What Would You Do With a Million Bucks?

Okay, so you are sitting there staring at the latest stack of bills and the not big enough bank account balance, thinking how are you going to rob Peter to pay Paul. Just then a tiny little thought crosses your mind: man, if only I had a million bucks! Although fleeting, it’s enough to cause a smile to cross your face.

Seriously, though — a million bucks? It’s not worth as much as it was ten years ago, but it’s still enough to make a difference for about 90% of the country. So why not allow yourself to hold on to that thought a bit longer?

What would you do with a million bucks?

The top ten on most people’s list probably include paying bills and debt, buying or repairing their home, buying or repairing their vehicle(s), putting some money in savings, some therapeutic shopping, and of course traveling.

That’s all the usual (some might even say boring) stuff. Why not think outside the box? Come up with something different or unusual. Something that you’ve wanted to do but didn’t have the funds. Here are a few “out of the box”? suggestions that just might be worth contemplating.

For Yourself:

• Get a spa treatment. After a new hairdo, a massage, a facial, and a mani-pedi, you’ll feel like a brand person.
• Take a class. If you wanted to go to college but couldn’t afford it, dropped out but still want your diploma, or are thinking about going for your Masters or Doctorate, you can now pay for all your classes without worrying about student loans. If the college thing is not for you, or you’ve been there, done that, try learning a new hobby. Community Centers and local colleges offer lots of classes just for special interests like photography, cooking, dance, computer, and art.
• Take a trip. Not just a vacation, but go see some family or friends that live out of town. They will be happy to see you, and you won’t have to stress about your vacation budget.
• Get healthy. Go join a gym and get a personal trainer and a nutritionist. Then go buy yourself some workout gear, and makeover your pantry and fridge.
• Get in touch with your cultural side. Get a membership or buy season passes to the local museums, zoo, symphony, ballet, opera, and/or playhouses. How wonderful to be able to learn about and enjoy the rich culture this country has to offer right in your own city!

For Others:

• Give to charity. There are charities and non-profits for just about every cause and special interest you could think off. They always need and welcome donations. Extra bonus is the fact that the donation is tax deductible.
• Adopt a family. Check with your family, friends, church, school, hospital, or community organization for a list of needy families. Pick a family or two to help provide for their needs. You could pay their bills for a month or two (or twelve), and/or give them gift cards for groceries, gas, and clothes. Also, if their house, vehicle, or appliances are in need of repair or replacement you could take care of that for them.
• Thank the teachers. If you have children in school, consider treating the teachers and staff. You could order a catered lunch for their next in service meeting. You could purchase gift cards for groceries, gas, or restaurants. Another great idea is to sponsor them to attend the next local sporting or cultural event including transportation, tickets, and food.
• You could pay the fee for the ten cars behind you at the toll plaza.
• You could pay for the groceries for the person in front or behind you in line. Or you could find the person or family with the most amount of groceries in the store and pay for them.

Wow! I’m sure you can probably think of even more things to do with a million bucks. That was kind of cool, huh? I’m also sure capturing that fleeting thought was enough to take some of the edge off that stack of bills you were staring at. So, the next time you need a little break from reality don’t be afraid to dream big, because sometimes we all could use a bit of dreaming.