A lotto ticket is worth NOTHING but the dreams...Your dream for $500 mil?

[HereSince1628]

I think I'd endow a chair and some partial scholarships to study natural history and ecology education at a liberal arts college

Basically support of understanding and appreciation of the natural biosphere.

[Scuba]

1. Jobs programs for inner-city Milwaukee and rural Wisconsin poor.

And of course financial security for me and mine.

[HereSince1628]

2. I get that. life is short, doing something big AND nice

would be a great.

[Sherman A1]

18. Same idea here

different location in mind, but the same idea.

I was thinking a foundation to create jobs by manufacturing and installing solar/wind driven energy sources for lower income families.

[lovemydog]

27. That's a great one.

[Scuba]

46. Excellent idea!

[a la izquierda]

3. Pay off the houses for my siblings...

College eds for my nieces and nephews, donate a ton of it and disappear to South America.

[HereSince1628]

6. Well, that seems doable...S AM is a pretty big place who would notice you?

[KamaAina]

4. Buy me a few elections

[HereSince1628]

7. Oh oh, the OLIGARCH gene has been triggered by WEALTH!!!!

[hay rick]

15. You stole my plan.

Voters deciding elections is so overrated.

[NewJeffCT]

22. I was thinking similar

but, with the amount of money the Kochs and others throw to the other side, $450 million - since it's before taxes and is the annuity amount, not the lump sum - would not allow you to buy nation elections (president or senator), so you might have to "settle" for a House race or two, or a small state governorship.

[seveneyes]

5. Dreams have made some rich in their lives

Never sell short unless you are at a loss for other venues.

[HereSince1628]

8. Lenin had it wrong...DREAMS are the opiate of the people.

[seveneyes]

9. Lenin and Edgar Allen Poe

The recursion alone would suck one in, let alone the distance involved.

[HereSince1628]

12. Interesting...I didn't recognize a link to Poe

[DebJ]

10. These things:

1. pay off all the debts of my family...ours, children, siblings, including mortgages
2. I'd have the time and money to help make my parents last years (86 and 83) more enjoyable for them. They are very bored and restless, both of them.
3. Do many repairs on our home that it needs... scratch that, move closer to my grandchildren, move back to my Maryland.
4. Buy a motor home so my husband and I can travel, despite his illness, so he can enjoy the few years he has left. He's always wanted to show me the Rocky Mountains.
5. If possible, find a way to go back to Paris and London with him. That would bring him, and me, so much joy.
6. College funds for my grandchildren.
7. The rest of the money would have to be used in ways that helps those who need help, and can't help themselves. Certainly some towards mental health assistance, and other worthy causes.

[HereSince1628]

11. Doable, and modest, if you ask me.

You don't even to do more than match 5 to fulfill that

[DebJ]

30. Not when you consider mortgage debt!!!

Life has never allowed me to have anything much in the way of possessions at all; my sisters' not much more.

So we've learned to appreciate the REAL parts of life instead.

Like helping others.

But getting out of debt would be marvelous!

[In_The_Wind]

13. The list could go on and on.

We could use a few more battered women's shelters.
Help for the homeless.
Feed the hungry.
Scholarship funding.

On a personal level:
There are children in my extended family who will be going to college. They could attend better schools with my help.
Mr ITW's family were all ponzied by Bernie Madoff. I'm sure they've cut back on everything. They weren't the country club jet set. Just folks enjoying a dinner out, a new car every few years, simple vacations. The older ones need a bit more comfort in their final years.

As for my dreams. A larger home with a kick-ass view. Maybe in the state of Washington.

Oh, and the very few friends that I have now wouldn't have to worry about financial security.

[HereSince1628]

14. Yes it could...Thoreau said we don't have to solve all the problems, but

we should avoid contributing to the problems.

In dreaming about what a pile of money could do, I think that's what underlies my own choices...

Where in Washington? The love of my life that never was fullfilled...my high school steady... is out there somewhere near Ephrata (sp?)

[In_The_Wind]

16. Somewhere with a view of the coast. Away from the larger cities.

I don't want or need what most people think of as luxury.

However, I would love to hire someone to cook and clean. That would be wonderful.

There are so many places to visit, so many beautiful things to see. Ah. The dreams.

[HereSince1628]

21. It's VERY ok to dream.

Life's simple pleasures are also pretty cheap.

