What if YOU won the lottery?

(This looks like a duplicate, but it isn't. The other thread asks what would happen if your therapist won the lottery.)

My wife wants a new house in a nice neighbourhood. I want a big house with no mortgage. If we won the lottery, we could both have the house we want.

I would see my therapist more often.

I would continue to do the same job but I wouldn't worry as much.

I wonder what it says about me that I won't even allow myself to imagine winning the lottery. I become anxious at the thought - pointing out all the obvious downsides, of people coming out of nowhere to try to dig their claws into the money. The expectation of others....and the resentment that would build....the relationships that would be negatively affected....I would hate it.

I would let pbutton and LC deal with it.

I'd start some nation building NGO.

I'd pay off my house, buy a new car, see t every week instead of once a week, quit my job and write novels. I'd keep enough to support myself comfortably and give the rest away - because I wouldn't want to have to spend the time dealing with all the mysterious friends and relatives I know who would come out of the woodwork.

I'd open a women's shelter, with an animal shelter attached, so no one stays in an abusive home because they can't bring their animals with them. I'd also open a free vet clinic that also does wildlife rehab.

And I'd be a student for the rest of my life.

The two shelters combined sounds like wonderful idea.

I'd buy a nice house for my parents and a big apartment (or small house) for myself. I'd travel a lot and keep as much money to never have to work again and save some on the side. I would give the rest (which has still got to be huge) away.

I would quit my overly stressful job and try to relax for once!

I'd buy a nice property, a nice car... Nice clothes and makeup, perfume, shoes, handbags, a smart phone, lovely home furnishings...

And I'd see my therapist maybe twice a week or so if she permitted it, more time to work through all my stuff.

I'd have the freedom and finances to fund an education in whatever career I desired, so I'd focus on figuring out a career path, and then I'd aim to enjoy being a student second time around! Hopefully then I'd qualify to do something worthwhile - something I'd want to do rather than have to do.

Maybe I'd focus on my art...

I would travel, extensively - especially across America.

Oh to dream! It would just take so much pressure and despair out of my life.

And, I'd find a way to help people. And animals.

What a wonderful idea!

I remember the New Orleans hurricane/flood. People stayed in flooded houses with no power and no food rather than abandon their pets.

I would make a large anonymous contribution to the non-profit I work for then we would disappear with those who are near and dear to us NOW. We would either make donations to charities we support or start a foundation.

We would purchase a huge tract of land far away from where we currently live and build a set of dream homes for each person/couple.

My H and his BFF would own a model train store, my BFF and I would open a jewelry shop. We'd only work in them when we want to.

We would also travel the world.

I'd pay off all my bills, get a new house that is closer to my job instead of having an hour commute ever day, buy some things my parents and sister need for them, tithe to several charities I love, be able to afford the gas I put in my car, see my T more often, join a gym.

For myself, I'd get a cute little house and retire early.
For others, I'd open a pet rescue and give to the nuns who helped me when I needed it most.

No plans for ex-GF then?

Hmmm, just one thing? Nope.
I'de secure my finances and find a home for my son and I. I'de pursue my passions that I've ignored all my life like cooking, photography and writing...and go to law school, something I should have done years ago except this time around work pro-bono in family law...
But hey...those are all things I could do without the lottery. Money just opens doors/opportunities we think don't exist or have the strength to pursue. We can't have it all at once I guess. Thats why it's a journey....

Of course; she and her children would be most welcome in a house on the grounds on the condition she leave her current husband (who is controlling and abusive).

There are actually quite a few people (family and friends) who'd have houses in our enclave...thus the large (1000+ acres) tract of land.

1) Pay off all my family's debt.
2) Give my family money to give them a home, money for work/school.
3) Buy all the stuff and get training for my future career.

For my T (since this is a psych forum), buy them stuff to decorate their plain *** office with. I dunno, like a nice painting or something? A stereo-system? Ahaha, had a funny thought where they would play a progressive relaxation tape on MAX volume. Wouldn't be so relaxing.

I'd need some serious legal and financial advising! How do I make sure I meet my needs while:
1. taking care of my family (without being taken advantage of)
2. strike a balance between self/family needs and doing the right thing in terms of charity.

I would love to talk to my T more often. I really don't want to quit my job but I might just to move home. If I won enough I'd travel and be a perennial college student (have a BFA but more degrees would be fun)

Would any of you be tempted to ask your T to quit their job and live with you?

No, but I would be tempted to move closer (over 90 minutes away) and ask for long appointments as often as possible!

Hell no! He would drive me up the wall. He is a great T, but I hold no illusions or fantasies about him. What a frightening thought!

we would let cores husband quit his job,send his son to the best private school so he wouldnt have to worry about the bad things that go on in public school around here,pay off all outstanding debts,donate some money to charities,take our dream trip to paris and then the one thing we have always wanted-we would buy our hockey team! Then travel with them everywhere and see our counselor more than once every 2 weeks for sure

yuck, no, thank god that wouldn't have crossed my mind- what a manipulative thing to try to do.

I would buy my Mom a better place to live and whatever else she wants. I would probably quit my job in a little while, once I figured out what the heck rich people have to do to manage their money, and I'd go to school and travel to learn how to do more of the parts of my job I care about-- and to learn about changing the balance of power between rich and poor countries-- idealistic stuff like that.

I can't even begin to imagine living with my T.