NationStates Jolt Archive

What would you do with one million dollars?

Move somewhere where the sky is always blue and there's a nice dropzone down the road

invest it and live off the interest and compound interest of it. I am not very material so the only thing I would get is an upgraded internet connection, 2 MBps or so...

moving somewhere where the sky is always blue sounds good to me

that, and buying a hot-tub and a swimming pool :)

Let it fornicate and multiply! I'd use the returns to fuel my consumptive desires.

Save it / donate money to Jolt forum server fund.

Buy a house... That'd probably leave £200-300k change, depending, which probably wouldn't be enough to retire on straight away but it'd be a nice start.

Buy a house... That'd probably leave £200-300k change, depending, which probably wouldn't be enough to retire on straight away but it'd be a nice start.

Just use the other 200-300k on a buy to let property (or two, although I doubt that's possible anymore really) and use the rent for the meantime and as house prices rise you gain on your investment

All very boring :p

Just use the other 200-300k on a buy to let property (or two, although I doubt that's possible anymore really) and use the rent for the meantime and as house prices rise you gain on your investment

All very boring :p

i hear the property market's bubble is going to burst soon (so says the money programe on radio 4 iirc), and they advised the buy to let market is going to be the hardest hit. a good long term ISA with high interest might be a safer bet.

i'd certainly invest most of my million after the pool and tub were mine... boring, but smart :P
might buy a luxury cruise, too

i hear the property market's bubble is going to burst soon (so says the money programe on radio 4 iirc), and they advised the buy to let market is going to be the hardest hit. a good long term ISA with high interest might be a safer bet.

i'd certainly invest most of my million after the pool and tub were mine... boring, but smart :P
might buy a luxury cruise, too

Northern Ireland is still behind the curve though and i'm banking on the increasing stability pushing the house price rise and preventing its collapse. At least I really hope so since I just took out a mortgage on my house to buy another

I'd either spend it all on a condo in Philly, or pay for my brother's wedding and reception. How much alcohol do you think you can buy for $100,000?

Idea A

Condo in Philly.


Idea B

Pay for brother's wedding and reception.
Pay for really expensive gift bags for the guests. They'd basically be minibars with handles.
Spend the rest on neat stuff.


Idea C

Buy a really expensive camera.
Buy really expensive lenses.
Go to uni for photoraphy.


Idea D

Buy that huge lot of commercial land near my house.
Build a huge palace-like building with gardens.
Add a few ballrooms and claim it's a country club, when it's actually my house.

Northern Ireland is still behind the curve though and i'm banking on the increasing stability pushing the house price rise and preventing its collapse. At least I really hope so since I just took out a mortgage on my house to buy another

lol fair dues... ireland is probably a case unto its own in this sense. and the guy was mostly talking about south east england, where he predicted house prices would have to come down by up to 30% to meet reality again

In light of what I have done with random windfalls in the past ...

Something VERY STUPID AND IRRESPONSIBLE!

Meh... $1 000 000 still won't get me anywhere...

Phase One: Buy one million lottery tickets

Phase Two: ???

Phase Three: Profit!

Pay off my debts, first of all. Not that I have much debt, but I hate phonecalls and I want them to stop.

Second, bank or invest the rest. At this stage in my life, I don't need more than a few bucks a month to live on, and I'd still want a career no matter how wealthy I was. Maybe if I were older and had a family I'd use the rest, but right now I do fine on canned food, potatoes and Hamburger Helper. :p

gimmi land, lots a land, underneath the sky of blue.

12 acres and a pickup truck, a self contained trailler and oh what luck,
two garden sheds and septic tank, ...

well after a nice chunk of land out in the boonies, far enough from the neighbors, the shopping list is rather long and detailed.

none of it would be the kind of crap to try and impress anyone with having though, just stuff i could use and would love using, and a little help out here and there too. if cost were no object, before i got everything taken care of that i'd like to, i'd probably end up spending four or five times that in terms of what it's worth anymore.

tools and equipment and a place to play with it, and a few rather odd critters too maybe.

i'd probably have to move to some other country then where i live to be able to do some of what i'd want too. although, last i checked there were still a VERY few places north of the equatier in the western hemisphere where i wouldn't be beaten over the head by building codes too badly.

there's just so many things i'd like to do that i'll probably never get to, that i really kind of doubt any fixed amount like that would cover all of it. but i would sure have fun trying to see how far it could be streatched.

like i say, i sure wouldn't go crazy and spend it on a lot of useless crap to try and impress anyone though, that's for damd sure.

i might just, what i'd like to build is kind of a cross between ananda and train mountain, if you could immagine such a thing, those that have heard of eather one, that and kind of a hippy commune/rez, but with like japanese gardens and little hernia gauge trains for an actual kind of transportation system. someplace with a cool, relative wet climate and lots of trees. and also that big thing, about not having to hassle with building codes, cause what i'd like to build and live in is a little bit unusual. unusually small, nonrectangular, probably earth birmed, and indipendent power too, enough solar and wind to not need the grid tie and not be dependent on it, or if someplace where there isn't one that would be no big problem.

