I would like to say thank you to my friends (What would you do if you won the lottery?)

Member Name: SusanLesley

Product:	What would you do if you won the lottery?
Date:	21/07/08 (188 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Security, being able to take care of friends and family

Disadvantages: The responsibility

What would I do if I won the lottery? Now there's a question....

For the purposes of this review we'll say it's a big win - over a million pounds - it's no use dreaming about any less is it? LOL!

To begin with I would take some time out to think about what I wanted to do and whilst I was doing that the money would be invested somewhere getting me a high rate of interest and thus it would be increasing on a daily basis.

I probably wouldn't need to take advice about this as I am an accountant but I would be prepared to take advice as and when needed - I'm not that pig headed!

So that's the boring bit over then.

I think I would start by going on holiday to our favourite hotel in the Lake District - obviously hubby would give up work! This would give us time to think about our future plans.

I would pay off our mortgage as we are amongst the few fortunate people who would not move house if we won a fortune! We live on the Great Orme in Llandudno with fabulous, uninterrupted views over the sea to the Snowdonia Mountains and Anglesey so there is no way on the earth that we would consider moving!

I would pay off the mortgages of our close friends and family so that everyone would be on a firmer financial footing to begin with and I would also treat us all to new cars.

If we could persuade her to move I would buy my mother in law a house here in Llandudno - she's lovely so that would be great for us.

Now for the things I would really like to do.

There are a couple of places that hubby and I have always wanted to visit. One is to go to the USA and ride all the traditional wooden roller coasters. The USA in general doesn't hold any great appeal for me but while we were over there it would be good to visit the sights. I know hubby would love to fly over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter - I'm not sure I would be brave enough for that; I'm not good with heights! We would also visit the bug theme parks and do the big rides there.

The other holiday we would love is to take a cruise to the Arctic Circle and see the midnight sun. Of course if we had won the lottery we could really do it in style!

We would of course have the time and money to be able to visit our favourite places - Skye, York, the Lake District, Cornwall, etc. - as often as we liked.

It would also be great fun to have a group holiday with friends and family somewhere although choosing where might be a problem - we'd have to vote on it!

As for buying things we would have a new TV and all the associated bits and pieces and any other gadgets that hubby wants - you know what boys are like! I certainly would not want to go on a shopping spree - I don't see the point of spending a fortune on designer clothes just to show off and I certainly would want to go buying lots of shoes and handbags - no way!

To get back to friends and family briefly ....

I would make sure that my Goddaughter who is almost 15 was financially set for life. I would want to give her and her parents some money up front but I would set up some kind of fund for her so that she would still be able to live her life as she chose but that she would be secure without being spoilt if you see what I mean.

As I said before everyone's mortgages would be paid and they would all have new cars but I would also want to give everyone some cash too so that everyone could have some fun.

I would then like to give some money to some of our local charities and good causes here in North Wales.

I would make a sizeable donation to the nursing home where mom lived for the last few months of her life as they looked after her very well and I will be forever grateful for their help.

There is also a local hospice here which is an amazing place. They work so hard with their fundraising and provide such good care that they deserve a helping hand.

Of course the biggest donation would be to my beloved lifeboats! I am the Box Secretary to the Llandudno Lifeboat Guild - I'm the one who empties the collection boxes and banks the money - and I have supported the charity since I was a little girl so I would want to make a big donation - I would love to be able to buy a boat and name it after my mom and dad, but this would have to be a serious lottery win for that! The full sized lifeboats currently cost well over a million pounds each!

So you see I don't really long to have lots and lots of money but I would like to be able to enjoy the freedom it would give me and I would love to be able to help all those who have been there for me especially during the last few years whilst I looked after my parents. The love and support of friends and of course my lovely hubby is worth more than any money!

I will give the last word to my dad whom I lost to Alzheimer's three years ago. He used to say that money couldn't buy you happiness but at least you could be miserable in comfort! LOL!

Summary: Money isn't the most important thing in life