If I won... 16 million I would...

[Gypsy]

(16 million, after taxes-- insprired by the jackpot of the lotto game I bought a ticket to today...lol).

I just with all the serious threads around here we could use some dreaming.

Not limited to bling... although, come on what PSer wouldn''t have SOME bling they''d purchase!

I would: put 6 million in bank. Help our families. And open a cat sanctuary. A nice honeymoon. A few bling pieces.

That''s my dream: A cat sanctuary. Good acreage for a feral cat area, two free cat rooms, two rooms with cages. A kitten area. No kill. Special accomodations for infected cats with feline AIDS and a separate one for Feline Lukemia. Have a layout designed and everything. Just need money, time, staff, and kitties.


Now to the bling-- things I''d be tempted by (couldn''t get them all, just a couple of ket pieces):

http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?sku=21628794&mcat=148206&cid=288201&search_params=s+5-p+6-c+288201-r+-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t+ (There are coordinating pendants, with bezeled pears, not the site, but in the store. I want one of those too)

Brueget La Reine de Naples: indicolite tourmaline or blue sapphire (the madagascar sapphire is SWOON TDF).

http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?sku=23775352&mcat=148206&cid=288197&search_params=s+5-p+1-c+288197-r+-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t+

http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?sku=GRP00082&mcat=148206&cid=288197&search_params=s+5-p+2-c+288197-r+-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t+

Cartier Tank Americaine watch, small model, diamond bezel, 18K WG face and bracelet. Bracelet with part diamonds.

Something by Van Craeynest... a ring set with an Old Mine or OEC from Singlestone, and a couple of stacking bands.

Something from the Van Cleef''s Alhambra collection in white gold.

Canturi Cubism Band (narrow or wide) and bracelet (TDF!)


Okay... so that''s all I have for now.

 

[loriken214]

AWESOME Gypsy!

There is a cat sanctuary, similar to the one you would love to have, in Victoria, TX. It is a year old no kill facility and there are rooms for the cats to socialize in. The cats live there as long as they need to, but they are always looking to place them in homes. The place is brand new and looks like a big home with a bunch of different rooms and the cats look peaceful and content.

Lori

 

[Gypsy]

That's exactly what I want. And I would give up bling for it in a heartbeat. I hear there is one in Southern California too, and I mean to visit next time I'm down south. It's so bad here in Nor. Cal... this area needs a Sanctuary so badly. When I started thinking about it, I wanted to do all animal, but I am on the board of an all animal rescue (privately run and completely full up), and while I will stay on the board, I feel that if I opened a facility myself I would concentrate on cat rescue for various reasons.

 

[WishfulThinking]

I would keel over and die of a heart attack in sheer shock.

Definitely pay off all $100,000 of our student loans in one fell swoop, and keep enough to pay for all of our remaining degrees.

Buy a gorgeous condo in whatever area we prefer to live in... preferably someplace warm in California.

Pay all of my parents' debt, living situations, and retirement. Pay all of DW's parents' debt, living situations, and retirement. Pay my little sister's college tuition.

Donate a huge chunk of it to political and legal campaigns for marriage equality. Hell, if I could I'd bribe the state not to dissolve the license we already have, but I hear that hasn't worked for Ellen, so I won't bother trying.

Put it all in the bank. All of it. Maybe someday I'd believe it was actually mine and I could get on with the purchasing of sparkly items and other luxuries, but I think right off the bat I would be stowing it away in paranoia!

Darn... now I wish it was real! I could sure use some dreaming right about now, though.

 

[coatimundi_org]

I like your cat sanctuary Gypsy!--I''d like to rescue all sorts of critters, and live on a big ranch.

With 16 million I would:

Help family and close friends.

Build an art gallery

Travel to gem mines to my heart''s content.

 

[Gypsy]

Then buy a ticket and dream honey. My DH used to call the purchase of tickets a voluntary tax. But I''ve managed to convince him that a couple of dollars a week is a small price to pay for some dreaming to keep you warm on a cold night.

 

[WishfulThinking]

Date: 1/7/2009 1:58:01 AM
Author: Gypsy
Then buy a ticket and dream honey. My DH used to call the purchase of tickets a voluntary tax. But I''ve managed to convince him that a couple of dollars a week is a small price to pay for some dreaming to keep you warm on a cold night.