=^^=
.../\...

Invest it, retire in a few years.

Meh... $1 000 000 still won't get me anywhere...

Really?

You could buy a lot of kielbasa..

I'd buy Svätý Kríž and evict Il Ruffino

I'd buy Svätý Kríž and evict Il Ruffino

You bastard! I like it here. :(

gimmi land, lots a land, underneath the sky of blue.

Australia for you! Land outside the cities is cheap and there's plenty of blue sky. You'll curse it after a while and pray for rain!

*...*
what i'd like to build is kind of a cross between ananda and train mountain, if you could imagine such a thing, those that have heard of either one,

Nope.

Wtf is "hernia gauge"? It sounds uncomfortable!

You bastard! I like it here. :(

As the great poet said:

Obec Svätý Kríž sa nachádza v blízkosti vodnej nádrže
Il Ruffino za obcou Svätý Kríž sa nachádza drevený artikulárny kostol

Can't argue with that.

Go on a six month tour of Europe!

As the great poet said:

Obec Svätý Kríž sa nachádza v blízkosti vodnej nádrže
Il Ruffino za obcou Svätý Kríž sa nachádza drevený artikulárny kostol

Can't argue with that.

Fine. I'll leave.

You suck.

As the great poet said:

Obec Svätý Kríž sa nachádza v blízkosti vodnej nádrže
Il Ruffino za obcou Svätý Kríž sa nachádza drevený artikulárny kostol

Can't argue with that.

That's a bunch of crap! See, I can argue with it - it's easy when you have no idea what it means. :p

Go on a six month tour of Europe!

Wow, you're kind of High Maintenance aren't you?

That's ... $5479 per day ??

Wow, you're kind of High Maintenance aren't you?

That's ... $5479 per day ??

That can buy a lot of shot glasses and collectable spoons...

Wow, you're kind of High Maintenance aren't you?

That's ... $5479 per day ??

That was just starters. :)

hernia gauge is little trains, just big enough to sit and ride on, that don't look it, but are just heavy enough not to be able to pick up by yourself without getting a hernia, hense the name. in its narrowest sense, hmm, haddn't realized the unintended pun, but at any rate, track with the rails, 7.5" or 7.25" apart is the most common. though it is possible to have ride on trains that run on rails as narrow as 4.75" or 5" apart.

at any rate, a million bux, will just about cover a halfway decent piece of land where i'm used to living. we've got basin and range land in nevada and utah that's like your nul arbor in a way, but at anyrate, that's not what i have in mind. yes i suppose that song does imply and is about open grazing land but that's not what i have in mind at all. not i didn't mean for the skys and the spaces to be all that open. and the FURTHER i can get from the equator and still have densely forrested mountains, the better.

of course i wouldn't mind going somewhere the land is that cheep, if that's what it takes to not have to hassle with building codes.

i'd be happy to live in a 'humpy' if i was allowed to, as long as i could have the things i like to be able to use and keep the rain off and the dust out of them. but i really do much prefer lots and lots of trees, and mazes of trails, and a long way away from too much human coerciveness, that most places i've been is just easier said then done and not all that much encouraged.

=^^=
.../\...

hernia gauge is little trains, just big enough to sit and ride on, that don't look it, but are just heavy enough not to be able to pick up by yourself without getting a hernia, hence the name.

It's a funny name. OK concept (the tracks would have to be very level with each other I think, because of topheaviness of the train) but it could really use a better name. "Hernia" is never going to be a sexy word.

of course i wouldn't mind going somewhere the land is that cheap, if that's what it takes to not have to hassle with building codes.

Yeah, building codes suck. There should be an exemption for a building you intend to live in yourself. The only good reason for building codes is to ensure that buildings are safe, so why not leave it to the self-interest of the occupant if they are also the builder?

When we start talking about buying land (a pretty everyday ambition, really) a million bucks isn't that hard to spend.

