So if you won the lottery...

[alison]

I don't know what I'd do with the windfall. I bet I'd come on here and stress out about it! Probably not a good thing to even win the money.

When my brother was young, he used to be buddies with the son from a very wealthy family. I remember my mom used watch the kid like a hawk when she'd take the boys out or on playdates at our house. He had a body guard when there were threats against the family, so I think I'd just panic about word getting out that we're rich.

[moonlight]

I said I would stay here in our home but fix it all up until we were done with residency and DH shocked me by saying he would want to quit and want to run off some where to hide! He offered to compromise with me by staying here to finish residency and moving into a bigger home but that just seems silly for just 16 months of residency! New carpet and living room furniture and I'm good to go!

[Pollyanna]

Dh and I talked about this and decided we would pretty much live exactly the same way. We would pay off all debt, set up college funds for our kiddos and nieces and nephews, set up a scholarship foundation for Catholic students, make sure the rest of the family is taken care of, and then put the rest away. We'd buy new cars every 5-7 years instead of every 12-15 years, we'd take an extra vacation per year, probably our one big splurge would be a nice farm house on a large piece of land. Dh would not stop working, we think it's important for the children see their parents work and know that it takes a ton of work to be successful in any career. Plus, think of the research that could be accomplished with some of the lottery money! The expectations we have for our children would not change and their college fund would be tied to those expectations. I think the most important balancing act would be to make sure we are helping our children and family with the money and not destroying their lives by taking away their desire and motivation.

[HouseofWool]

I would certainly change the way I live. I would pay off my mortgage and that of my folks and sister. My house would get all of the updates that I would love to have, a new kitchen and a few other things. I would help out a couple of dear friends who have been there through thick and thin. I would set up college funds for all of my nieces and nephews, merit based so that it isn't a free ride. I would set up an endowment for the organization that helped me get my house so that they had an ongoing source of funding.

Then I would hire some college student fresh out of teaching school as a tutor for the kids and we would spend an absurd amount of time traveling the world, either by private plane or first class. The Great Wall of China? Awesome, now let's turn it into a history lesson with a grade for C. Same with Stonehenge and most of Italy. I would start to clear my bucket list.

Then, we would settle down and live a fairly ordinary life, only I would no longer be dependent on someone unreliable for a source of income.

As much as I love my employers, I would most definitely quit my job. I would go down and train my replacement, and help out with some things during the transition, but I would love to be free to do what I want to do. I would pull S from daycare and set her up with pre-school instead so she would be home more, but still get the stimulation that she needs.

But, alas, I didn't win big and I am stuck watching pennies fly out the window in a never-ending stream.

[Momo]

Gambling is forbidden in my faith. I guess I could hope that if one of my family members won (they don't share my faith),that maybe they'd share in a smart way( least taxable)!