If You Won the Lottery What Would You Do With the $$$$$

alexri · 08-11-2013, 06:41 PM

Hire a lawyer and an accountant..

I would take the lump sum and not the annual payments. Although it's a much bigger tax hit up front, I'd rather the money be in my accounts, not theirs.

Then I'd...

Pay off any person debts.

Pay off the debts of very close friends and help with things like home ownership, or any personal needs.

Make sure my family members are okay- pay off their debts, set up accounts for people, etc.

Set aside accounts where I can live annually off the interest. Get a house close to the water/beach, perhaps near Ptown.

Travel. Lots of travel.

And have a large focus on charitable giving.

I do not want to reinvent organizations when ones that already exist and are doing a great job. I would find a way to support already-existing organizations as anonymously as possible. I'd like to set up an organization amongst trusted friends (letting them leave their jobs to work for me). They'd scour the internet/news for individuals and organizations that need financial help.

I would help out local, small, independent animal rescues and shelters, support massive spay and neuter clinics, and put no-kill shelters as a priority. I will not support the big national organizations that spend too much money on operating costs and advertising.

I want to help out LGBT organizations, again focusing on small groups that make direct change and help out individuals.

And I will look for news stories on the individuals that have been victims of really bad circumstances, sometimes at the hands of others, who really need help. Like when the LGBT homeless shelter in NY got flooded out by Hurricane Sandy- I would help. Or if I caught wind of a fundraiser for someone to help with the expenses of a serious illness- I would help.

I'd also like to do as many random acts of kindness as I can to people.. put a little magic and believe in hope in people's lives.

But I would want to do this all as anonymously as possible. My state does require lottery winners to be publicly declared. After that happens, I would take myself away from society as much as I could. Sadly there are too many stories of people going after lottery winners for money, and often for things that are wants, not needs. My rule to helping would be- I will find you, you don't find me.

I would also look into some kind of microloan system for individuals and small businesses, especially women and LGBT owned.

View Poll Results: If you won the lottery would you?
Hire an accountant right away	35	33.98%
Cash in the ticket and disappear for awhile	36	34.95%
Quit your job	18	17.48%
Donate a portion to charity	43	41.75%
Move to a more exotic location	4	3.88%
Invest the money	42	40.78%
Donate to family and friends	37	35.92%
Go on a spending spree buying houses, cars, boats, jewelry	17	16.50%
Go into shock	23	22.33%
Waste it all and end up poor as a churchmouse	0	0%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 103. You may not vote on this poll

08-11-2013, 06:41 PM	#29
alexri Member How Do You Identify?: - Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: - Posts: 549 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,209 Thanked 2,799 Times in 468 Posts Rep Power: 21474850	Hire a lawyer and an accountant.. I would take the lump sum and not the annual payments. Although it's a much bigger tax hit up front, I'd rather the money be in my accounts, not theirs. Then I'd... Pay off any person debts. Pay off the debts of very close friends and help with things like home ownership, or any personal needs. Make sure my family members are okay- pay off their debts, set up accounts for people, etc. Set aside accounts where I can live annually off the interest. Get a house close to the water/beach, perhaps near Ptown. Travel. Lots of travel. And have a large focus on charitable giving. I do not want to reinvent organizations when ones that already exist and are doing a great job. I would find a way to support already-existing organizations as anonymously as possible. I'd like to set up an organization amongst trusted friends (letting them leave their jobs to work for me). They'd scour the internet/news for individuals and organizations that need financial help. I would help out local, small, independent animal rescues and shelters, support massive spay and neuter clinics, and put no-kill shelters as a priority. I will not support the big national organizations that spend too much money on operating costs and advertising. I want to help out LGBT organizations, again focusing on small groups that make direct change and help out individuals. And I will look for news stories on the individuals that have been victims of really bad circumstances, sometimes at the hands of others, who really need help. Like when the LGBT homeless shelter in NY got flooded out by Hurricane Sandy- I would help. Or if I caught wind of a fundraiser for someone to help with the expenses of a serious illness- I would help. I'd also like to do as many random acts of kindness as I can to people.. put a little magic and believe in hope in people's lives. But I would want to do this all as anonymously as possible. My state does require lottery winners to be publicly declared. After that happens, I would take myself away from society as much as I could. Sadly there are too many stories of people going after lottery winners for money, and often for things that are wants, not needs. My rule to helping would be- I will find you, you don't find me. I would also look into some kind of microloan system for individuals and small businesses, especially women and LGBT owned.