[NightWatcher]

17. There are three non-profit orgs (at least) I'd start.

Building sustainable homes and bringing manufacturing jobs to the Pine Ridge Reservation. An org that built environmentally self sufficient homes from converted shipping containers that could be built in one place, shipped, and put together on site for those in need.

A series of local food gardens where people took charge of their own food. The org would provide education, land, resources for the workers and communities to feed themselves.

An org that brings small GOOD grocery stores to the inner cities where community people can put healthy food on their plates (and sell to Yuppies and Hipsters at an insane markup).

Oh, and of course the things about being crazy rich and taking care of your family and friends for life.

[HereSince1628]

20. On what remains of the farm, I do "Veggies for Vets"

I fully appreciate that. Good on you.

I;ve done veggies for vets on ~4 acres that I still hold. It's a combination of growing for a target audience and growing for cash that can serve the target audience...

Although winning the lottery would make equipment available that makes it easier, food to people really can be done without winning the lottery.

I started out with corn tomato and beans, but I've tried to meet vets where their diets are at. Raising collard in WI is a bit of a challenge, but it turns out to be a better choice than beets for a lot of folks.

[orleans]

19. exhausting to even imagine

i'd need a nap first.

[lovemydog]

23. Start a free university in Detroit

or contribute to an existing one.

Do some work on current home. Build a green working farm nearby with pigs, horses, dogs & other animals.

[HereSince1628]

24. Farms with animals are surprisingly money intense but with $500 M, WHY NOT?

I get the concept of making education accessible, I think that's a great dream

[rurallib]

25. As far as I have got is college for all the kids in my little town

And move near the grandson.

Maybe get some land in Canada if we ever need to move out of the US.

[HereSince1628]

28. Thats generous! Imagine what that might mean 60 years from now?

People want kids to have it better...when you lift a generation you leverage up the future of many many more.

[rurallib]

31. We live in a unique little town that is half hispanic

and quite a bit of poverty.
Education is highly valued in this town

[HereSince1628]

32. The upper midwest was settled by people dedicated to kids/family and the future

That really made this part of the nation very progressive in attitude.

I don't know where you are from, but a place that values education of its kids is really a special place with a bright future.

[cyberswede]

40. What rurallib didn't tell you...

is that he and his wife have already helped several students in his small town via a mentoring program. They have mentored kids for over a decade and made a tremendous difference - opening college up to families who have never had anyone go to college.

He is one of then good guys.

[HereSince1628]

43. THanks for that. It's really uplifting to encounter all the DUers of good will and practice

in threads like this.

Most of people's dreams mentioned in this thread have been about sharing with others.

There are times when I wish DU was a town and we could all move to it.

Though I repeat myself, it's really uplifting to be around the thoughts of people who care about the lives of others.

[In_The_Wind]

59. I've wished for a town filled with DUers.

[A HERETIC I AM]

62. Perhaps like this one?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025164009

[In_The_Wind]

65. When do we all move in?

[A HERETIC I AM]

26. It is important to note that no one, and I mean NO ONE will see $500 million.

That is the estimated jackpot paid out over 29 years and it is currently taxable at 39.6%. The likelihood of that top marginal rate going up in the future is high.

If you took the cash option of $337.8, depending on your states income tax rate, you would realize in the neighborhood of $200 million.

If you live in one of the 7 states with no income tax and buy your ticket in one of them, your take home will be about $204 mil. at this level.

Always figure about 1/3rd of the stated jackpot as your take home if you take the cash option.

The Powerball buys an annuity that is heavily weighted with US Treasury Bonds, therefore the cash option amount reflects the Treasury yield curve. When the 30 year Treas. yields over 3.5 %, the cash option is closer to 50% of the stated jackpot. The current yield is much lower, thus the cash is more than 50% of $500 mi.

[HereSince1628]

29. Yes. We all must pay tax, we must decide on direct payments or annuity

[A HERETIC I AM]

35. Taking the annuity payments at this level is a mistake.

I do have a wee bit of background to speak to this I held Series 7 and Series 66 licenses from '06 through 09 and also held a FL state license for Life, Health and Variable annuities.

Taking the payments is a mistake, as the annuity is tied to a ridiculously low yield which can easily be beat.

Also, once one has the check AFTER all income taxes are paid, it is possible to never pay another cent in income taxes and still live off interest, via Municipal Bonds.

DO NOT take the payments if you win.

[Myrina]

61. Gasp, ONLY $200 Million? What's the point, then?

... that would leave me $1M to live on and $199M to give away. So pointless. Not even worth my time.

WTF?

