E. other... Get a bigger house, with a play room for 2 boys, 3 and 1. Pay off the mommobile = van, and other debt. Set up 5 college funds.(my 2 kids, and 3 neices/nephews) Have a plane so we could visit my brother and his 3 kids, in OHIO, any time. Give $ to both sets of grandparents. Have a box seat at the NCSU football games for my family/friends with AC and a cover in the rain!!! Take a little trip and shop for myself. Learn to cook, from a real chef! I'm on parental leave for 2 years, but I taught Kindergarten for 16 years... I would set up a fund to help: kids get school supplies/clothes, help single mom's be able to participate in school with out having to stay a work sooo much, and create a free/donations daycare/after school activity place, to help single mom's! (I have a husband, so I can only imagine what a single mom does!!!!)

When we were in New Hampshire, the Lotto jackpot was really high - something like 200 million. We never buy tickets but we thought we'd have some fun and we bought one. I spent all night thinking about what I'd do with it.

Initially I imagined all sorts of luxury items, but then realized that would be a dead-end. Money corrupts in so many ways. So here's what I'd do:

- Pay off our morgage - Give a small sum to each of our (Husband & mine) siblings

- Set a small sum aside for our kids - either in their college fund or savings, but nothing that would support them for the rest of their lives. They need to work for themselves.

- Then with the bulk of the money, I'd set up a non-profit foundation whose mission focuses on children's causes: medical treatment for kids, programs that assist abused or exploited children, education programs, scholarships, and programs that assist or educate parents in need.

This seems like a good way to spend a fortune, doesn't it?

I would like to pay off our house mortgage, put some aside for future use, have a very special anniversary vacation in November, have a very special Christmas this year and make some donations to various people and to my church. I would try to be very wise with all the money and splurge only a tiny bit.

I would ensure college for my daughter, save for retirement, give money to my church and help a friend of mine who struggles with making ends meet.

First of all I would pay off ALL of my debts, including my student loan which I can't seem to get rid of! I have a large family, 10 brothers and sisters to be exact, and I would give each of them $200K to do as they please, but hopefully they too would pay off all of their bills! I most definitely would take care of my mom and in-laws! They've done so much for us, and they deserve the world! I would make sure they can live the rest of their lives financially free! I would set aside a college fund in the family name to be used for my kids and any nieces and nephews in the family who would like to attend college. Not sure how long that fund would last since I have SEVERAL nieces and nephews who are either college-bound or soon-to-be college-bound. I guess I could make sure that fund would somehow always have money, maybe by investing a portion of it. Maybe that's not a good idea, since things don't look too great on Wall Street these days :0( I would take off a year and travel around the world to the places that I have always desired to go, like Italy. I want to experience a place that is culturally different than my own. I find it fascinating to view how we all are so different, but yet so alike! I would also like to get more involved in real-estate investing, in hopes that will lead to more community involvement, like re-building neighborhoods, cleaning up a run-down areas, etc. I would make sure those who lived there before can still afford to stay! My answer is a little long compared to the others I've read, but this is something I think about ALL THE TIME. I don't play the lottery, but I always daydream that if I did and actually won, this is what I would do :0)   Maybe one day I'll have the opportunity to make some of these dreams come true, even without the fortune! 

D. Surprise your TriangleMom2Mom site editor with the vacation of her dreams. Thanks in advance!!
That is, if I can come with you, and umm, I would assume no kids...or at least a place where it is legal to keep them in cages! :)

Becka+Chris= Nick 8 Michele 5 Wyatt 20 months
www.learnandgrowtogether.com

Yeah!! Why of course! It's your money - LOL! 

Sarah

Oh what I would do with 500 dollars......the ideas are endless and all of them fun!!

Now a million dollars...another story. Pay off my mortgage, send my children to college, buy a second home, travel. What a life I would lead with a mattress full of money!

You know, this one really gets the mind going. Would I really be happy with that amount of money? I'm thinking no. If there was one thing that I could do with that money and it's something that I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember, it would be to take $35,000 and adopt a baby girl from China. I want so desperately to do this, and then, I would give the rest away. I'm not sure that I'd even pay off the mortgage or anything, as nice as that would be.

If all of one's monetary needs are met, how would my faith and trust in God be strengthened? The process of faith is better than the security of money.

:)

Cady

www.cadydidrooms.com

that sounds like an enjoyable event!! too bad i can't make it!

have fun everybody!

