If I won the lottery….

Ok, first of all, I have never won the lottery.  So that’s out on the table.  Secondly, if I ever do win, know that this post is just me brainstorming.  You cannot hold me to anything that I say here.  These are just thoughts.  Whew.  Legal mumbo-jumbo is ridiculous.

Actually, that’s a good place to start.  How funny is it that if someone suddenly becomes wealthy, s/he feels the need to protect the money.  S/he would have to immediately create legal documents stating what is to happen to the money, who has access, how much access that person has, what organizations have access to it, restrictions etc. etc. etc.  Insanity!  

So, after buying a few tickets for tonight’s Mega Millions (300+ million, I just couldn’t resist), Little Chomp and I continued on our morning walk.  The whole time on our walk, I was thinking about what I could possibly do with 205 million (the after taxes portion).  

My first thoughts of course go to my family:

Paying off the remainder of my parents and in-laws mortgages.

Pay off all the siblings’ student loans.

Buy a piece of land to build a cute little practical house on for our family (complete with our own area for a garden for veggies, fruit, herbs and pretty flowers. MMmm…hmmmm.   Oh, and for Little Chomp, a place for a treehouse.

But, after that, I get a little lost.  I started thinking about what a lot of money does to families, and does to kids.  I wouldn’t want Little Chomp to grow up feeling entitled, and not willing to put himself into a life, family, career etc. because so much has been given to him.   I would truly want our family to grasp that to whom much is given, much is required.   

So, then, my life would probably change into how to put money into those places, people, and organizations that are doing good for the world.  But, how do you find reputable agencies and trustworthy people?  How could you ever know that the money would not be used corruptly?    How do you deal with the friends, family and strangers would have money problems or emergencies and come asking for help?  How do you say no?  How do you say yes?

This all sounds a bit complicated.  I think that I’d have to make a lunch date with Mr. Bill Gates to ask these questions.  Hopefully, he’d have time for a little millionaire like me.