Next time this thread subject comes up, it should be a billion. That stretches the imagination a bit ....

a million dollars doesn't go as far as you think.

First: there are taxes. Depending on how you get your million, expect to give up 1/3 to 1/2 of it.

A reasonable house goes for around 100K. An average vehicle ~ 20K.

We're down to 380K already.

Constant recurring expenses don't sound like much but insurance, electricity, sattelite, gas, water, phone/broadband add up very quickly. Gas @ $3.00 a gallon...

OH... a million is a darn good start but it isn't a destination.

If you end up with a million dollars in your pocket, feet up and brain off is a bad idea.

Next time this thread subject comes up, it should be a billion. That stretches the imagination a bit ....

Well that's easy!

I'd build skyscrapers in every metro city on the east and west coast of USA.

Move somewhere where the sky is always blue and there's a nice dropzone down the road

Uranus? :p

What would I do with $1M? Probably put it in a bank or invest it property and fell guilty about having become a rentseeker and then not touch it or the proceeds till the day I died. I'm just like that with money...

However, if you gave me the money in 500 monthly installments then I'd probably be able to spend the money no problem. I just can't spend lump sums of money, but a regular income I have no problem with spending.

a million dollars doesn't go as far as you think.

First: there are taxes. Depending on how you get your million, expect to give up 1/3 to 1/2 of it.

A reasonable house goes for around 100K. An average vehicle ~ 20K.

We're down to 380K already.

Constant recurring expenses don't sound like much but insurance, electricity, sattelite, gas, water, phone/broadband add up very quickly. Gas @ $3.00 a gallon...

OH... a million is a darn good start but it isn't a destination.

If you end up with a million dollars in your pocket, feet up and brain off is a bad idea.

I agree, but assume you have a job, paying around 40-60k a year,
that 380,000 still gives you an extra 11,400 in income per year @ 3% intrest,
which should be enough to make ends meet if they arn't right now, or give you a big wad to invest/spend/save for retirement.

invest it and live off the interest and compound interest of it. I am not very material so the only thing I would get is an upgraded internet connection, 2 MBps or so...
Boring, but wise. You can get 8% return in NZ. So that gives you $80k a year to live on, which isn't a bad income.

Boring, but wise. You can get 8% return in NZ. So that gives you $80k a year to live on, which isn't a bad income.

If I left it in the bank here I would lose 40% of it. Better to invest it than leave it in the bank

After I pay the government half of it, switch all of it for British pounds/ Euros and wait for the value of the dollar to drop more.

i'd finish paying for high school, pay for colledge, then pay for colledge for all my cousins...then save the rest for later

i'd finish paying for high school, pay for colledge, then pay for colledge for all my cousins...then save the rest for later
Did you go to a private high school? :confused:

Boring, but wise. You can get 8% return in NZ. So that gives you $80k a year to live on, which isn't a bad income.If I left it in the bank here I would lose 40% of it. Better to invest it than leave it in the bankIndeed, all of that income would be subject to capital gains tax here in the UK (40%).

What would you do with one million dollars?

Depends.

A million US dollars would buy me a nice place, a house with some land around it, if I'm not too demanding...

A million Zimbabwe dollars would buy me... well... a nice placemat... if I'm not too demanding... maybe...

:D

Pay for this college thing, buy a house and invest the remainder.

a million dollars doesn't go as far as you think.
First: there are taxes. Depending on how you get your million, expect to give up 1/3 to 1/2 of it.

...

OH... a million is a darn good start but it isn't a destination.
If you end up with a million dollars in your pocket, feet up and brain off is a bad idea.
Depends where you are. Here tax is 16% maximum, but gifts and earnings from interest are tax-free.
If it was $1 mill US, that's ~$8millHK. I can get a pretty decent (though not great) apartment for $2mill. That leaves $6mill, which invested in NZ$ at 7% interest (which is what I'm currently getting for my currency savings thru my local bank) gives me $420 000HK ($52kUS) a year. This is what I'm earning now - and I can save 1/2 of that comfortably. And I'm currently spending 1/6 of my income on rent.
Thus, if I did the above scenario and kept teaching, I could save the $420k interest + 2/3 of my current income (another $280k) = $700k (~$90kUS) a year.
Add that to the $6mill each year for five years (with compound interest of course) and I'd end up with a little over 10 million (~$1.25M US) = ~$7500US /mth in interest + an apartment I could rent out for at least $1200US a month.
So that's $8700US a month in interest + rent (leaving the principle alone).
More than enough to live on and spend my days traveling.


