The 10 things I would purchase tomorrow if I won the lottery, if the stipulations of winning were a) you must spend it all immediately (stimulate the economy!); b) you can’t save or invest any of it; c) you can’t pay off your credit card/mortgage debt; d) you can’t buy a new house or car; and e) you can only donate a “gift” to an organization of up to 20% your total lottery haul:
1. iPod Touch – Of course, this would have to be purchased along with the associated goodies, like a docking station/speakers, Bose headphones and the piece that makes it play in your car. And music. Lots of music.
2. Laser Eye Surgery - Not only would I love to save money on contacts and saline solution, but without corrective lenses or surgery I can’t see the big “E” on the charts at the Doctor’s office. And I would just love to wake up one morning and be able to read the clock and see the TV.
3. Laptop - Although I would keep my desktop, I love the idea of being portable after so many years of being chained to another desk and a tiny, hot little room upstairs. Portability comes in handy during travel and while pet-sitting! Right now, I’m thinking MacBook Pro. I’d also invest in whatever tools I’d need to make my house wireless (including printing to my printer).
4. Macro lens – a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens for my D80, so I can start taking the extreme close-up photographs that I’m so attracted to. I would probably support this purchase by enrolling in a few Nikon photography classes as well!
5. Riding Lessons - I have a few goals to meet (#12) that riding lessons would definitely help with… Lessons with a dressage instructor and/or hunter/jumper instructor would help me to become a better rider and overcome some hesitations I have. I want to become a more knowledgeable and skilled rider, and that only comes with proper instruction and an ability to ride many different horses.
6. Bike – I’d get a nice combo bicycle, something that could handle roads as well as slightly off-road. I’ll probably never get into “mountain biking,” but it’d be nice to hit some of the dirt trails with confidence. I’d make sure to get a rack for my car that either doesn’t interfere with the moon roof or with the spoiler.
7. Kayak – Something that I could take out solo or with friends. Of course, I’d also have to get a rack for my car, and a paddle. Thanks to Mom and a rockin’ sale at REI, I already have a new life-jacket that fits!
8. Home Improvements
a. windows – 11 regular ones and 1 bay window for the kitchen
b. carpet – living room, stairs and upper hallway in berber
c. insulation – in the attic and in the walls of the addition
d. fix the addition – re-sheetrock the entire addition after adding insulation and bringing the switchplates and outlets to the depth of the sheetrock; paint; tile or linoleum floors; install sealed French door between addition and living room with blinds built-in; install cabinets and countertops along back wall; create an organized space on the living room wall to hang my camping and hiking gear, stow my vacuum cleaner, enclose my tools and hide the garden stuff that I can’t put outside…
e. fix the door to the garden closet off the back of my house
9. Fix My Car – I’d get a new spoiler to replace the cracked one, fix the side sill extention on the passenger side, and get the two door dings removed. I’d also fix my driver’s seat so that it heats up again, and I’d get the huge scratch fixed on the passenger seat.
10. 20% Gift – I’d have to think about this one a little more, but right now I’m inclined to donate towards an animal at the Zoo, a local Humane Society or SMAWL, or even a conservation group in support of a habitat. I’d want my money to help those who can’t ask for help (animals or the land they need to survive), but I’d have to do my research and make sure that the money was really used to help the animal(s), and not to fund administrative efforts by the organization.
What would you do with a million bucks???