Amanda

Hmm this is such a fun question. I've never thought before what I would do with 1oo million dollars. But here goes nothing! First I would give 10% to God's house. However, I'd need to find a church to go to first! :) Then, I would definitely buy a ranch style house (since I am tired of renting)/farm equipped with horses, goats, pigs, and chickens. It would have to be large as my husband dreams of having 8 (yes, eight) children of our own and then adopting a few more! And the goats are for goats milk as it is his favorite too. I would use this place as a learning center for children. Next, I would send for my mother in law as she has never even met her own grandson yet (he's 13 months) due to lack of funds. I'd buy her a house too next door. She is one amazing cook!
Then I would open a hair salon/day spa primarily focused for mothers and mothers to be. In the front of the salon would be a complementary daycare so that moms could relax at the spa while knowing their children were near by (for those of us who are apprehensive about leaving our children). I would like to employ local Dads at this day care. The middle would be were the food is located , because lets face it-- you can't relax if your tummy is grumbling. And the back is where the hair is done, massage, manicures, pedicures, you name it and it will be there!
Lastly I'd like to get together a team of women whose main job is to find pregnant women who are expecting and create healthy nutritious meals for them along with providing a maid service. We would deliver it to their houses as soon as their little angels arrive. This way they can really take time off and enjoy getting to know their little one while being nursed back to health by women supporting other women. The best part is I'd be able to pay the staff very well and it would be no charge to the woman who just gave birth.
Any money left over I think I'd invest it PAMPERS as they don't seem like they are going out of business! Also, I think I'd take a few thousand with me so that on an average day when I am going to the library for storytime and grocery store I can be mysteriously dropping one hundred dollar bills...one at a time..next to moms so they can find it! Oh..how fun this would be.

E. Other

I would of course do all the necessities first. Pay off my maxed out credit card, pay off the cars, buy a house. A big house. With a huge yard! Then I'd put aside some for Sebastian's college. I'd pay off my parents mortgage since they put up with me for as long as they did. Then I'd buy myself a whole new wardrobe. (I'm not the size 3 I was before I had my son!) My boyfriend and I both would still keep jobs because money doesn't last forever.
I guess my answer is kind of basic, but I'm not one of those quit my job, move to Hawaii kind of people. Kudos to those who are, I just want the basic stuff, then the rest to go for things we've wanted or wanted to do that weren't possible before.
Oh, so the last thing, I'd buy season tickets to the Carolina Hurricanes! :)

"Set a small sum aside for our kids - either in their college fund or savings, but nothing that would support them for the rest of their lives. They need to work for themselves."

 AMEN!....it is so important that our children don't grow up to expect everything to be handed to them on a silver platter.  Helping them to become self sufficient is so much more valuable than handing them a blank check.  

For my own ideas..... I think the first thing I would do is help my dad retire. He has been very discouraged with the events on Wall Street and his retirement date keeps getting pushed backfurther and further. My parents have done so much for me, I really need to give back to them. Of course, from there, the obvious... pay off the mortgage, invest more in our own retirement, savings (in trust, perhaps) for the bambinos. Make a nice $ gift to my brother and sisters in law and their families. I think the 'splurge' I would allow myself at first would be to buy a vacation house in the Dominican Republic. My mom and her side of the family is from there, and it would be so wonderful to gather all of us together much more regularly than we are able to do now. Plus it is a little like paradise on the beach! (oh, and being able to take a charter jet as we need to, that would be a nice touch! ANYTHING to avoid the commercial airlines!) From there, I think I would go over the remainder with my husband, who is much more financially savvy than I, and decide what we need to live and play comfortably. The rest can be donated. We could start a non- profit organization focused on helping my passion- which is education and children. There are so many children in the Triangle alone that come from broken homes where the vicious cycle of poverty repeats again and again. EDUCATION is the key to helping the children and their parents. Help with better financial decisions, trainining for jobs and support.... other programs can branch from there, but it is a start. Whew, I'm fired up- I should just get this started now.

Pay off all debt and save most of the rest. We have four girls=4 weddings to pay for, 4 college educations to pay for, etc, etc...and I have a few family friends that I'd love to be able to help out with their education as well. Education=awesome investment!

I would pay off my debts, put money away for retirement, pay of my daughter's college tuition and quit my full time job. Would most likely take a part time job and do volunteer work.

I would pay off the bills and buy a nice big house for my family of seven! Put money in the kids college funds; share with parents and siblings of myself and my husband. Invest the rest in an annuity so I don't spend it all!!!

E. Pay off debts, fill up your children's college funds, have husband quit his job and move to the beach/mountains/big city/small town/any other place you find appealing and live large. Travel lots, pursue advanced degrees in nothing useful, and of course, give to the charities of my choice.

