You have marked a time in your life by having acquired one million dollars.

What are you going to do?

How might you compare your future plans based on whether the dollars
were earnt, inherited, gifted or won?

Phil

If they are US Dollars, convert them quick into a more stable currency.

Fast Eddie Felson says, 'money won is twice as sweet as money earned'..

I say, it is half as easy to spend money earnt as money won, inherited or gifted.

Can

The perception of gifts is that they are given to be used and enjoyed.
 A gift of $1M is likely to be spent on nice cars, perhaps a larger
house, fun vacations, extravagent meals out. . .

Earned money is more likely to be saved and invested.  Partly because
someone who earns $1M is likely to be a long term planner and partly
because the money took an large amount of work to earn and will not
likely be squandered.

Winning $1M will usually draw much attention to you.  People on
popular gameshows or lottery winners will likely be given advice by
many people to find a financial planner immediately.  So in their case
if they have much sense at all they will do so and a nice chunk of
that $1M will be invested wisely for their needs.  At the same time
however there will be a sense that "hey, I deserve this money because
I won it" and these winners will want some of that money to enjoy much
like the people receiving gifts.

Inherited money is the tricky one.  Some people will feel a bit of
guilt with it and try to determine exactly how the deceased would have
wanted them to spend it.  Others will receive it in the mannor they
would a gift and will enjoy the money.  Still there are others that
are counting on a large inheritance to fund their retirement and they
will store that money away to live off of either in the future or
starting immediately.

These are all my own thoughts and observances, so feel free to tell me
I'm dead wrong.

Hi Phil....

Interesting question.

As I don't stand to inherit any money, and no one would give me a
million dollars, my only chance would be to win it.
Having said that, and if I won it ( woohoo ), I would spend, spend, spend.

I would firstly pay cash for a new home, a fancy new car and put the
rest in an investment that pays a high interest rate.

Wish me luck!

Steph53

Hiya Phil,

I would hire a computer expert to help me fix an issue that I 
cant seem to resolve on my computer. Well actually 2 things. But then, maybe you
could help me out Phil and then I could use the money otherwise?
Issue 1:
I have formatted ( dunno if that is the proper english word, emptied?)
my computer and have succesfully installed windows 98 etc. 
HOWEVER, I have a Nokia 447Za monitorscreen and the colors on it
have disappeared, that is I have less colors than usual. I have dealt with
this thing earlier, when I had a Compaque screen. What I did at that time
was download a Compaque driver from the Internet and install it ( do not
have a clue however anymore how I did that, so any help is greatfully
received)
So, where can I find a driver on the net and how do I make that work
on my computer so I will have full screen colors again?
Issue 2:
The internetpages on my computer are much wider than my screen. Now I do have
the opportunity to go to the left and the right with a "thingie" 
am not much of a computerexpert in english..., but that is pretty
unefficient. 
So, how can I "narrow" the seize of the webpage?
Issue 3:
I have to format another computer. How can I prevent that 
computer from "loosing" the driver for the colors for the screen?

million thanks in advance for helping me out!!!!

Anne-Marie

sigh.....

I downloaded nokia drivers for the monitor...computer succesfully installed
the stuff.......so how come my colours are still so lousy???

HELLOOOOOOOOOOOO

ANYBODY OUT THERE?

Hi am777....

Since this is just a freebie comment thread to Phil's question, why
not start a new thread and "ask a question" to the Researchers?

There are many computer savy researchers here who could most likely
answer your questions.

Just a thought....

Steph53

Hi all,

PB .. hhmmm .. the conversion factor is a great idea. I believe that
brokers make money doing exactly that .. trading the Yankee dollar.
Converting to Aussie Clams or NZ Shrimps might not be prudent however.
Perhaps the Euro holds the answer.

Can1972 .. I agree with both yourself and Mr Felson wholeheartedly.

Jack .. I agree with your sentiments. I would have arrived at the same
conclusion. I could have written your words myself. I'm interested to
know what YOU would do under each given circumstance.

Steph .. Just gotta luv your attitude to life. I bet that you would
travel extensively, calling the world your home as you flit from one
exotic location to another. Way to go Steph.

Anne-Marie .. I continue to make the same mistake as you. As much as
this is global fun, I have to remind myself that we are not on a chat
site. Like you, I have "met" many great minds residing within the grey
box perched upon my desk. I like the way the global community
challenges my way of thinking, hence the type of questions I pose.
Also, I might post opposing comments to further incite thoughts from
others. This is what I call learning, contribution, fun and
understanding of one another.