Another avenue would be for me to buy myself the $2mill apartment and buy 4 other cheaper apartments @$1.5mill a piece, which I then rent out for ~$1000US a month. $1000US /mth would go towards maintenance and paying for rates etc. That gives me $36000US (~$280k HK) a year.
Which, while not great, is more than enough to live on here (especially if I'm living rent-free). Or I could do as above and continue working and save that along with my other 280k from my job. 5 years of 550k savings compounded would give me around $3.5mill saved. Rent from 4 properties (1 rent being used for maintenance) + interest from savings= ~$7000US a month.
(+ of course I still have the principle and 5 properties worth more than the original $1mill US I bought them for)
Again, more than enough to allow me to spend my days traveling.

To put it in perspective, $100US a month is considered a high wage in China. Average is closer to $50US. In other Asian countries, like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia for eg $50US a month would be considered decent. Other than tourist traps aimed at Europeans, you'd be hard pressed to spend more than $1000US a month. Same thing applies to Middle-and-South America and Africa. So if one spent a few years travelling around those places you'd prob come back having saved most of your money and be even richer than before.

Third option would be to buy a Diablo and a troupe of hot naked Asian women to fan me with $100 bills.
mmmmm.....

I loved the post about naked women fanning him with $100 bills.

Unfortunately, I would not do something nearly as exciting with a million. I am assuming that this million is after taxes.

I would spend about $325,000 on reducing our debt. I would fix up our house and buy and raze the neighboring crappy-assed houses and build a nice garage with an apartment above it for my as of yet unborn kids to play in where I will not have to hear the commotion and do things there that I will be blissfully ignorant of. I think that this would cost about $300,000.

With my remaining $375,000 I would invest it in an Admiral Class Vanguard mutual fund that was managed to keep the taxes lower. I think I would use that as a fund for long term needs such as paying for my as of yet unborn babies' higher education and supplementing my retirement income.

I think that some folks on this post had a pretty unrealistic idea of what a million dollars can actually buy somebody.

On a different tangent I loved the main character's and the main character's neighbor's response to what they would do with a million dollars in the movie "Office Space". The main character said that he would stop working and not do anything. His neighbor responded that you do not need a million dollars to do that in fact, his cousin does not work and is broke. The neighbor said that he would have a threesome with two women. When the main character said that you do not need to have a million dollars to have a threesome, the neighbor responded that he would need a million dollars to find the kind of women that would double up on him. I just thought that was a particularly funny part of a pretty funny movie.

Pay off Dr. Evil's ransom?

More seriously, I'd pay off a lot of bills then save the rest.

Two words: Money Bath

Unless things have changed, after taxes a lump payment of 1,000,000 USD becomes somewhere in the vacinity of 700,000 to 750,000.

Invested in a fund with a 5% annual return (which, from what I've been told, is below average), yields a yearly income of over 30,000 USD. More than enough for my wife and I to live off of at present.

Provided it works the way I think it will, that's what I'd do.

What would you do with one million dollars?

put it in savings.

Become Free of Debt...Buy Stuff...Put the rest in the bank...

Let it fornicate and multiply!

That's pretty much what I'd do, although I'd pay off my student debts and such first. Also, I'd probably help out a few family members who aren't in the best of situations.

Besides two chicks at the same time?

Nothing. I would sit on my ass all day, I would do nothing.

What would you do with one million dollars?

Pay off my bills.
Open my own buisness.
Buy a really really fast car.
Date someone insanely hot, whose attracted only to my money. (you know you would to)
Buy a sweet crib. (condo or a big ass house)

Unless things have changed, after taxes a lump payment of 1,000,000 USD becomes somewhere in the vacinity of 700,000 to 750,000.

Invested in a fund with a 5% annual return (which, from what I've been told, is below average), yields a yearly income of over 30,000 USD. More than enough for my wife and I to live off of at present.

Provided it works the way I think it will, that's what I'd do.

After federal, state, and local income taxes (assuming that this was an income tax rather than a captial gains situation, there would probably be somewhere in the neighborhood of a little shy of $600,000.

As far as the return of a 5% yield (which is on the low side but there are funds that typically give this yield such as cash funds and US bond funds as of late), this is where it gets a little complicated. Most funds returns are discussed in the gross before they are adjusted for fees, taxes, and inflation. A 5% yield might in fact be a real return of not very much. If you are subsequently having a marginal Federal, State, and Local Tax Rate of 30% you probably are going to lose at elast a quarter of your return on taxes. If inflation is about 2.6%, there goes over half of tour return. If fees are .6% there goes about 12%. You are left with a real return of less than 1% which would be $6,000 real bucks although you would have more nominal dollars.

