Oh Christ I'm unexpectedly wealthy

[awesomekillick]

Not a stealth boast but a cry for help.

I'm a normal middle class person. I'm approaching 60, been retired 5 years.

Fuck knows how but my business has grown beyond what I ever anticipated. Like into what to me is stupid money. I'm talking millions.

What the fuck do I do?

I'm no wheeler-dealer. Never bought a stock or a share in my life. I buy clothes off eBay and material things don't make me happy but dopamine does ! (ADHD) so maybe stock market might be exciting for a while.

Do i set up a charity? Buy shit I dont want or need? My lovely adult kids don't want money. My financial advisor keeps telling me "pension", but honestly my business is my pension and it keeps growing.

Do I go round handing out cash?

I'm a normal m/c intellectual who never ever set out or expected to be, wealthy.

@CatPurple

I’m really happy for you OP, a charity sounds like a fantastic idea!!

We can’t have children without IVF and we can’t afford IVF. If you want to chuck us some money so I can be a mum then I wouldn’t say no!

My financial advisor keeps telling me "pension", but honestly my business is my pension and it keeps growing.
Seriously though, on top of your charity idea then please look after your future and do this. If you were my friend I’d be wanting you to make sure you had lots ring fenced so future you is safe and secure.

Really??? Come on..'if you want to give me money so I can be a mum'..how guilt tripping can you get

Yes the begging is undignified. I don’t know how people can do it, even if they say they’re joking.

Not in your position but I understand the concern

As well as some of the good advice you've had, I would say don't start setting up charities and trusts, it's just more work for you, and you'd have to appoint trustees etc and wind it down at some point.

Find good established charities and trusts that are well managed and you feel an affinity with and donate to them.

@IntoAir

Yes the begging is undignified. I don’t know how people can do it, even if they say they’re joking.

No sense of humour allowed on this thread 🤣

I have to say I did not take the 'begging' seriously, it certainly looked lighthearted.

OP, just carry on as you are for now, you will see opportunities open up but there's no rush, you ain't going anywhere. Don't tell people in real life!

Blimey. Wish I hadn't posted this. It's perfectly possible to have a whole complexity of feelings and thoughts about money, and also to have built a successful business. I'm not an idiot, I'm not boasting, I posted on Investments thinking I'd have a muted exchange with a few people who also have assets so who might understand what I was saying, and some of you did. Why I would be a troll or why anyone would report this threat is beyond me. Its well know. That eg lottery big winners find money actually fouls life up. I've been poor too, miserably dirt poor.

Of course I have a FA, a great accountant, a team of NEDs, I give a lot to charities, I've already said my DC don't want more money from me, i have a will, my staff are excellently paid including bonuses. My point is, I don't want a lavish lifestyle. I have no desire to spend more than I do on my life. I have everything I want.

There are some great ideas here thanks, I like the idea of buying land and rewilding it, for example, and it's op be taking some of those forward.

But I won't be back on this thread and it's a name change for me now. Thanks

Can't you pay someone to come and stop with the cats and look after them whilst you live your life a little? Travel as much as covid allows, not just the touristy places but the off the track places. Don't make it clear you're wealthy but keep an eye out for where your money could change lives.

Speak to some local women's shelters and see how you could best help them if that's what you want to do.

I'd love to offer "scholarships" to w/c kids to go to Uni , I'd love to support many of the children's hospices who are currently being screwed, you just need to find your passion and work out what would help best.

I love how people are getting all het up about the "beggars". I don't think anyone is in danger of actually receiving any money here.

I'm no Bill Gates and the Halifax keep offering me "wealth management" advice, so I'm sure an even better service exists for those who are actually actually rich.

If OP's money is genuinely making her unhappy though, I don't actually see the problem with paying for a stranger's IVF, Tesco shop, vet bill, or my house. In fact these are probably exactly the sorts of things I'd want to do if money was no object. Make someone else's life a little nicer 🤷‍♀️

Get to know all your employees see if they or their families need any extra money pay off their mortgage or school fees.

Like the program undercover boss and they pay college fees holiday etc for staff

Definitely if you are going to 'do good', be discreet. Never let your right hand know what your left is doing.

You'll be fine, op, you sound really nice and sensible. I'm sorry you are unhappy with the way your thread has gone, I think I understand you and you seem eminently reasonable.

Can you buy some land and make a massive mud theme park? There would be different obstacles to complete and each would involve getting covered in mud. I'd be happy to work there and would definitely buy any annual passes etc.