As for your computer problems, I'm a key-pusher not a computer guy. As
Steph has suggested, consider posting a question to the group. There
are many talented people visiting this medium of thought exchange. As
you have access to a computer, I presume that you can afford to post a
$2 question. If your credit card situation does not allow you to do
so, I would be happy to be your proxy for a one off gesture provided
that your request is indeed important to you. If so, please ask. The
answer is in the Bible. "Ask and you shall receive". Contributors paid
or gratis, are here to help.

Phil

Hi Steph and Phil,

I did realise when I posted the question that it wasnt the proper way
to do so, but since it is important to solve this issue I just gave it 
a try. 
And be assured that if I would have had a credit card, I would have
asked a Google researcher.

AM

Anne-Marie

Please see:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=455423

Good luck!

Bryan

One million US dollars?

Heck!

That wouldn't buy a curbside kiosk in Malibu!

I'm hittin' for the Mega Millions, baby . . . ten grand or bust!

(funny how, every week, I check the numbers and it's a bust . . .  )

ts

Anne-Marie,

And that's exactly what was on offer. Comments in a thread won't
usually be found by a researcher, so your audience is more limited.
Now that Sir Bryan of Humble Hove has come to your rescue, you are
bound to find an answer. Good luck in finding more colours and a wide
enough screen.

Now what would you do with your million apart from fixing your computer?

Phil

Me... hmmm...
Well, I'm probably a boring one.  But I would buy a house out in the
country (perhaps a small town in the midwest) and invest the rest in
moderate investments assuming I could get 9ish% fairly safely over the
long run.  I could live on that for the rest of my life comfortably.

Without having to waste most of my time working, I'd definately want
to go into youth ministry.  You gotta love those kids!

Thank you Jack. Not boring at all. Well thought out in fact. Tell us
more about your Youth Ministry ideas. What are you going to do to make
a difference? Remember, money is no longer an issue for you.

Although the money could help sponser some activities, the main
ingredient to a successful youth ministry that is often lacking is
time.  I'd like to work with middle/high school ages (I'm imagining 15
to 25 youth to start... then grow from there) and simply have all the
time in the world to give.  Asside from being active in the church,
leading the weekly "youth group" meeting, and perhaps leading a
separate bible study, and even a game night; I would like meet
individually with the youth...

One idea I have is to have dinner at one of their houses often and get
to know the families and where they're coming from.  Another is to
have them all give me a couple important events in their year that I
could attend (performances, ball games . . .).  I'd want to be someone
the youth or even their families could call when times get tough and
they'd know I would make time for them no matter what.

I worked at a summer camp for many summers and loved working with the
youth and not having the distractions of work and responsibilities
outside of camp.  I definately saw God use my time and the time of
many workers there to do wonderful things for the kids.  I've worked
some with youth out here in the working world, and although it has its
moments and God will use what we give him... I just feel like I can't
give nearly as much of my time as I'd like to and that definately has
its effects on the ministry.

Perhaps another couple years and my finances will be in order enough
to take on a $15,000 per year position as a youth minister out in a
small town, but for now I'm full time in the business world and small
time in ministry.

As for the $1M... As far as youth ministry is concerned I'd get a
centrally located house with a large basement to fill with foosball,
ping pong, air hockey, pool, a stocked fridge and a large meeting
area.  I'd want to leave that part of my house open to the youth all
the time to come and hang out as long as their parents know they're
there.  The rest would pay my salary indefinately to keep the church's
money in the church.

If you want a hilarious view of what big money can do to people, try
to get a recording of ?At Home With the Braithwaite?s?;(UK?s ITV).
It?s about a family that became more and more and more dysfunctional
after winning £38 million on the lottery.

Also, I rather like the throwaway line from John Paul Getty who once said,
?Everyone wants to and tell me how they made their last million but as
yet nobody has ever told me how they made their first million?.

Hiya Phil,

The question is who wants to be a Millionaire/ss?

I have no ambition whatsoever in becoming a millionaire...............
is that okay too?

Anne-Marie

Hi Anne-Marie,

There are no right or wrong answers. The point in question is what you
would do if you were.

Glad to see your computer has finally sorted itself out.

Phil

Hi Phil,

I have  no clue 
what I would do

totally blank inside..........
nothing comes up....
so I guess the same as I am doing right now....