[A HERETIC I AM]

63. I made that point to show that the jackpot is a bit deceiving.

That's all. No snark was needed.

And FWIW, if you just gave most of it away, then it's gone and gone forever. A much better way to do the good you want to do is to form a foundation, invest most of it and give away the interest/dividends the investments produce, thus allowing you to give money away in perpetuity. You could do a lot more in the long run.

But don't let my being practical keep you from your headbanging.

[HeiressofBickworth]

33. Buy a congressperson, or two

you know, just for the hell of it. They apparently are cheap to acquire.

Then give $1M to each of my 3 closest friends, giving them the opportunity to do whatever they dreamed of in life
$1M to the local food bank (I give them money when I can -- the $600 from George Bush went to the food bank)
$1M to my granddaughter who is a college student. She could buy her own home, get a masters degree, pursue her dreams
$1M to my son-in-law, as his sole and separate property, giving him the opportunity to do whatever he wanted
Split the balance with my daughter (as her sole and separate property) giving her choices with her life.

For me, I'd buy that condo downtown Seattle that I always wanted but could never afford. I'd find little ways to share the wealth with others. Like funding micro-loans for women in Africa through Kiva.com.

It's a hell of a lot of money, even after taxes are taken out.

[HereSince1628]

34. The net from $500M could make a whole lot of micro-loans

the potential good that could be returned is really something to dream about.

[jmowreader]

41. What part of Seattle is it in?

[HeiressofBickworth]

54. I haven't actually gone looking at condos

in a few years. But the last time I did, it was Belltown. Condos so small you couldn't swing a cat. I looked at one on Capital Hill, nice floor plan, no view, way out of my price range anyway. I looked at another unit on the opposite side of the building, same floor plan, but with a view of downtown and the harbor, $25,000 more than the one without the view. Even then, not one I looked at was even remotely in my price range. When the bottom dropped out of the real estate market a few years ago, I looked at the ads again but the units I would be interested in were still out of my price range. Now, of course, they are even worse.

Anyway, real life intervened and the possibility of moving became the IMpossibility of moving. So I'm retired, still in my home with three other family members. It actually works out better for all of us because we share expenses.

I sometimes look at the ads and wonder what-if. I saw that three others won the lottery so it remains out of reach.

[jmowreader]

56. Given sufficient financial resources, I'd look at Fremont

There are probably a million reasons to not live in Fremont, but I figure any neighborhood that contains a five-meter-high statue of Lenin, a statue of a troll underneath a bridge, a kidnapping-themed bar and a waxing shop with a stuffed beaver in the front window is all right by me.

[Generic Brad]

36. Scholarships

Tons and tons of self perpetuating full ride scholarships for countless students from low income families. The anonymous gift of hopes, dreams, and potential would do my heart good.

[HereSince1628]

44. That really catapults the value of the help...when you lift a person you lift their great grandkids

[lovemydog]

37. In addition to the dreams above, it's cool thinking of what I can do now

& what I already have. Roof over my head, heat in winter, food, internet access, I'm grateful. The most basic stuff like walk more - I can start tomorrow. Chill more - already started tonight. Love more - every day. Animals - I visit horses & dogs at a horse shelter.

Veggies for Vets. Good on you HereSince1628. Others on this thread too are doing awesome things now & have great dreams. Thanks for the thread.

[jmowreader]

38. I'll let you know after I win it...

[HereSince1628]

39. Good enough!!

[cyberswede]

42. Sometimes I love DU.

This thread really shows how DUers have their priorities straight.

[HereSince1628]

45. Totally agree with you.

[lovemydog]

51. Yeah, I love this thread too.

A lot of really smart caring people who want to help those around them, not only themselves and their families.

[NJCher]

47. Pets for everybody

I would stop euthanizing cats and dogs across the U.S. and immediately build or find shelters for them. I would hire people to figure out ways to bring home and love to these animals. For example, people in senior homes would love to have contact with animals, but they can't always care for the animal. So with my plan, I would pay for people to care for the animals while the animals routinely spent time with the older people who like to love on them! Great plan, yeah?!

Then I would buy the feral cat vaccine (it's new) and get every community I could to vaccinate feral cats so we could cut down and eventually eliminate homeless cats. If this vaccine works for dogs, I'd include dogs, too.

I want every animal to have a good home and love. To have their kitties and dogs photographed and making appearances on
Salmon Enchanted Evening's LOL Cats thread on Sundays.