I would probably take a much-needed long vacation, be able to spend some time on some personal projects of interest that I usually don't have time for because of work, then invest and give away the rest.

Definitely I would pay of debts and the mortgage. Possibly I'd give some money away to family and charities. With a good financial advisor I'd try to find some secure way to maintain the money or make it grow...but is that even possible with our current crisis?

I certainly could stand to get some pampering every now and then too!

E. Other ... buy a bigger house/car, give some to family members, put money into my niece's college fund and give money to a select amount of charities. The rest I would use to make my life comfortable :)

E. First I would pay off my debts. Then I would set up college funds for my 2 girls. After that I would find a nice place for me and the girls to live (I love you mom, but I want to be on my own again!). I guess financial stability would be my first order of buisness. . .after that charity. But not just a donation. . .I'd find something charity/volunteer that I can do with my girls. Charity is great but it's a lot more rewarding when you activly help. I spent 2 summers in Honduras during high school doing volunteer work. I have always planned to go back. Now that I have kids, I want them to have the same sort of experience; and I want to share it with them! Oh. . .maybe I would start my own organization. . .It's hard to find volunteer groups that let kids participate. Something that involves domestic violence, poverty, medical care, a soup kitchen. . .

I don't know if I am doing this right but here is my answer...

100 million - OK pay off bills including house, save for three kids college and our retirement go on a family trip to Walt Disney World for a couple weeks, get a more earth friendly car for hubby and maybe myself (better gas mileage would be nice), pay back in laws who always help us and save / invest some money as well. Of course we have siblings and such so I would help when and where I could.

Yes! You are doing it right - Sarah, site editor 

Oh an maybe I would hire a cleaning lady because I can't always keep up with my family.

I would just like to live a little more comfortably...not have to constantly stress.

First I would hire 24 hour private duty nursing and bring my mom back home which would make my baby sister (21 year old Downs 'child') SOOO happy. My mom's been confined to a skilled nursing facility for a couple years now, and it just breaks our hearts that her Muscualr Dystrophy (MD) has taken such a toll on her body. After that I'd take my entire family and extended family on a cruise (something I've always wanted to do)...then we'd take the kids to Disneyworld, of course! I'd donate at least 50 million to charities and churches and then I'd contact Ty Pennington and see if I could help out the Extreme Home Makeover crew help other needy families whose lives are affected by MD. Next I'd have my old fixer upper fixed! I'm tired of cracked walls, a leaky basement and holes in the ceiling...not to mention the rooms that aren't livable/useable! I would also have it made handicap accessible as it's only a matter of time before my husband's MD forces him into a wheelchair. I'd set up a college fund for my daughter and our neices and nephews along with some kids in town that I know could use the $$ for college. Oh yah, I would quit my job and go back to school to be a kindergarten teacher--a lifelong dream of mine! Since I've worked for the state for 22 years--I'd love to spend the remaining 8 before full retirement teaching kids!

E. Pay off the house, put money aside for college and retirement, and then keep living like I live now. Except maybe get a new car. Being generous to charities and to family and friends probably factors in there.

This is a fun question.
I'm an E - other.

I would put aside money for my children's education, pay off all my debts and my mother/MIL's mortgages, and INVEST INVEST INVEST.
As far as play money goes, I would plan a BIG vacation for all my family and friends - probably a cruise- so we could all go for a week TOGETHER. How awesome would that be???
Then I would donate to charity - Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, American Heart Association and MakeAWish would be first....
and then who knows......make more money since we'll hope the stock market would be back up. :)

E. I would first get laywers and accountants together to figure out exactly what I need to do with the money, and yes I have these individuals as plural because I will need them to know that I have someone watching them to make sure they don't steal from me. One can never be to careful expecially in todays economy. Ok with that being said I would then go and claim my winnings. I would then take a vacation first and bring my mom and my husband's mom and dad along. I would tell them both to bring whatever debts they have with them as I need to know what I will be paying off.

After that I would make sure that my son's college fund was all set and he will not have to worry about that. Then I would set aside a certain amount for each of my step-kids. Finally i would ensure that my niece and nephew had a college fund.

I would also give some money to my favorite charities, the ASPCA and the USO.

Now that the family was taken care of I would then pay off my husband and I's debts. But we would still live in the same house and drive the same cars and work. We would just be a little bit better off.

Thanks for asking.

My answer is A. I would do all that but not live large enough to lose allthe money. I would invest the balance the let the money grow......

With all this economy stuff going on. I would pay all debts and stuffed the rest under my mattress like my grandma did....lol...I would put money up for the kids and hopefully live a simple life with god first and then my family.

