they realise although I have £££ there is nothing to fit and it is all viscose (the Devil's material) anyway. Ha ha ha!

The thing is, you might think you are being generous in paying off a relative's mortgage, but what if Aunt Sally only owes £6k on hers, but Uncle Bill owes £50k. So maybe a lump sum would be better, then relatives would have a choice. But I know some of them would blow the lot, some would be sensible and some would just put it in the bank. I get myself into a tangle trying to solve these non-existent dilemmas.

For what it's worth, I'd take heed of the best financial advice and go slowly over several months, so as to get used to the idea of having instant wealth and all its implications. Saying that, it's a nice problem to have, and one that I think about often.

Buy a decent sized house but with with land, effectively turn it into a small holding and get some solar panels on the roof. And any other independent energy devices that were appropriate. I would look to another country, rural France or parts of Germany: that amount of money would be enough to ignore Brexit and secure European citizenship for us all. Might be enough to give my sister’s family a house too, but then SIL should have one as well...

New house with a relaxed pool/party/dining space to hang out with everyone.

Wouldn’t bother with properties abroad, they’d be a money pit and nightmare to manage. Instead I’d regularly jet off to luxury resorts / privately owned and managed villas to enjoy different parts of the world.

Would also pay off the mortgages of my nearest and dearest. Is there a way to do that anonymously? I love the idea of secretly paying off people’s debts!

I’d also invest a load of it so it’s earning. And pick a few causes for regular donations.

Also work out a way to treat people without letting on that I’m loaded! Maybe tell people I have a new career as a holiday and restaurant reviewer... ha.