What would you do if you were rich enough that you didn’t have to work?

[Fearlesssloth]

Say a mystery long-lost aunt left you a few million in her will. Would you give up your job, go part-time, be a SAHM if you have kids? If you chose not to work what would you do with your time?

I would get up around 9-10 each day, go to the gym, have a tidy house, cook nice meals and generally have a good life.

after a while I would probably look to do some volunteering to fill some time, maybe for a local sports club that I’m involved with as a player or school.

I’d definitely go on regular holidays, explore other cities, spend my summers somewhere hot.

Work, but only a tiny bit. I’m self employed in an industry that would allow as much or little work as you want with zero affect on status/respect etc. The only reason I work so hard is becuse I need the money. I’d do the same thing I do now, but only a handful of days a month, maybe 4 days across a month.
the rest of the time i’d read books, see art, go for walks, swim and do yoga, travel, make more effort with my appearance, spend more time with friends, make more focused time for each of my kids etc.

Volunteer for a charity like Smartworks that gets women back to work
Be around for all drop offs/pick ups
Renovate my house to my exact wants without any thought of onward sale
Have many horses and even more dogs
Spend more time by the sea

I could easily fill my time with 2 young kids and older relatives who are ill, I’d stop working and focus on my family. I might even be able to afford a therapist/personal trainer/personal chef to help me feel a bit more human too! I can’t even fantasise beyond the immediate no longer keeping my head above water feeling, it would take a while for my nervous system to settle. No chance of that any time soon though, best get sorted for the Monday morning chaos tomorrow!

I’d need to have a personality transplant to be a SAHM, so no. I’d still do my job, but without one part of it, and be able to take way more creative risks.

I would absolutely not go back to work. I wouldnt even work my notice.

I would buy a hobby farm, get a couple of highland cows, hens, donkeys. I would volunteer, work on dh’s business, attend pilates classes, bake, swim more, do the school runs, read more, let the kids do whatever classes and clubs they want as atm we are at the limit with having to work. And every school holiday we would travel.

I’d give up work and focus on my hobbies and interests that keep me happy. Time for swimming, cycling, horse riding, reading, playing chess. I love the theatre so would take several trips to see London shows. I’m not that bothered about material things so can’t imagine I’d spend a fortune on clothes or a car for example.

I don’t have to work. I have 4 DTeens who keep me pretty busy. I work 3 short days a week (9.30-4) in a freelance, professional role that I enjoy and take the school holidays off. We have a housekeeper two days a week.

I help teens with schoolwork, ferry them to activities, go to the gym with them after school etc. i cook most evenings, although kids also sometimes cook a family meal. On my days off I go to the gym, walk the dogs, take a French class, meet friends, read, do stuff for my two charity trustee roles.

In the holidays, I take each DC away on a short break, take family holidays, visit friends and family overseas or in the UK with various combinations of children. We have days out, do sports, birdwatch, hike, picnic, go to the theatre, museums and galleries, chill, cook. We set up a big yurt in the garden and had lots of overnight visitors (mostly other teens) last summer break, which was fun. We’ve taken extended breaks in France where we have family and in Canada because we wanted to explore. Next year 2DC and I plan to spend a month in Oz with my sister’s family.

It’s a nice family balance and good quality of life I think.

I would give up work.

I would do mostly everything at a leisurely pace without rushing between things and needing to decide what the priorities are.

I would cook every day for the three households I’m currently responsible for feeding without needing to batch cook, and always choose recipes that can be “sized up”.

I would rescue some dogs so I could have at least three.

I would have my hair blow dried at least twice a week.

I’d instantly quit work, buy or build a house with some land, and live simply, and as much off grid as possible with loads of animals. I’d also like to do some volunteer work.

I’d work 2 days a week flexibly (I work 4 now) so we could take full advantage of our holidays. I think DH would finish work (he doesn’t love his job) I’d stay in our home - we love it and are close to all we need and the people we love.

This.
I'd plan loads of delightful activities and outings.
afternoons i'd go for nice afternoon dates with my dh and we'd all just have a lovely time.