E. Other - Give 10% to church and/or other charities. Put away some for kid's college. Invest some for retirement. Pay off mortgage and other bills with the rest. Finally, something to loved ones.

E. Other.

Of course I would pay off our debt and all the debt of my family members.
I would get married to my fiance' of 4 years and buy us a house of our own (we rent).
I would buy myself a car because I don't own one and being a Mom, well you all know, WE NEED A CAR.
I would go back to school and finish my degree and also start a college fund for my daughter (she's 8).
I would help our neighbors who have 5 children and one income.
I would invest the rest and give whenever I see need.

I would do A, but since I don't need $100 million to live large, I'd give the excess to charity!! Gosh, figuring out how to spend it sure would be a nice problem to have these days, wouldn't it?

Ooh.....I guess I would be loved then? wouldn't I? I've always said that it wouldn't take much for me. My answers would be variations of all the responses......... I would definitely share with you, Sarah, (and all of my other long lost cousins and friends) I'd donate to our church & finally get the front built that needs to be fixed PLUS the playground, then pay my mortage and bills off. Grandkids need college funds. (Kids, you need to work as hard as your dad and I did to get you raised.......sorry!) I would buy/rent a motorhome and take several weeks off to travel all over our great country........dropping hundred dollar bills along the way (of course, I'd have to put enough gas money up to make sure that I can get back home) Grandkids & kids are welcome for parts of the trip. I want to ride a donkey down into the Grand Canyon and see the sunset. I want to see Vegas @ sunrise. I want to see the sunset & rise on the Pacific Ocean. I want to share with my friends & family. I'm not greedy, really...... I do NOT want to quit my job. I want to go to work after winning and THEN the 1st time someone upsets me AND they really need me, THEN I'll walk out..........(Johnny Paycheck is my hero!) I want to open a bed/breakfast in the mountains with a lake, creek, horse barn and trails and retire there early. This would be the perfect get away for families.  Kids are welcome.  Activities will be available for both parents and kids alike.  (Keeping enough money to pay someone to look after me and my husband when we're not able to look after each other) Again, I will look after you, Sarah!

I would pay off my student loans and our house and set up a college fund for our soon-to-be-baby.

You go, girl!

If I won a hundred million dollars, I'd be certain that I was deranged and dreaming. If the dream continued and I had the money, I'd pay bills, keep some for travel, donate lots to public art, since it enhances a community so much, endulge myself in more of my creative passions, rather than "working" so much, then pay off all my relatives' debts. Would set up a foundation to help deserving underprivileged kids. Will talking about this make it so?????

First I would pay off all my debts and those of my family members. I would buy my 21 year old daughter a new car and one for myself, of course. Then I would retire (I already have 26 years in) and pursue my lifelong dream of selling real estate. I know it sounds crazy but it is a passion that I have never pursued due to fear of not making ends meet at home. I would send my 10 year old son to private school (Ravenscroft is his dream) and MAKE my 21 year old go to college(any college)...like it or not. I think I would be so happy with everything - I would actually let my husband retire as well. What the heck, I'll be off selling real estate. :)

I would do A. Pay off debts, fill up your children's college funds, quit your job and move to the beach/mountains/big city/small town/any other place you find appealing and live large.

I would buy a new house and pay off the one we are living in now. I would pay off all debt and completely fill my daughter's college fund. I would also make our retirement fund, emergency fund, etc... We would both have new cars and we would upgrade some of our appliances, etc... However, I would put enough aside to not end up on some show that laughs at you for blowing millions of dollars...I really don't see how anyone with half a brain could do that! I can't quit my job because my job is being a Mom and I wouldn't want to quit even if I could. I would also plan for future vacations and special occasions. Oh and have the wedding of my dreams :D I would also give some of it away to charities because I don't think anyone needs 100 million dollars to be happy!

Hi

Everyone has some great comments. I, too, would pay off any debts. I would not move though. I would stay in Raleigh, but would vacation a lot more. I also would enjoy being able to go to Cameron Village and other shopping centers where they sell cute, expensive handbags, shoes, clothes and not think twice about buying them because it's not in the budget.

I chose C. I don't need alot to live on and I could help alot of people. It really annoys me when I hear about actors, athletics and the like getting paid more in a season than I will see in my life time. I think about all the people they could help if they just took what a middle class person would make and gave the rest to charity.

Wow! First I would pay off any family debts. I would buy a beautiful house that all of my family could stay in and be comfortable. I would have enough rooms so that when my children got married and had their own children, they could all live with me. haha! Like that would happen. I would adopt a couple or a few more children. I would start them all college funds, so that they would be set for school and make their own 100 million. I would definitely fund a couple of children's charities and some missionary groups. If I have anything left, I would invest it.

