Linnie

First I would change my phone #. Then take a long cruise to work out how to distribute some money. Family and friends would all share the wealth. Then some for charities close to my heart. Then invest so that my husband and I could live comfortably for the rest of our lives.

Patty Patches

Oh if only.I would pay off my childrens debts(student loans) and build them houses.Put money into a trust fund for DGS,so that he could live comfortably.Build my dream home complete with quilting studio and housekeeper .Help the rest of our families( to a point).

ptquilts

I wonder about buying houses for your family, how that would work out. What if a year afterward, you hear, "oh I need some more money for taxes, or I will lose the house." Are you going to give them more, or let them lose it?
In other words are you creating a new set of dependents? How are you going to refuse when they know you have all that money? You will seem like a piker if you don't break them off another couple of thousand to pay the taxes.

I don't play the lottery, but if I got extra money I would donate to humanitarian organizations like Doctors Without Borders. Anything I or my family might want or need pales in comparison with children starving to death.

hannajo

I was just thinking about this in regards to my parents. They haven't won the lottery, they have just been very hard & smart workers, and very wise with their money. When I was growing up, I would say we were lower middle class, and they struggled to give us small luxuries. Now they have some money, they basically are living the same exact life as before. they just don't stress about money. Instead of buying a fancy house, they paid off their small one years early. They buy the same model cars they would have bought before, but they're new and paid for in cash. They eat out at the same diner they've always loved, but probably twice a week instead of once in a while. They buy the same exact clothes and groceries, but don't have to search for sales. And they're able to be more generous in their gift-giving to charities and loved ones.

I always hoped that if I came into money, I would do the same thing.

oma66

Well, after Uncle Sam takes his money, I would give 10% of the gross to my church, buy all my children and grandchildren their home, pay off our mortgage, set up college funds for all the youngsters in our family, give to my sister and brothers - in other words I would spread it around until there was just enough left for us to live on comfortabley. Just think of the homes that could be fixed up in the poor areas of our country, the food pantries that could be stocked, the fund that could be set up for the children of the poor for thier needs...well, it is nice to dream, isn't it? Guess I have to buy a ticket...

redkimba

Pay off my dad's & brother's mortgages as well as mine. I would do a LOT of remodeling to my house to make it more self sufficient. I would hire a master gardener to show me how to set up a "Victory" garden in the backyard. I would do some traveling.

Beyond that, I haven't thought about it since I don't play that often.

shnnn

I'd move far enough away that the only people who know where I am are those who I really want to know! I'd buy/build our dream house. A good car. talk to a financial planner, set up trusts for the kids and for us -- I think I'd set it up so that I was still on a limited income (granted that income would be generous) -

scowlkat

After taking some legal measures to make sure the money would be safe from unknown relatives (and even some of the known ones!), I would buy about 100 acres in the middle of nowhere with a creek on pond on the property, build my DH a super duper garage with hydraulic lifts and every piece of equipment he wants, then I would build myself a nice sewing room (don't have any desire to have a LA but would have at least a two head embroidery machine). There would not be a kitchen at all (I HATE cooking!) and lots of room for my animals. There would be a nice playground for my grandson. There would also be a mile high fence completely around the property topped with watch towers and armed guards. The only way in or out would be through a drawbridge or maybe even by helicopter! In other words, I would make my dream come true of being a hermit(ess?)!

jasming

I would share with family, hire the best therapists for my youngest son (he has autism) and then buy a huge lot of land . My husband could build our home himself as he has always dreamed, we could clear a few acres of the land and then have a sustainable farm.

mrspete

Insurance, Insurance, Insurance, long term care and dental !!!