Bloganuary: “If you had a billion U.S. dollars, how would you spend it?”

Today’s WP Bloganuary question reminds me of a typical hypothetical I’d ask a group of ESL students.

Most of my students would answer with ideas such as, “Buy land” or “Invest in the stock market,” which are very smart ideas, indeed, but that’s not what I think of first.

My answer might be a little predictable. I’d be a lot like Mackenzie Scott with her divorce settlement, and research my favorite charities to dole the money out to. Charities would involve the most vulnerable in our society – elderly people, children, animals, and the disabled, with a heavy emphasis on education and empowerment.

I guess a solid chunk would also go to Uncle Sam.

I’d keep just enough to live until my passing, in the style I currently do, which meets all my basic needs and then some. I have a blast on very little. A small beach house in Northern California would do for my retirement, if I must buy real estate.

I do not wish to be poor, but money of any magnitude comes with its own set of hidden problems, which may include false friends, an attentive IRS, and the purposeless desire to keep up with the Joneses. Not to mention a nagging worry that someday, one could lose it all. I would rather unburden myself, and be in charge of where it goes in my lifetime.

On that topic, has anyone claimed the $1.35B Mega Millions jackpot yet? 🙂