I think I shall, Gypsy! I''m having one of those days where I feel like I''ve got not much to lose and a ton to gain in a lot of departments. I could use some dreaming in my life right now. Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[Gypsy]

Anytime Wishful. Sweet dreams.

 

[kittybean]

Oh, Gypsy, this is so much fun, and a much-needed escape at the moment. Here's what I would do:

- Put the majority of the money in trust for myself (and FI once we're married). Also, set up trusts for my parents so they can retire, and for my little brothers so they can pursue whatever schooling they choose and the careers of their dreams.

- Buy a house for FI and myself. Outfit it with amazing custom closets and tons of storage space.

- Get the puppy I've been wanting.

- Travel more. On my list of places to go: Greece, Egypt, Thailand, Argentina, Botswana for safari, Milan for fashion week, Paris for fashion week, New York for fashion week . . .

- Give myself a healthy budget for some amazing clothes, shoes, and jewelry. On my bling list: a sizable ideal-cut RB pendant, lots of stacking rings, some diamond studs, a Tiffany watch, and some delicious colored stone cocktail rings to wear to the many charity balls I will attend.

- Donate money and time to charities I care about, like Children's Hospital and the American Lung Association.

 

[Allison D.]

..........buy a new and improved chainsaw.

I'm still here, Gypsy - don't you worry.

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. I'd rather spend it on FUN things.....like travel.

 

[Deelight]

I would fix up my house and sell it or rent it out and move somewhere nice .

Then I would go for a very long shopping spree on the Champs Elysee and 5th Ave.

I love that Tiffany Jazz band you posted Gypsy it is one I am considering for my wedding band looks divine.

 

[strmrdr]

Bring wifey2b down here and get married, build a nice house on 10 acres with a house for my brother on the land and a large workshop.
Launch my brand of custom cut diamonds.
Travel all over the US and Canada on a photo safari for a few years.
Probably start with an Alaskan cruise.
Give a ton of money away to charity.

 

[777_LDY]

Send my boys to the most wonderful schools, and make sure college and grad school funds are set aside. That would be #1. I''d also probably move away.

 

[tlh]

Gypsy.. wow! I was just telling my hubby I wish I was a philanthropist for a living- and I''d open my own no kill cat sanctuary! If you ever get yours up and running... hit me up for a donation!

 

[geckodani]

Fun thread! Let''s see....

1. Spend a month in Bora Bora.
2. Pay off everyone''s debt - family, friends, whatever.
3. Give a million to Mom, Sis, Sis in Law and Mother and Father in Law
4. Bank the rest and live comfortably for the rest of time, LOL.

 

[princesss]

Oh man...

I''d put the VAST majority in savings. Get myself a financial planner and figure out how best to invest. Probably put some in the stock market since I''d have time to ride it out.

I''d move to Europe. I''d live there for a few years and travel around. (Moving is the only way I can see to take all of the trips I want AND still be a responsible mom to my kitties. Plus I just love moving around.) Then I''d move to Tunisia and live there and travel around. And then South Africa. And then Argentina. And then Singapore. And then I''d move to wherever I loved best. And maybe just keep small houses in a few places. Nothing huge, but a nice-sized house that felt comfy and homey in places that I love.

And I''d donate money to causes that support marriage equality. And I''d fly out to rallies and marches and protests.

I''d send my siblings to college.

I''d buy a fun car that I love driving. Maybe a Mini, or an Audi. Or both.

And bling...a few OECs...a RHR kind of like PP''s, maybe an OEC eternity band. RB studs. Some alexandrite, a sapphire ring and pendant, some tsav earrings and ring...heck, I''d just have fun with gemstones. Maybe an Asscher RHR.

 

[Judah Gutwein]

I''d probably go on the witness protection program....

 

[isaku5]

This is a great topic right now while most of us are struggling to make ends meet.

First, I''d either hire someone, or teach myself enough to be able to handle the money wisely. For dreaming purposes today, though, I''d pay off all family debt, give a million to each of our two kiddies (in their names, only), put a million in trust for each of our two grandgirls with money growing there until they''re 25 or 30. Sums could be borrowed for education or health reasons at the discrection of the trustees. At 25 or 30, the money would be released in stages to be determined by the trustees... (Thoughts of Lisa Marie Presley are haunting me now

)

- Send grandgirls to private schools....