After federal, state, and local income taxes (assuming that this was an income tax rather than a captial gains situation, there would probably be somewhere in the neighborhood of a little shy of $600,000.

As far as the return of a 5% yield (which is on the low side but there are funds that typically give this yield such as cash funds and US bond funds as of late), this is where it gets a little complicated. Most funds returns are discussed in the gross before they are adjusted for fees, taxes, and inflation. A 5% yield might in fact be a real return of not very much. If you are subsequently having a marginal Federal, State, and Local Tax Rate of 30% you probably are going to lose at elast a quarter of your return on taxes. If inflation is about 2.6%, there goes over half of tour return. If fees are .6% there goes about 12%. You are left with a real return of less than 1% which would be $6,000 real bucks although you would have more nominal dollars.

A spending spree it is then! :D

A spending spree it is then! :D

Well that is one option. However, investing in a diversified fund with greater risk of its underlying securities than US bonds or cash, and not fiddling with it for a decade or more would probably result in a pretty good yield especially if the funds are designed for taxable accounts and have low costs. When you start investing sums greater than $100,000 you can get less fees too.

Well that is one option. However, investing in a diversified fund with greater risk of its underlying securities than US bonds or cash, and not fiddling with it for a decade or more would probably result in a pretty good yield especially if the funds are designed for taxable accounts and have low costs. When you start investing sums greater than $100,000 you can get less fees too.

Seeing as how I'd run out of things to buy after about, say, $1500, that's probably exactly what would happen.

$600K - $700K invested for 10 years at a reasonable rate of return = a very happy 33rd birthday for me.

I would spend it on trying to find a place were there are NO LIBERALS!!!!!
:mp5:

After federal, state, and local income taxes (assuming that this was an income tax rather than a captial gains situation, there would probably be somewhere in the neighborhood of a little shy of $600,000.

As far as the return of a 5% yield (which is on the low side but there are funds that typically give this yield such as cash funds and US bond funds as of late), this is where it gets a little complicated. Most funds returns are discussed in the gross before they are adjusted for fees, taxes, and inflation. A 5% yield might in fact be a real return of not very much. If you are subsequently having a marginal Federal, State, and Local Tax Rate of 30% you probably are going to lose at elast a quarter of your return on taxes. If inflation is about 2.6%, there goes over half of tour return. If fees are .6% there goes about 12%. You are left with a real return of less than 1% which would be $6,000 real bucks although you would have more nominal dollars.


Ugh. Screw that. I'd get a 1 lump sum and just bury it in a hole somewhere. Damn government already gets enough of my money.

Er, my first 'investment' would actually be an NFA machine gun.

Get really drunk.

W/ $400K, I've paid off my house and all my debt, bought the wife a car and me some guns, did some home improvement, set up college accounts for the kids, and invested the rest.

W/ another million, I'ld buy up adjoining property and invest the rest, living off the interest.

Not much. $1M ain't shit all anymore. I don't know why people don't start putting figures worth getting excited about.

Get really drunk.

There's an idea I can really have a beer to.

Not much. $1M ain't shit all anymore. I don't know why people don't start putting figures worth getting excited about.
It must be some very pricy shit you're accustomed to, then. :)

Donate almost all of it to various charities, the rest I would keep to support one or two minor luxuries. I would have my life continue uninterrupted.

I buy a big chunk of land somewhere and go live on it, and never leave my land again.

It must be some very pricy shit you're accustomed to, then. :)
Like Glorious Freedonia said, after taxes you got $600,000. And that could get you what? A small three bedroom house or a decent size project house. Whoop-de-doo

Like Glorious Freedonia said, after taxes you got $600,000. And that could get you what? A small three bedroom house or a decent size project house. Whoop-de-doo
But you must admit - $600k is still some pricy feces. Anyway, I just assumed I get to keep the full $1m, and no I refuse to let go of that assumption. :D

But you must admit - $600k is still some pricy feces. Anyway, I just assumed I get to keep the full $1m, and no I refuse to let go of that assumption. :D

It's not like the government needs to know.;)

That's a bunch of crap! See, I can argue with it - it's easy when you have no idea what it means. :p

Neither do I, I just copied and pasted from the first site that came up after googling the town name and added Il Ruffino - it could be very complimentary.