I would pay off all debt. Then when the dust settles and my head clears, go from there. I actually wouldn't change much in my day to day life....really!

Can't imagine! I'd pay off our mortgage; set aside funds for the girls' education; help my husband retire sooner so he could stay home and write--something he's wanted to do for years; make sure my mom & dad don't need for anything in their final years--have great care as needed; take a couple of big trips--to China and other parts of Asia where I've never been; finish up various house projects--the basement, etc. to finally get the house "finally finished"! Buy two decent, reliable fuel-efficient/hybrid cars--our 12+ year-old cars have now decided to die or are barely limping along for a little while longer. Decide with the rest of the family how much to give to the various organizations that we support and then see what's left before further decisions.

I'll take door "E"... This is a great question because it really provides focus for the future. What AM I working toward!?!!

First, pay off the mortgage for sure; it's our only debt because we've always worked hard to live within our means. Next step would have to be funding the college funds since we'll have
eight straight years of more than one in college at a time!

Then, because we've lived relatively frugally, I'd have to go on vacation with my husband and five kids. We've always stuck close to home or visited cities where our family members live. I think we'd bypass Disney since we never seemed to miss it and go straight for something exotic, like Nautilus! I'd rather swim with dolphins than ride a roller coaster at this point in life! I'd spend my beach time dreaming up something big to do with the balance upon coming home. Which brings me to...

Finally, I'd dream big and create a foundation where I could combine my teaching experience, love for kids, and an appreciation for elderfolks. How about building an incredible center that works to provide child care for children and incorporate seniors who want to volunteer their time and skills to work with kids by tutoring, playing, and teaching music and golf and other sports? An after school program would provide a safe place for students that would do more than keep them busy. How many citizens - seniors and others - would love to give an hour of time each week for a cause such as this? The money would build a considerable facility, and invested funds would provide for a small salaried staff to coordinate volunteer efforts. On weekends, the facility could be available for community events - dramas, worship services, fundraising events, and more. I'd love to see similar concepts replicated in other cities.
Now I'm dreaming big! Thanks for the catalyst!!!

I would choose E. First I would set up an endowment for my 4 children to pay for colleges and weddings. I have 3 girls, need I say more! Second I would pay off my existing mortgage and renovate this lovely ranch so all 6 of us could peacefully co-exist until college time. Next I would pay off my inlaws and parent's mortgages and set aside money to pay for their long term health insurance premiums. Next in line would be investments for us, so my husband doesn't have to work so hard. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I would set up an operating fund endowment for my church and my favorite charity, a crisis ministry. What is left over -- if there is any -- I will use to set up a family foundation to administer grants to benefit women and children.

Thanks for letting me dream a little!

A. Pay off debts, fill up your children's college funds, quit your job and move to the beach/mountains/big city/small town/any other place you find appealing and live large.

Pay off our mortgage, fund our future child's college fund (he'll be here in February!) Definiately quit our jobs and start our own business as we have wanted to for years! Get a beach house and give money to our familys!

If I came into that kind of money, I would choose E and here's the list:
- tell my husband to quit his job,
- tithe 10% to my church,
- pay off my house, student loans, and other debts
- Pay off the current debts of my brother and mother
- set up trust funds for my son and future children, nephews, and nieces
- invest 10% in diverse vehicles (real estate/land, stocks, bonds, maybe some actual managing shares of a firm)
- Donate another 10% to nonprofits of strong interest - promoting entrepreneurship and cancer research (and maybe some others)
- start a few businesses between me and my family (with $2 million or less) including a shared office space, UPS Store franchise or something similar, and other firms promoting business ownership
- that is, after taking a few vacations around the world with my husband and sending my mom and mom-in-law on a couple
- retire my mother from her profession or set up her retirement fund
- start a foundation (with a self-funded endowment) to give scholarships for college and grants for various purposes according to my choosing that promote wealth-building
- buy the house I really want in a similar part of town (maybe off of 98)
- get new (used) cars for my husband and I as well as new wardrobes
- buy new furniture!
I guess I'd save and spend the rest... there's so much that can be done with $100 million... I don't have to live large, but I can definitely be comfortable and do what I want to do while leaving a strong foundation for my descendents

Oh - and I wouldn't tell a soul that I won $100 million! I might even lie to my mother and tell her I won a couple of million (she talks too much). I want to help people but don't want people begging on my doorstep or looking to swindle me on a daily basis (like the people on the Lottery winners tv program).