- Join in with Gypsy and the others who want to build the very best cat sanctuary

- Find a cure for Fibromyalgia so that DH and I could once again enjoy the wonders of travel...French Polynesia, Hawaiian Islands...

- Find or build a fabulous one storey home- not too large- maybe 2500 sq ft.

That''s it for now

 

[AmberGretchen]

DH and I have talked about this, and our dreams are actually not too dissimilar from Gypsy''s - we''ve always wanted, if we had the money someday, to start an animal sanctuary/rescue, with TONS of land, and help get homeless animals there from all over the country for re-hab and hopeful adoption.

Other, more material things we''d probably get:

a flat in London, and a house in San Francisco, two of our favorite cities

matching Aston Martins (actually, DH might get a 911, not sure what his current dream car is)

several choice bling pieces for me, and several antique and new watches for him

enough in a bank account for my mom to never have to work another day in her life and be able to travel as much as she wants

I think that''s the major stuff

 

[dragonfly411]

I would buy a huge farm, 200 acres plus

I''d dedicate half of the farm to a horse rescue, and get horses that are on the way to kill buyers. Any that could be rehabilitated for riding, I''d work to re home.

I''d also run a pitt bull rescue because I dream of doing so. I love our two, and we''re thinking of adopting another black one

The other half I''d use to breed high quality arabian horses, and I''d get a few great broodmares to start with.

I''d finish school

I''d buy SO his new airboat hull

I''d invest the rest.

 

[decodelighted]

I''d give Alexandra Penney however much $$ she lost in the Madeoff ponzi scheme ... because clearly she deserves it more than any of us mere mortals

.

Psyche!

Most of the things I want can''t really be bought with money. But, y''know, if I HAD to spend it ... a Brownstone in my old Brooklyn neighborhood would be nice. And if there''s any $$ left over ... maybe a place like this set on a mountain top or by an Adirondacks lake.

Realistically though I''d probably save 80-90% ... live about the same as we do now ... the DH could speed track edumacationy goals & we''d spend a month in Paris every summer. (London if HE won ... ha!)

 

[E B]

Fun thread! I often daydream about what I'd do with lottery winnings.

First, I'd put a big chunk in the bank. How much would involve a financial planner (and my husband) going over the plans I have below.

Second, I'd make sure my parents and my in-laws could retire comfortably now, if they chose.

We'd purchase a house with a large yard- preferably a completely remodeled craftsman in a gorgeous neighborhood. Another real estate purchase might be a condo with ocean views, just a few steps to the beach. Somewhere in Hawaii? We'd probably also purchase a couple of new hybrids.

Travel. I'd love to see what I haven't yet of Europe, and Egypt, and my husband would love to visit Japan.

As for bling, I'll take this:

2.57ct Emerald, Traps

...aaaaand:

-An ideal-cut RB pendant, platinum (1.5 ct), bezeled. ~1.5 ctw studs to match
-A delicious memoire-esque eternity band with ideal cut stones
-Stacking bands galore, thin, by Leon. Pink, blue, and colorless

And, of course, I'd love to contribute to the cat sanctuary. Or a dog sanctuary. I'm both a dog and cat person.

 

[loriken214]

Pay off all debt and stay debt free....do the same for my family.
Buy a huge piece of land and put a bunch of animals on it....rescues and adoptions....spoil them rotten. Include a cat sanctuary...specializing in black cats...they are the last to be adopted and the first to be abused.
Add miniature horses to the farm.
Donate a ton of money to the Lupus Foundation of America for research. We have to find a cure!!!!
Go whale watching in Alaska and volcano watching in Hawaii.
Set up a Secret Santa program in the Katy/Houston area.

Lori

 

[steph72276]

Aw, man...this is fun to think about although I never play the lottery so it wouldn''t happen to me, but....
1. Give enough $ to parents and in-laws so they could retire and travel
2. Travel with the family all around the world.
3. Do some jewelry shopping...eternity band, stud earrings, and a 3 carat solitare

4. Donate to my fave charity
5. Go see a good financial adviser about how to invest the rest so we could live on it for the rest of our lives.