1. Offer a substantial tithe to Mother Church
2. Finish my BA, an MA, and maybe a Doctorate or 2.
3. Invest the rest.

Did you go to a private high school? :confused:

nah good ol' catholic education...actually i guess that is private school

1. Offer a substantial tithe to Mother Church
2. Finish my BA, an MA, and maybe a Doctorate or 2.
3. Invest the rest.
God has spoken, and He suggests the money goes to me instead.

Pay the taxes, Pay off my student loans, donate to the Masjid, get a new car and house, get my mother a new home, and definitely go to Hajj. Oh, and start looking for a wife;). Sorry if thats boring, but thats what I'd do. Or something similar.

Like Glorious Freedonia said, after taxes you got $600,000. And that could get you what? A small three bedroom house or a decent size project house. Whoop-de-doo

You obviously don't pay your own bills and only think of living in a large city. $600K and I retire.

If you use a good investing company you should have no problem getting 5% interest.

$50,000/year = instant retirement~

What would you do with one million dollars?


be really bad

Quit my job. A million dollars would easily cover my expenses for the up to 50 more years I have to live.

Donate almost all of it to various charities, the rest I would keep to support one or two minor luxuries. I would have my life continue uninterrupted.

This would get my accolades as the best ever first post ... yes, unearned wealth messes up a decent life ... except that you couldn't keep your mouth shut about Jedi last year! :p

Here is a gun smilie. Use it well: :sniper:

be really bad

That's kind of what I said in my first post to this thread.

There are people I would trust with a million bucks. I'm not one of them.

Invest while continuing to live off of my parents at college, use the interest to begin supporting myself after college, etc. Hope to use the money to allow me to be a writer by profession and nothing else. :cool:

Invest it. Let it grow. Pay off all my parents bills, mainly Morgage. Secure a good living for us. Get a new house. Buy a nice little vacation for all of us.

A million bucks? That's all? (never thought I'd say that...)

Eh, well. It's enough. I'd buy a few acres out in the west half of the county and build a nice little house and barn on it. Orchard, vinyard, herb and cutting garden, Olympic-calibre dressage arena. Replicate the Dragon from the Orsini Gardens in Bomarzo, Italy in concrete, put it near the gate to scare away intruders. Invest whatever's left over.

OK. My list:

-Tithe, and probably an offering as well.
-I'd by a small unit (that's the moving out of home issue sorted!) get some furniture, upgrade my computer (this is on the list for when I get a job anyhow).
-Sink a decent amount into a decent music recording setup for personal use. And soundproofing so the neighbours don't complain. :D

Quit my job. A million dollars would easily cover my expenses for the up to 50 more years I have to live.

If you live in some backwater with a low cost of living and discount inflation.

Get married, move to some tax haven, retire.

Invest it. Let it grow. Pay off all my parents bills, mainly Morgage. Secure a good living for us. Get a new house. Buy a nice little vacation for all of us.

I know the thread is dead, but I've just got to say ...

That's really sweet. Good on you!

20% of the money would be donated to charitable causes, chosen for how vital they are and how much of a difference a given amount of money could make.

The remaining $800,000, I would invest some of it in a reliable stock (like gold bonds, which I have read are very reliable), use some to buy a car, and put the rest in the bank.

I would not spend this money wildly. I might spend some of it to buy a good house, but I would always try and keep a reserve of at least $100,000.

Oh, and Soviestan:
1. Nice to see you again.
2. What exactly is the Masjid? I infer that it is some sort of Muslim charity.

$1,000,000. I will assume that this is $1,000,000 after taxes have been paid.

$200,000 to pay off debts and have a little fun. This leaves me $800,000. $400,000 gets invested in low risk stocks, bonds, cd's etc. The other $400,000 gets invested in things that while somewhat more risky have higher immediate profit potential. Half the proceeds of this later group of investments goes to pay for living expenses and fun, the other half gets re-invested into low risk investments. If done right I will have a steady income that, while I'm not sailing around on yachts, should keep me at least middle class if not upper middle class. This will hopefully give me time to write, play and travel around the world.

Make a film and, if at all possible, buy some land in the Santa Cruz Mountains to set up my own little renewable energy ranch/studio and grind out small films until my fingers curl up and my eyes glaze over.

And get someone tree phobia counceling.

Besides two chicks at the same time?


I could . . . I could put botulism in the potato salad . . .

I'd pay off my credit card debt, build my own house (designed in the Sims 2) on a beach, get a decent, fuel-efficient car, invest enough to live off the dividends, give some to my family, donate some to a couple of agreeable charities, maybe set up a scholarship endowment at my alma mater, and enjoy whatever's left after that.