Cher

[mackerel]

48. I'd do something to help the disabled homeless who can't get on SSI because

the ALJ's where I live are so conservative they won't even grant it to you if you meet the listing.

I'd help my sister too, she's on SSI and some months she doesn't even have enough for toilet paper.

Everyone here has such good idea here!

[Algernon Moncrieff]

49. Take the lump sum; put the money into bonds or preferred stock

Try to get at least 3% in interest and dividends with a huge emphasis placed on low risk. Set my kids up for life. Retire and vacation heavily. Condo in Central Florida and a lake house on Lake Coeur D'Alene in addition to a vastly renovated current residence. Set up a series of 501C3 corporations in which to set up trusts for charities such as my local school district's foundation, my Alma Mater, the Red Cloud Indian School, the Sioux YMCA, and a host of other worthy causes.

I do believe I'd also establish a PAC, and engage in a little Democratic activism.

[A HERETIC I AM]

50. It got won, split 3 ways;

http://www.powerball.com/pb_home.asp

[fizzgig]

52. i've been having my "if money were no object" fantasy lately

first it'd pay off my bills, my family's bills, my friends' bills. then i'd buy my husband the property he dreams about and fund the recording studio he wants (i have a full blown fantasy about the housewarming party for that). after that i'd create a scholarship fund for local low-income kids who want to study music or culinary arts. money to the cat rescue, dv shelter, mh/suicide awareness groups, sexual assault victim assistance. once that's all out of the way, i'd open a deli. i want to smoke my own turkey and brisket, make my own pastrami, bake my own bread.

oh, and travel. i'd travel everywhere.

[LiberalEsto]

53. Pay off my kids' student loans, for one thing n/t

[Islandurp]

55. Nieces and nephews colleges will be paid for

and then cars, mansions, boats, islands etc...

I'm making it rain baby!

[Joe Shlabotnik]

57. Maybe I'd blow a million bucks,

but then start a self sufficient fund like Strike Debt, but on steroids, and within no time I'd crash capitalism. That's the plan.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

58. so fun...

spend a few million taking care of family and friends... take a vacation or two. then, put the rest of the millions into something that draws a respectable rate of return (I would think in the $100+ million dept I could pull minimum 8%) and then spend the rest of my life giving away money. finding people who have needs, big or small and just 'taking care of them'... anonymously where possible.

example : we have some friend who are mostly happy with their circumstances. they have little, but are thankful for the roof, warmth, food and drink (and maybe a couple of us friends). but, they have bad luck with cars... their truck seems to suck down any little bit of spare cash they get. SO? park a brand new truck (title and keys on the front seat) in their driveway and a bumper to bumper warranty as long as the company would let me buy. and never tell them where it came from.

sP

[Myrina]

60. Yep - endowed liberal arts chairs, scholarships for inner city girls ....

.... endowments for homeless shelters, women's shelters, treatment programs, animal rescues, libraries ....

Ultimately I'd keep about $1M for myself. The rest would be given away.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

64. One or more of the following

1) Buy up old houses and start group co-ops for homeless people. Usually city zoning laws allow four unrelated adults to live in one house, so four people who had become friends on the streets could move into one of these houses rent-free. If they had income (from low-wage jobs), they could pool it for expenses. A lot of us boomers lived like this as students, so I think it would work.

2) Start music programs for children and youth in areas where there are no school music programs.

3) Start a quasi-college on the model of the Episcopal Church's EFM program, only non-religious. That is, people who couldn't afford to go to college or who had gone through college but had received only vocational training could acquire a liberal arts background through a system in which the curricula were centralized and existing print and online and video materials were utilized, but students would meet in groups once a week with a leader (one of the proverbial unemployed Ph.D's) to discuss the week's material. There'd be a year on ancient civilizations, a year on the medieval period, a year on the early modern period, and a study of the contemporary world, integrating history, literature, philosophy, music, and art.

4) Start an endowment at my undergraduate college to make the junior and senior year free of charge, as long as their major departments approve. I got this idea because when I was an undergraduate, I received a package of scholarships that made my senior year free, including room and board. Usually the students who can't hack it are gone by junior year.

5) Set up my will so that my nieces and nephews could inherit only after the age of 40, barring a number of catastrophic circumstances, such as severe illness, prolonged unemployment, or losses from natural disasters.

6) A small endowment for the meal and drop-in center programs at my church and for the choir

7) For me, a downtown condo, plenty of travel, and the satisfaction of telling some of my clients where they can stuff their low rates and boring jobs.