I definitely wouldn’t give up work for a few million! That’s not much in stretch of a lifetime of 80, possibly 90 years.

I don’t work at the moment due to illness (cancer). A few million would allow me to pay off our mortgage and I’d consider private school for my dc.

We have a family business that affords us a good lifestyle. We certainly wouldn’t give that up. Dh works PT as it is and earns well. Extra money would provide some relief and would mean when I look to retrain hopefully in a few years (I started before I got sick and had to defer my training), I could do it without the pressure of additional work at the same time. I plan to return to work PT anyway, but that would certainly make things more secure.

The rest would go into savings to fund some travel for all of us and house deposits for dc.

I wouldn’t work or volunteer. I’d just have a lovely calm life, I’d make lovely food, relax, I’d get a home sauna, lots of hikes, gardening, reading and lovely days out.

I’m not sure I’d give up working. I know someone who is from family money (one of her parents is very well-known and in the public eye) and doesn’t have to work. She did used to work but hasn’t for a few years. She’s fairly depressed and lonely and I’ve always thought it’s cos she doesn’t really have a purpose in life. Working gives you purpose I think (obviously it helps if you like your job) but I think if I just focused on my hobbies, the gym etc instead of working I’d lose that sense of fulfilment and purpose I get from working and it’d probably start to affect my mental health. I feel like I’d get pretty lonely too. I would definitely go part-time though

This is what I do, I don’t work.

I go to a lovely spa I am a member of three times a week, two times I spend nearly all day there and half a day on the other day. I do lots of classes, chill and meet friends and have coffee there.

I meet a friend once a week and we go shopping together.

I see my adult DC who needs a lot of support twice a week.

I visit my DM who is in a nursing home twice a week.

I go to the cinema around three times every fortnight.

I do lots of costal walks and have lunch out.

I go on holiday abroad approximately every seven weeks.

I’d have a lovely tidy and organised house. I’d cook from scratch, read more books and probably spend a lot of time gardening. (I daydream a lot about how I’d create a lottery winner type garden) I’d also get a dog, golden retrievers seem like nice dogs, or an English sheep dog. Also one of those moody faced designer cats, my neighbour has one and it cracks me up every time I see it, miserable looking animal but I know it lives the life of Reilly.

🤩
Nice!

I have to admit I gave up work in my 40’s and am now late 50’s. It’s not all good, shit still
happens. But dh and I are focusing on our fitness levels and healthy eating to set us up for our 60’s. We are planning to buy a flat in Miami for the winters but with a few million I guess we would get a much nicer place.

I'd be a landlord / socialite x

What hasn’t been good?

You really don’t think a few million would be life changing?! 5 million say? For 5 million you could invest it and live off the interest for the rest of your life, or buy a portfolio of properties outright and rent them out and easily live off the rent. I’m not talking about having some crazy luxurious life, I wouldn’t want that personally, but I think I could easily live a comfortable life, give my kids a comfortable life, have a decent car, live mortgage-free and go on 2 or 3 nice holidays a year for the rest of my life on 5 million at my age now (late 30s), especially if you invest wisely

With a lot of money? I’d buy a decent block of flats and rent it at a peppercorn rent of £1 a year to my local homelessness charity. And then I’d pay the salaries of the support workers needed to support said homeless people and maintain the building.
I work part time now on a high salary and floating around going to spas does nothing for me. I volunteer a lot, I have multiple projects on the go. A load more money wouldn’t change that.

I would give up work.

I would increase my PT sessions from 2-3/week to 4/ week.
I would have a monthly spa day.
I would either move or revamp my house, it’s only the downstairs that I’d like to change, upstairs is fine.
I would probably start some sort of educational programme in either English Literature or History of Art.
I would travel more, in the UK as well as abroad.

I am in this position so I choose to still work 2 days a week to top up future pension (I have a senior role so good daily rate)
then I do volunteer work as a trustee for a few charities. Else I play games. Or go to cinema in the day. Just enjoy life. Have done second degree and masters plus professional qualifications too.
do an open learn course each week
see my parents more whilst I can.