 

[misspinky]

Very fun thread! I would:

1) Pay off all of my and my extended family's debt
2) Set up trust fund for my daughter so she can go to the college of her choice (or pursue any kind of dream that does not involve college, so long as she does what she loves)
3) Send my parents on the dream honeymoon that they never had
4) Open a no-kill animal shelter (for dogs, cats, horses, anything and everything) and hire Caesar Milan to come train all of my workers (I

him)
5) Buy the pony that I've asked for since I was 3 years old
6) A little bit of bling of course
- the prettiest sapphire studs I could find for my momma (who adores sapphires)
- itty bitty ACA studs for my gorgeous baby girl (it's never to early for a bit of baby bling, right?)
- something sparkly and PINK for myself

 

[bee*]

I would pay off student loans

Tell my boss where to go (bad day at work today

) and have great pleasure walking out on him!

Pay off mortgage for my parents

Buy myself and D a house as well as my two sisters houses

Give SPCA that I worked in money.

Save some

Buy Lucida Eternity band

Buy D a trendy car

Give money to other animal charities

Go mad in New York and fly myself, D and my family there.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

First, I would buy a home and new car. Then. . .
Find a way to make sure the money is safe and secure
Set up a trust for both my kids
Decorate my new home
Buy clothing

And, I hate to say this, but I wouldn't give any money to any family/friends because I would not want to be used and only liked for my money. . .I wouldn't want to be hovered over by moochers.

FWIW, I would NEVER buy a lotto ticket for such a large sum. . .if I buy a ticket, it's usually for only around $4 mill because I think it's a decent amount to live off of without attracting unwanted attention. How much stuff does a person need? I'd feel uncomfortable with so much money to be responsible for.

OH, and as far as my life and free time, I would continue volunteering like I do now (about four days a week).

ETA - oh and I would travel too. Forgot about that one.

 

[snlee]

Fun thread!

If I won 16 million I would...put the majority of it into savings so I could live comfortably for the rest of my life. I''d find myself a financial planner and figure out what''s the best way to invest. I''d buy two houses. One to live in and one for vacationing. Maybe Hawaii? I''d quit my job and become a SAHM. Buy a Lexus Hybrid SUV. Travel lots. Donate money and time to charities I care about. I''d make sure my parents are taken care of. And of course buy some fun jewelry pieces!

 

[musey]

What a fun thread!

First, I'd consult a financial planner with something similar to the following plans to get opinions and help.

-Put at least 8 million into stable investments (I can't handle the unpredictability of the stock market - though I suppose it's a good time to buy in!). Then re-evaluate our income to include the return on those investments, and hopefully buy a nice condo or small home in the same area we're in now. I don't know that I would want to just purchase a home outright rather than using our investment returns as income to pay for a mortgage. That's where I'd want the financial planner's help

-Set aside enough for the 2010 Prius (plug-in hybrid) or hybrid Mini Cooper (I like to pretend that this is on the verge of being announced

) to buy when it comes out. My poor 10-year-old Jeep is doing its best, but I think it's on its way out. Oh, and we'd pay off my husband's prius that he just got last month.

-Go in with my in-laws on a condo or small house in Hawaii, where a lot of their family lives and they love to visit.

-I'd probably be a bit gun-shy, but after we'd had awhile to settle in to the money I'd want to purchase smallish (~.4ctw) martini studs. I'd rather any other jewelry come later on for special occasions

(and I have a very extensive wishlist for that!!). Then a few classic grown-up pieces for my hopelessly 'college' wardrobe, and one or two classic high-end bags.


There are lots of other things I would do for our careers, but those are the general things.

 

[~*Alexis*~]

If I had 16 million....

I would pay off the 2 mortgages on our home and do some professional landscaping to it....add a better patio area

I would put some money away to go get my masters or phd

I would set up trusts for my stepkids and make sure they could go to college

I would pay off all the cc debt...

I would invest some in Money Markets, Cd''s

I would get a financial planner and have them help me out....

I would get a new laptop!!!

I would get some better photography equipment and some classes

I would donate to Human Associations across the country

I would make sure I have a wonderful Emerald Cut on my finger!

I would get an amazing wardrobe, my first Manolo''s!!

I would travel all over the world Oz, Japan, UK, The Caribbiean....

I would buy DH the Land Rover he wants so bad!!

I would help out my family and help them with their bills

I am sure I would find more things along the way....